We all know that money is tight these days. We want to be sure that whatever financial resources are being used get used effectively, efficiently and towards the realization of the right goals.
That doesn't happen in silos. It can't. Society is a complex machine with multiple moving parts - we need all hands on deck, all parties collaborating to make the thing work. It takes discipline, patience, foresight, communication and a great deal of empathy to bridge the gaps, mend the fences and build the relationships necessary for success.
Here's the good news.
If we can get past the barriers that divide us, overcome the turf wars fostered by a silo-based, top-down work culture that impedes ownership and shared solutions, the table is already set with all the tools, ideas, organizations and people we need to make success happen.
Here's an email I sent yesterday that, while long and cumbersome, maps out some of those organizations, individuals and initiatives and indicates how they can connect.
All it takes is for the people with money and influence to step up - or help others to do the same.
It's good to hear that there's both recognition of an interest the importance of providing youth positive, skills/employment related alternatives.
Be warned: a lot of content follows!
There are a lot of players looking to support the same thing in different ways; what's needed is a strategy and some lateral-thinking, dedicated outreach to bring all these ideas and organizations together.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE
Andrew Cox/Teisha Mullings had a great idea for a safe space that local residents (their focus was youth) could go to for computer access, table space, a business-book resource library, etc. Andrew also had the idea of this space holding info sessions around how to do business plans, where to find funding, etc.
Sylvia Kim, manager of CSI Regent Park has invited whoever wants to come from Lawrence Heights to visit the office, see how it operates, etc. I've offered to help Andrew with the logistics, planning, timelines, etc.
I don't know where he's at in the process, but I haven't heard from in a while. All these resources are available, just waiting for a call to action.
ONLINE COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES
Additionally, I've connected with AJ Tibando, CEO of an NFP web platform called My SoJo that is a resource hub for people wanting to turn ideas into action (a new project, a business, a political campaign, etc.). One of the things I'm hoping SoJo includes are templates and how-to videos on everything related to start-ups and campaigns.
OPEN DATA
The City (as well as the province and the Feds) are pushing Open Data initiatives - making public data available for public usage. This serves as a tool for government accountability (ie, backlogs for community housing repairs and whether come communities get more timely repairs than others), but also economic opportunity. There are many active public servants working with whoever's willing to make this happen.
RocketMan is a great example of how Open Data can be turned into a business idea; public info on where public transit is has become an Ap that lets people know when their bus is coming.
Make Web Not War (a Corporate Social Responsibility project of Microsoft) is pushing for governments to open data for all these reasons, using Microsoft's cloud for presentation. They are looking for stories of how open data has made a difference/led to businesses as part of their advocacy push.
PUSH ELITE
Jabullah Murray (of Lawrence Heights) has a cool program that provides basketball training, but also leadership training and community engagement for youth. I don't know how effective his curriculum is, but this is the kind of grassroots, success-oriented program that could do wonders if properly supported.
And, if it works, could be promoted as a model to be copied in other communities. That would be a great win and branding opportunity for Lawrence Heights, as well as a source of pride.
GOVERNMENT YOUTH PROGRAM FUNDING
There is a ton of money available through existing and emerging government programs (as per the Wynne budget) that could go to creating new, duplicative programs instead of being directed towards tying existing programs like everything above together.
Trillium has a focus right now on youth and all things digital that could be tapped into by community youth if they knew it was there and knew how to access it.
If provincial/city funding goes to salary top-ups for summer programs for youth, we know that's not sustainable and ultimately demoralizing for the youth. If a condition of that funding were to be tied to leaving youth time to participate in leadership-building, business-skill building, financial literacy, etc., more youth would get this support as well as getting the summer jobs.
There is a lot that could be done right now if existing programming were lined up and funding properly allocated - the problem is that nobody's paid to be the middle man and few people have the bandwidth to bridge the gap between all of these communities.
Happy to discuss/connect you gents with players in this space.
Cheers,
Craig
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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