Social Planning Toronto

Nominations are now open for Social Planning Toronto's Board of Directors! Learn more at socialplanningtoronto.org/2024board.

We'll be there 🥳🥳🥳

Did you know that our party Celebrating Progress is being held at the historic Cecil Community Centre? Join us tomorrow, Tuesday June 25, to check out Cecil Community Centre’s rich history reflective of the ever-evolving neighbourhood around it. Link in bio to get your ticket! ✨

Built in 1890, the building originally housed the church of the Protestant congregation of the Church of Christ, before being sold in 1922 to the Polish Ostrovtzer congregation and converted to a synagogue. During the mid-60s, the building became the Chinese Catholic Centre, acting as a religious hub and offering help for new immigrants to the area.

In the early 70s, the building became the headquarters for one of Toronto’s earliest gay rights groups, the Community Homophile Association of Toronto (CHAT). CHAT used the building to hold events, conduct public education, and offer support services such as drop-in sessions and counseling phone lines. In the late 70s, the city acquired the building at 58 Cecil Street and it became what we know today as the Cecil Community Centre.

Experience the space for yourself on Tuesday June 25! Tickets in bio. 🎟️

On Wednesday June 26, Toronto City Council has the opportunity to make rent control a reality on all municipal housing initiatives.

Unfortunately, City staff are recommending that City Council votes to approve rent increases 2 - 3 times higher than rent control for housing built on public land and with public funding.

Tell City Council that we need real rent control now!

Take action: tenantunion.ca/rentcontrol

How can Toronto better work with community-led organizations to support newcomers? Read our latest report, Reimagining Funding and Service Delivery for Newcomers: Considerations for Relational Infrastructure, published in partnership with Department of Imaginary Affairs and TSLIP - Settlement Services Working Group: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/funding_for_newcomers_infrastructure

Reimagining Funding and Service Delivery for Newcomers: Considerations for Relational Infrastructure Working together to build a fairer, more inclusive Toronto.

Reach Out Reponse Network (Reach Out Response Network) is building a new, non-police mental health emergency service in Toronto. Join their open meeting on June 26 to learn more and to get involved:

Reach Out Response Network's Open Meeting Join RORN's Open Meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 6:30PM

"Tenants really need the city to advocate for them to go above and beyond what is required currently by policy."

About 240 rental units in Toronto could move one step closer to being torn down for new developments today.

As demovictions rise in Toronto, more tenants worry they could soon join the trend | CBC News About 240 rental units in Toronto could move one step closer to being torn down for new developments Tuesday, causing their tenants to be victims of a demoviction in the process.

See you there! 🚈

🚎🚌🚇See you at the Transit Rider Summit! Join TTCriders for a free day of workshops and planning sessions to get involved in the transit movement, learn new skills, and meet people across the GTHA who want to win better transit.

Location: Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive
Date: Sunday, June 16, 2024
Time: 11am-4pm, registration opens at 10:30am.

Free event! Food and TTC tickets provided. Childcare, Mandarin-language whisper translation, and American Sign Language interpretation available (please indicate your access needs when registering).

Workshop topics so far: How to speak to the media, how to meet with elected officials, how to appeal your Wheel-Trans status, Knowing Your Transit Rights, time for discussion and planning campaigns.

Full schedule coming soon!

Please register (link in bio): https://www.ttcriders.ca/transitsummit2024

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Our recent event, Toronto's Poverty Reduction Strategy: Improving Collaboration for Collective Impact, is now online! SPT was joined by Bryony Halpin (the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction) and Orpah Cundangan (of the Tamarack Institute) to discuss the role of collaboration in tackling the root causes of poverty. Watch a recording here:

Watch Our Webinar: Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy—Improving Collaboration for Collective Impact SPT is joined by Bryony Halpin (the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction) and Orpah Cundangan (from The Tamarack Institute) to discuss their approaches to tackling the root causes of poverty.

The latest Action Plan of Toronto's Poverty Reduction Strategy is coming to City Council in May. Amidst unprecedented homelessness, housing unaffordability, and food insecurity, this Action Plan is an opportunity to embed a new urgency and commitment to do everything we can to tackle the alarming level of poverty in our city.

We’ve got 2 events coming up to help you have a voice in shaping the next Action Plan.

