A Founder and Funder Creating Beautiful Music Together, with Astrid Hepner, CEO/Founder, Hamilton Music Collective and Board member and Funder, Carl Joosse
This podcast is two-fold. We have the pleasure of hearing from Astrid Hepner about the great work of the Hamilton Music Collective, where, modeled after a proven program in Germany, 6000 under-served Hamilton school children are exposed to playing musical instruments, and all the related skills, pride and self-esteem that brings. We also hear from Carl Joose, representing the next generation of the John & Ellie Voortman Charitable Foundation, and also a board member on the Hamilton Music Collective, about how the two organizations were able to work together to not only support these children in being [...]
Business with Purpose – Creating Indigenous Software Testers, with Denis Carignan, Plato Testing President
As a social enterprise, we'll hear how and why Plato Testing was created and the impact it was looking to have, intentionally setting a bold target for the number of Indigenous software testers they would create and leverage in Canada. We hear now, five years later, how the planned impact is becoming a reality. We'll hear about the partners they are working with, in post-secondary institutions and Indigenous training centres, and corporate partners who share in their mission and look to embed social responsibility principles in how they operate. We'll learn of the successes they're having, and [...]
Halton Youth Collective Program – Final Report
Congratulations to the Halton Youth Collective Program, led by the Oakville Community Foundation and Halton Granters’ Roundtable, under the Halton Region’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. The Collective, with key participation from CAS and other youth-serving organizations, recently released their report on the Halton Youth Transitioning from Care Pilot. The results demonstrate that their unique approach and commitment to young people are already having positive impacts on youth’s education, employment, and training, and are proving out a model of mentorship, goal-setting, and providing financial support, that can be used by others. Final Report - Halton Youth Collective Program.
Supporting the Black Social Services Sector with Agapi Gessesse, ED CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
The Black Social Services Sector, as Agapi describes it, isn't getting the attention it needs. The CEE (Careers, Education, Empowerment) Centre for Young Black Professionals is taking that on. Hear how they are supporting 3B organizations – that's Black-focused, Black-led (including Board representation), and Black-serving organizations, including many that are not registered charities. In addition to supporting the sector, CEE provides direct programming, targeting particular industries and creating demand-led workforce development solutions, with high retention rates. These programs provide not just training, but person-centered wrap-around supports, considering a trauma-informed approach to Anti-Black Racism and an approach culturally- [...]
Eating Disorders are Prevalent but Solvable, with Sonia Kumar, co-founder of Body Brave and the Body Peace Collaborative
As someone with lived experience, and as a person of mixed colour, Sonia brings a unique perspective to addressing eating disorders as a mental health issue, raising up the voices of people with lived experience and seeking more equitable access and support. Sonia explains the issues and challenges facing people living with eating disorders , particularly through a pandemic that creates additional stress. She also shares some of the solutions developed by the national Body Peace Collaborative, including developing an award-winning e-platform for those experiencing eating disorders and their families, as well as to educate and support [...]
Rallying for a Human Connection Movement with Pete Bombaci, GenWell Project Founder
The GenWell Project is a Canadian organization dedicated to making the world a healthier and happier place by educating people about the importance of proactive face to face social connection and inspiring them to take action. We're going to hear a lot more about that from Founder, Pete Bombaci. After a successful career in the beverage industry, and then leading Movember Canada, Pete is now focusing on the rollout of this passion project. You're going to hear about human connection and the importance of it, something we may be taking for granted. It seems it's not just [...]