So, What Exactly Do We Do?
Research has shown us that addressing the need for connectedness is just as critical as housing, food and basic supports. By making the connections that lead to wellbeing, long-term transformation — for both individuals and communities — is possible.
Our work is to improve urban wellbeing for people living at the margins, and also for other residents and businesses in our city.
How do we do it?
We research and test new ideas and practices that complement or enhance existing practices and services.
We include people with lived experience in marginalized communities in the creation of new solutions.
We build partnerships to strengthen communities’ mutual understanding and respect for each other, and also to create more capacity within communities to nurture wellbeing.
We focus on connection as the target outcome, which fundamentally changes the relationship between service providers, the City of Edmonton, and Edmontonians.
We create environments where connections can flourish, both on the small scale, between individuals, and on the larger scale, through policy change at the institutional and systemic levels.
Learning and Unlearning
The Human-Centred Lab
Seeking Indigenous Approaches
Advancing Social Change