📌 Thursday, April 11 at 01:00 PM
Towards Prosperity in Tkaronto — Working in partnership towards solutions
Join SPT and Lindsay Kretschmer, Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) for a conversation about Indigenous prosperity and what eliminating poverty means for Indigenous community-based organizations. Kenn Richard, consultant and author of the forthcoming Toronto Aboriginal Research Project 10-Year Legacy Review and Indigenous Prosperity Action Plan, will speak about the systemic change, investments, and long-term solutions needed for Indigenous people in Toronto to thrive and how non-Indigenous community-based organizations can partner and act as allies in this work.

📌 Wednesday, April 17 at 01:00 PM
Managing Media for Your Organization & Making Deputations
This workshop will support community-based organizations to speak publicly about what ending poverty means for the communities they work with. Kathryn LeBlanc, a social impact communications expert and Principal Consultant at LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, will guide you to manage media on behalf of your organization, including:
👉 Planning your campaign or media engagement
👉 Pitching stories to media
👉 Making deputations
👉 Creating organizational media protocols

🔎 Find out more and register at:
https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

The latest Action Plan of Toronto's Poverty Reduction Strategy is scheduled to come to City Council in May. Amidst unprecedented homelessness, housing unaffordability, and food insecurity, this Action Plan is an opportunity to embed a new urgency and commitment to do everything we can to tackle the alarming level of poverty in our city.

We’ve got 2 events coming up to help you have a voice in shaping the next Action Plan.

🚨 Thursday, April 11 at 01:00 PM
Towards Prosperity in Tkaronto — Working in partnership towards solutions
Join SPT and Lindsay Kretschmer, Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) for a conversation about Indigenous prosperity and what eliminating poverty means for Indigenous community-based organizations in Tkaronto. Kenn Richard, consultant and author of the forthcoming Toronto Aboriginal Research Project 10-Year Legacy Review and Indigenous Prosperity Action Plan, will speak about the systemic change, investments, and long-term solutions needed for Indigenous people in Toronto to thrive and how non-Indigenous community-based organizations can partner and act as allies in this work.

🚨 Wednesday, April 17 at 01:00 PM
Managing Media for Your Organization & Making Deputations
This workshop will support community-based organizations to speak publicly about what ending poverty means for the communities they work with. Kathryn LeBlanc, a social impact communications expert and Principal Consultant at LeBlanc (& co.) Communications, will offer guidance on managing media on behalf of your organization, including:
o Planning your campaign or media engagement activation.
o Pitching stories to media
o Preparing and delivering public deputations.
o Organizational media protocols for requests and for media overall.

Find out more and register at: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

Want to join us in bringing new urgency and commitment to ending poverty in Toronto? As the City of Toronto considers its new Action Plan for its , our media workshops will help community-based organizations speak publicly about what ending poverty would mean for the communities they work with.

Tomorrow, April 9, our first of two workshops, "Speaking with Media and Shaping Your Message," will teach you the essentials of engaging and responding to media:

👉 what to expect/know about working with media outlets before doing an interview,

👉 preparing for an interview as a frontline worker and supporting clients to take part in interviews, and

👉 creating and using strong social impact messaging.

Get more info and register here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

📢 TUESDAY! Join us for our first of two media workshops to help community-based organizations shape Toronto's new Action Plan for .

Tuesday, April 9, 1pm, Zoom
👉 Speaking with Media & Shaping Your Message 👈
As part of our efforts to bring new urgency and commitment to ending poverty in Toronto, we're launching a workshop series to support community-based organizations to speak publicly about what ending poverty means for the communities you work with.

This first workshop will provide the essentials of how to engage and respond to media:
🎤 what to expect/know before doing an interview
🎤 how to prepare for an interview as a frontline worker and how to support clients to take part in interviews
🎤 creating and using strong social impact messaging.
With facilitator ​​Kathryn LeBlanc

Details & registration: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

📌 TOMORROW! Join us for the first of four events to help you have a voice in shaping the City of Toronto's new Action Plan for its Poverty Reduction Strategy, which will be considered by the Executive Committee on Tuesday, May 14 and by City Council during its May 22 to 24 meeting.

👉Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy - Improving Collaboration for Collective Impact👈
Thursday, April 04, 2024 at 01:00 PM
Zoom
Tackling the root causes of poverty is complex. Solutions involve multiple approaches and an ‘all hands-on deck’ spirit, including all levels of government. Municipalities like the City of Toronto play a critical role. Join SPT for a conversation with Bryony Halpin, the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction, to hear about her approach to collaboration, collective impact, and human rights in the implementation of the next (PRS) Action Plan. Bryony will be joined by Orpah Cundangan, from the Tamarack Institute’s Communities Ending Poverty, a powerful collective impact movement comprised of 330 municipalities (including the City of Toronto) and represented by eighty regional roundtables.

