Work at CSI for the day with our new Lounge Pass!

Your story could shape federal policy

A great story can spread knowledge. It can connect people. It can change minds.

It can sometimes even shape legislation and policy. Like right now.

The Social Innovation and Social Finance Strategy Co-Creation Steering Group and the Government of Canada are collecting stories right now that answer the following questions:

  1. Have you seen or done something new, innovative or creative in your community or workplace to address a social problem?
  2. Have you seen any improvements that you think are worth sharing?

If you are reading this (especially if you are one of our members) we know you have fantastic answers to both of those questions. If you take some time to share those answers, they could inform a national strategy to strengthen communities through social innovation and social finance.

More background here:

To better inform the development of the Strategy, the Steering Group has launched an online consultation to hear about new and innovative ideas in communities and regions across Canada.

We want to enable and support communities and organizations to advance new and innovative approaches to persistent social problems.

The overall goal is to improve the lives of the most vulnerable Canadians, and help our communities and regions thrive and flourish in an inclusive and sustainable way. This means helping all Canadians access good jobs and homes, healthy food and strong social connections.

Does that sound like work you or your organization or social enterprise are doing? Then submit a document, photo or video to share your ideas or success stories!

The consultation ends January 31.

Keep Reading
CSI Spadina in the ground floor kitchen, looking out towards the lounge and meeting rooms. In the foreground is a kitchen counter, with waffles, toppings, and glasses of coffees and teas. In the background, CSI CEO Tonya Surman is speaking into a microphone on the left. In the middle and on the right, a variety of people stand and sit, listening to her speak.
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Third floor lounge of CSI Spadina. In the foreground is a light blue loveseat sofa. In the background, we see two people working separately at coworking desks and tables. On the ceiling is a chandelier; to the right, a progress Pride flag.
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whai header
CSI is many things - a coworking space, a non-profit organization, and a launchpad - but, first and foremost, we are a community. A community of innovators, of changemakers, of neighbours, of people putting people and planet first. And the awesome work that our members do, each and every day, never ceases to amaze us! So of course, we do our best to highlight our members whenever possible. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Molly Bannerman, Director of Women HIV/Aids Initiative (WHAI), a community-based response to HIV and AIDS among cis and trans women in Ontario. Below is an edited summary of our chat, where we discussed the work of WHAI and their latest Collective Action Community Change report.
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