How to Use Social Media Effectively for Public Life: Nov. 5: 7pm

Social media is a powerful tool. Join us for this training to learn how to use social media to both strengthen communications within your organization and for collective public action. This webinar will be facilitated by Alex Middleton and Annelise Klingbeil from Champion Communications.

For more information and to register please click here.

Foundations for Community Organizing: Monday's & Thursday's November 16-30: Register here.

Thank you to everyone who spoke at council, contacted your city councillors, posted to social media and put forward written submissions regarding the 11 new communities. Your actions have had an impact.

Two years ago, Calgary City Council approved 14 new communities when growth projections showed we only needed 8. This resulted in an additional $55 million in costs each year to our city, and a month later, we found ourselves needing to fight $60 million dollars of cuts to city services for the city’s most vulnerable.  

Your action has contributed to this. 

The final decision on these communities has been moved to November 2nd. The week before Council begins the budget debate. This will more accurately tie the decision regarding these communities to the budget impacts they will have. 

We are asking you to keep taking action, to ensure that development is balanced with the need to care for our City’s most vulnerable, to preserve public transportation, and to strengthen our communities during this time. 

We are asking you to:

1. Attend our fall assembly on October 29th at 7:00 pm – your presence will communicate our shared strength which the Council needs to take into account while making decisions. You can register for our assembly and receive the zoom link by going to: https://www.calgarycommongood.org/calgary_alliance_for_the_common_good_fall_assembly.

2. Continue to write and be in contact with your City Councillor. The key messages they need to hear are that we as citizens want them to prioritize:

1. Preserving services that keep our city strong.
2. Preserving and restoring public transit.
3. Addressing policing issues by expanding the Police and Crisis Teams and also by expanding the Indigenous Liaison Program through creation of an Indigenous Liaison Officer in each of the Police districts. 

3. Be in contact with your city councillor, and make it clear to them that we are calling on them to prioritize listening to citizens and not solely to the developers who are paying for their re-election campaigns.

On Monday, citizens had an opportunity to speak to City Council only after the Council provided developers the opportunity to speak for over 6 hours. From the perspective of many of us watching the Council meeting, most City Councillors were not even listening at the time citizens were allowed to speak, as only Mayor Nenshi and Councillor Farrell gave responses and had questions for the public. When you are in contact with your City Councillor, ask them if they were listening when citizens spoke at Council and if so, what key points citizens made. 

Weekly News & Events: October 19 - 24

Upcoming Events

News & Upcoming Events from our Member Organizations

October is End Poverty Month in Calgary. In support of ending poverty, Vibrant Communities Calgary is hosting a number of related events, check them out here.

Become an Enough for All Poverty Reduction Champion: If you are part of an organization, collaborative or network who wants to be more involved in Enough for All and poverty reduction in Calgary, join VCC's event on Wednesday, October 21 at 12 p.m. to learn more about becoming a Champion here.

Learn about Enough for All, Calgary's Poverty Reduction Strategy on Weds. October 28 at 12 p.m. Register here.

The Soul of the Next Economy Forum is a virtual conference surrounding the theme of co-creating the new normal of our post-COVID world. We invite you to be a part of this conversation.  . 

Check it out here: soulofthenexteconomyforum.com

Agile Leadership Training

The new Agile Leadership Training at St. Mary's University is designed to equip leaders with cutting-edge skills, an Agile mindset, and the knowledge to achieve sustainable agility in their organizations. Check it out here.

Coming to the Fire: Embodying Anti-Racist Culture and Practice

St. Mary's University is offering a four part series that explores the roots of racism, colonial violence and power and oppression, and seeks to guide participants to come to a greater understanding of the impacts of racism on an individual, institutional, and societal level. Participants will learn about critical race theory and practices of anti-racism across different aspects of their lives.

For more information or to register please click here.

Meet a Religious Member and their Community Virtually

This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know a Calgary Religious Leader and virtually visit their place of worship.

Last week's feature was:  Archbishop of Calgary The Most Rev’d  Gregory Kerr-Wilson – Anglican Cathedral Church of the Redeemer.

https://www.facebook.com/calgaryinterfaithcouncil/

Check out all of the previous highlights on CIC's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbnqU16MTKQ2EF4a5TuIwjg