Learn more and register at https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

The Monitor, Spring 2024 We can shape the future of urban life

The City of Toronto's new Poverty Reduction Strategy 2023-2026 Action Plan will be considered by the Executive Committee on Tuesday, May 14, and by Council during its May 22-24 meeting.

The new Action Plan will be available to the public on Tuesday, May 7, before the Executive Committee meeting. You can find information on how to share your comments in writing or in person at Committee meetings on the City’s website.
In the meantime, we’ve got events to help you learn more about poverty reduction and get ready to advocate.

In the meantime, we’ve got events to help you learn more about poverty reduction and get ready to advocate.

👉 April 4: Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Improving Collaboration for Collective Impact

Join us for a conversation with Bryony Halpin, the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction, to hear about her approach to collaboration, collective impact, and human rights in the implementation of the next Action Plan. Bryony will be joined by Orpah Cundangan, from the Tamarack Institute’s Communities Ending Poverty.

👉 April 9: Workshop – Speaking with Media & Shaping Your Message

To support community-based organizations in speaking publicly about what ending poverty means for the communities they work with, this workshop will provide the essentials on engaging with and responding to media.

👉 April 11: Towards Prosperity in Tkaronto – Working in partnership towards solutions

Join SPT and Lindsay Kretschmer, Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) for a conversation about Indigenous prosperity and what eliminating poverty means for Indigenous community-based organizations in Toronto. Kenn Richard, author of the forthcoming Toronto Aboriginal Research Project 10-Year Legacy Review and Indigenous Prosperity Action Plan, will speak about the systemic change, investments, and long-term solutions needed for Indigenous people in Toronto to thrive and how non-Indigenous community-based organizations can partner and act as allies in this work.

👉 April 17: Workshop – Managing Media for Your Organization & Making Deputations

This second media workshop will cover managing media on behalf of your organization, including planning your campaign or media engagement, pitching stories to media, preparing and delivering deputations, and developing organizational protocols for dealing with media.

Learn more and register at https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/poverty_reduction

Help shape the library's future! Contribute your input and ideas to our next five-year strategic plan by completing this short survey by March 27.

Don't miss your chance to share your thoughts with us 👉 https://ow.ly/TuZL50QNO2F

📣 Last call! You've got until Sunday at midnight to apply for our Researcher & Policy Analyst position (full-time, 17-month contract). Conduct community-based, action-oriented research on poverty, social & economic inequality, the nonprofit sector, & more!

https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/careers

Current Opportunities Working together to build a fairer, more inclusive Toronto.

Toronto will be hosting the 2026 . Let's make sure working people don't get left behind. We call on City Council to protect and enhance existing labour laws so all Torontonians benefit from the games!

Social Planning Toronto Toronto Environmental Alliance TTCriders.ca Progress Toronto Toronto Community Benefits Network CUPE Local 79

Read the statement ⤵️
https://www.labourcouncil.ca/joint_statement

The City of Toronto's new Poverty Reduction Strategy 2023-2026 Action Plan will be considered by the Executive Committee on Tuesday, April 9, and by Council during its April 17-19 meeting.

The new Action Plan will be available to the public on Tuesday, April 2, before the Executive Committee meeting. You can find information on how to share your comments in writing or in person at Committee meetings on the City’s website.

In the meantime, we’ve got events to help you learn more about poverty reduction and get ready to advocate.

👉 April 4: Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Strategy – Improving Collaboration for Collective Impact
Join us for a conversation with Bryony Halpin, the City’s new Manager, Poverty Reduction, to hear about her approach to collaboration, collective impact, and human rights in the implementation of the next Action Plan. Bryony will be joined by Orpah Cundangan, from the Tamarack Institute’s Communities Ending Poverty. Register here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/tprs_improving_collaboration

👉 April 9: Workshop – Speaking with Media & Shaping Your Message
To support community-based organizations in speaking publicly about what ending poverty means for the communities they work with, this workshop will provide the essentials on engaging with and responding to media. Register here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/workshop_1_speaking_with_media_shaping_your_message

