Let's Talk Poverty

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, Edmonton-based endocrinologist and Senior Medical Director of Health System Integration for Alberta Health Services to discuss loneliness and its impacts on health and well-being.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Lee Stevens connects with David MacDonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, to discuss his recent report on CEO pay in Canada, taxation and income inequality.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Inam Teja, a local advocate and policy expert working to shape the way we think about housing, homelessness and city-building in Calgary.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid sits down with mental health and addictions advocate Karen Gosbee to discuss the realities of domestic violence, the importance of systems working together to create wraparound supports and how we can shift the mental models surrounding mental health and addictions. Links: https://www.karengosbee.ca/book/ https://www.calgary.ca/social-services/mental-health.html https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/get-help-with-substance-use.html

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid sits down with Catriona Le May Doan, President and CEO of Sport Calgary, to talk about creating a Calgary where sport is accessible to all, breaking down barriers to provide equitable community sports programs and representation in sports. Learn more about Sport Calgary here: https://sportcalgary.ca

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Elder Wanda First Rider to talk about Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the importance of ceremony and teachings, and her perspective on poverty and how everything we need is here.

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid chats with Anna Murphy, a community advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, about trans rights in Alberta, the fragility of human rights and what real allyship looks like.

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn chats with Meaghon Reid, Executive Director of Vibrant Communities Calgary about the state of poverty in Calgary, VCC's Beneath the Surface report and what individuals can do in their spheres of influence to affect poverty reduction and build community wellbeing. They also touch on an array of topics from affordable housing to social disorder to why it matters that we collects metrics and data in more meaninfgul ways.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Salimah Kassam, leader of Rise Calgary, to explore what it means to move from a scarcity to strength mindset, the concept of designing systems that create slack for people, and what some of the roadblocks are to shifting perspectives on poverty. They also discuss behavioural economics, why collaboration is necessary for solving poverty, and how innovations like mobility coaching are building the capacity for people to create new futures.

In this episode, Meaghon Reid sits down with Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, to explore what the role of business is in society, how that role is evolving, links between business and a healthy society, and the concept of shared prosperity. They also discuss financial and social prosperity, perspectives on how businesses may intervene, influence or shift policy, and insights into why we need to have the ability to generate income and wealth, while also investing in and sustaining social relationships in order to create a sense of belonging, a sense of well-being, a sense of community, and a sense of place.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with James Stauch, executive director of the Institute for Community Prosperity at Mount Royal University, to explore social innovation and social purpose, and how systems mapping is a wayfinding tool that helps deepen one’s understanding of a problem. They also discuss a variety of other topics including different social enterprise models, the impact of homogeneous groups designing systems, the skills needed to solve complex challenges, and how truly transformative and sustainable change requires many people, many institutions, lots of trusting relationships, and a deep commitment over time.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Jessica Cope Williams, Co-CEO of Kindred Connections Society to explore how an organization’s name can act as a barrier to those trying to access services and what it means to be a connection first organization. They also discuss mental health, poverty and early parenthood, and how investments in collaborative work across organizations shape better pathways to accessing services more easily.

In this episode, Meaghon Reid sits down with the CEO of Calgary Reads, Steacy Pinney, to discuss how Calgary Reads is spreading early literacy across Calgary through the Dandelion strategy, and the importance of literacy and prevention in the early years. They also explore how relationships are the catalyst for progress and change, how literacy is a community responsibility, along with some insights on how we can be bold enough to create space for challenging the status quo and brave enough to admit when it’s time to let go.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Sarah Sinclair, a Lawyer who leads the Indigenous justice program, Sahwoo mohkaak tsi ma taas (Blackfoot for “Before Being Judged”) at Calgary Legal Guidance. They discuss creating equal access to justice for Indigenous people, how Indigenous Law brings healing, and the need for systemic change in the legal system.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel is joined by policy and research specialist Lee Stevens to explore basic income. What a basic income could mean for Canadians and how it could have a positive impact on our social support systems. Insights into why basic income is a bold approach and why it’s important now. Providing evidence that debunks some of the misconceptions about basic income and how we have existing benefits in Canada that act as working models for a basic income.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel and co-host Lee Stevens dig into the topics of child care, women, and the economy with Andrea Cox from YW Calgary and Nevena Ivanovic with the Women’s Centre of Calgary. Together they discuss why child care is an economic imperative, share insights into the care economy, and examine why advancements in child care also require investments in the child care workforce

In this episode, Meaghon Reid sits down with the CEO of The Alex, Joy Bowen-Eyre, to discuss what it means to provide dignified services, and how food is a convenor and community builder. They also explore how progress comes from investing energy into policy and advocacy and why it’s important to abandon the status quo.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel is joined by Community Facilitation and Engagement Specialist Hagir Sail to explore allyship. Discussing how Enough for All principles like shared leadership, reducing racism and discrimination and dignity for all relate to allyship. Providing ideas about what active allyship looks like, and how it may require people to sit in discomfort and choose not to avoid the work out of fear of making mistakes. They also examine how individuals and organizations can use their privilege to leverage.

In this episode, Jaclyn Silbernagel is joined by Celestina Akinkunmi with the Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) to discuss how providing resources and supports makes a difference in how newcomers navigate and adjust to life in Canada. They examine the importance of removing language barriers from the equation and how meaningful partnerships help CIWA respond to the unique and individual needs of immigrant women and girls, and their families.

In this episode, Vibrant Communities Calgary and EndPovertyEdmonton’s Executive Directors share perspectives on poverty reduction and the future of Alberta. Discussing innovation and public will, the concept of servicing poverty, the role of policy in poverty reduction, and how municipalities are leading the way.