👉 April 11: Towards Prosperity in Tkaronto – Working in partnership towards solutions
Join SPT and Lindsay Kretschmer, Executive Director of the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) for a conversation about Indigenous prosperity and what eliminating poverty means for Indigenous community-based organizations in Toronto. Kenn Richard, author of the forthcoming Toronto Aboriginal Research Project 10-Year Legacy Review and Indigenous Prosperity Action Plan, will speak about the systemic change, investments, and long-term solutions needed for Indigenous people in Toronto to thrive and how non-Indigenous community-based organizations can partner and act as allies in this work. Register here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/towards_prosperity_in_tkaronto_working_in_partnership_towards_solutions

👉 April 17: Workshop – Managing Media for Your Organization & Making Deputations
This second media workshop will cover managing media on behalf of your organization, including planning your campaign or media engagement, pitching stories to media, preparing and delivering deputations, and developing organizational protocols for dealing with media. Register here: https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/workshop_2_managing_media_for_your_organization_making_deputations

Hope to see you!

Toronto will host the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Social Planning Toronto and partners Toronto Environmental Alliance, Toronto Community Benefits Network, TTCriders, Progress Toronto, Toronto & York Region Labour Council, and CUPE Local 79 call on Toronto City Council to ensure that that the economic and social benefits of the games go beyond simply generating big profits for big corporations, and flow to residents across Toronto.

https://www.torontoenvironment.org/toronto_is_hosting_fifa_2026

Robel was one of 4 exceptional Nahom Berhane Scholarship recipients in 2023.

It's freed him up to focus on his school projects, engineering teams and volunteer work. He comments that, "The relief from financial stress has allowed me to dedicate more time and energy to my studies and extracurricular activities."

With up to $4000 in support, the scholarship can go a long way to helping young student leaders to realize their full potential.

If you’re a student committed to volunteerism and community service, apply by April 1! We're prioritizing youth of African descent. Apply now: nahom.org

REGISTER NOW: Findhelp's Agency-Specific Training for Spring 2024 ⬇️

🗓️ March 28: Understanding the Human Services System (1-Day Workshop)

🗓️ April 18 & 19: Information, Referral & Communication Skills (2-Day Workshop)

All workshops will be delivered in English by Instructor, Faed Hendry.

Registration: https://forms.gle/6g9XvHuVZMn1ZsLj7

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Findhelp Training & Development Agency-Specific Workshops provide specific foundational skills building workshops that are engaging, in-depth, interactive sessions.

Participants will enhance their ability to provide effective Information and Referral (I&R) through greater self-awareness and a better understanding of the human services system.

Learn more: https://www.findhelp.ca/programs-and-services/training/

Passionate about social and economic justice, urban issues, and equity? Join us as a Researcher & Policy Analyst!

You’ll get to address inequality across Toronto by:

👉 conducting community-based, action-oriented research on issues including poverty, social and economic inequality, the nonprofit sector, and more;

👉 analyzing public policy;

👉 developing socio-demographic profiles and reports to spark system-level social and policy change; and

👉supporting and contributing to advocacy and community engagement.

Apply by March 24!

https://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/careers

Single in the city? You’re not wrong in thinking costs have skyrocketed. Our latest research report by Abi Bala shows the cost of thriving has gone up 33% since 2017. Read our latest report. https://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/publications/thriving-in-the-city-single-working-age-adults/

The province has cut education for years and it’s time to push back. TDSB Trustees and staff have to decide how the funding from the province is best spent to support students and schools, but they can also call on the province to provide more funding. We know that education cuts hurt students, educators, and communities 🍎

The TDSB will be hosting public consultations to hear directly from people on what they want or don’t want in the budget. You can get involved!

Join us on Thursday, March 21 for our online workshop to learn how to speak at the Toronto District School Board to impact the TDSB budget and ensure our students are set up for success!

Link in bio to sign up.

We want to hear from YOU!

Contribute your input and ideas to our next five-year strategic plan by completing this short survey before March 27. Have your say today 👉 https://ow.ly/TuZL50QNO2F

In case you missed it, in November, SPT hosted a Resident Budget Forum with 22 resident leaders from across Toronto. Participants identified public transit, decent work, affordable housing, and community spaces as some of the key priorities for City investment.

What We Heard from Resident Leaders: Resident Budget Forum Summary On November 30, 2023, Social Planning Toronto hosted a Resident Budget Forum with 22 resident leaders from across Toronto. Residents shared their thoughts on the City's main pre-budget consultation questions and provided feedback on how to make budget consultations processes at the City more equitab...