Twitter Me to Safety

Over a coffee this morning while reviewing a PowerPoint with an uber smart fellow, Jon Husband, I had a Twitter revelation.

I'm no fan of Twitting (sic?) it seems ... it seems ... unnecessary.

But Jon's presentation referenced a use of Twitter for social activism, namely assuring the safety of activists in dangerous places.

The example was given of Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, who has been detained many times and who uses Twitter to constantly let people know where he is, as a form of personal protection through publicity - if he stops twittering, his friends know that something is wrong.

With this example and being aware of the actions of the Junta in Burma, mobile Twittering takes on a greater importance.

On-line activism such as petitioning using Avaaz, or creating an on-line digest like Burma Digest, and posting videos like this one to You Tube or Google ...



feel like an established practice for digital activism that help the World become aware and witness social outrage.

Twitter could be a much more powerful tool in the hands of activists who don't have the benefit of an existing broad public profile.

Imagine, now I have a reason to recommend using Twitter.

[note this post also appears at ned]
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Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Activism, Technology

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OXJAM - See How Oxfam is Using Technology as a Path to Engagement

What is OXJAM?

Oxjam is a music festival with a difference. Across the UK, from now until the end of October, people like you will be putting on Oxjam music events to raise money for Oxfam.

And we are asking musicians, promoters - in fact, everyone - to get together this month to make music, raise money and help end poverty.

Fancy yourself as a bit of a player? Well, there is still time to organise your own Oxjam event - big or small. See below for ideas on how to get started.

Aside from using on-line sign-up forms and links to media sponsors, the folks at Oxfam are actively courting their supporters.

Take a look:

• You Tube
• Flickr
• My Space
• Technorati

[Photo Credit: Guardian Unlimited: 24 hours in pictures, October 2 2007.]
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Tags for information about: for:vsef, NGO, Oxjam, Oxfam

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Was it 2004? Really?

With the close of the first quarter it's a good time to ask ...

How do you feel about the state of Social Enterprise in Canada?

Pretty good? How about compared to the heady days of the 2004 Federal Budget? Remember that?

Canadian PM announces big $$$ for Social Economy

In his opening speech to Parliament, Prime Minister, Paul Martin announced that social enterprises would be assisted by a fund of CAD$152 million (over 5 years), and in a move reminiscent of the recent UK initiative, they would have access to the government’s small business programs.

Responsibility for the social economy initiative (along with community development) will reside in a new Ministry of Human Resources and Skills Development – indicating clearly that the government sees it as an employment generating initiative. By contrast, the rest of the voluntary sector initiative is in the Ministry of Social Development that is responsible for income support and other social services.

In his speech, Martin gave an indication of the source of the social economy initiative. He admitted that since the beginning of his political career he had been involved in RESO, an interesting collaborative venture between unions, businesses, and community groups in a large rundown area of southwest Montreal. RESO is often used as an example of successful neighbourhood regeneration, but in this case, the product is self-help enterprise rather than government.

Other interesting initiatives announced in the Canadian 2004 budget included:

• A commitment to a new not-for-profit corporations act, designed to reduce the regulatory burden on the nonprofit sector and improve financial accountability
  
• Acceptance of most of the recommendations on the tax treatment of charities made by the Joint Regulatory Table (between the government and the voluntary sector), established as part of the Canadian government/voluntary sector ACCORD
  
• A government investigation into the feasibility of establishing a bank for the charitable sector.

[Thanks to Accord for the reminder.]

And there was Eleni Bakopanos' speech at New Century, New Risks: Challenges for Social Development in Canada

The Social Economy

... However, I do believe that the social economy is an area that the federal government did not pay enough attention to in the past. It is only in the past two years that the social economy has gone from a situation where few people in the federal government had even heard of the social economy, to the February 2004 Speech from the Throne which recognized the vital role of this sector to Canada’s social foundations.

Social economy enterprises operate like businesses to produce goods and services that generate revenues, but they manage their operations on a not-for profit basis by reinvesting all revenues to achieve a social purpose rather than to generate a profit. They play an important role in promoting local and regional development, and set as their goal the integration or protection of their members and employees, including those most disadvantaged, without discriminating in any way.

The functioning of social enterprises is closely linked to the concept of social responsibility. In fact, the social economy reflects what many are now referring to as the ethical economy—corporate citizenship and activities that promote economic and social well-being, inclusion and justice.

This approach is not new, and it is all around us. It may be the day care centre, the housing co-op, a senior support service, or a local community economic development organization. Overall, Canada has about 10,000 enterprises and organizations that employ about 100,000 people and that have sales of about $20 billion ($2 million in average sales).

It is but one dimension of a broader community movement in Canada. The movement is being revitalized by innovative practices that are founded on citizen-led, community-based processes that create local partnerships and solutions.

And, communities and social entrepreneurs have a remarkable track record of success. To be more specific, I would like to give you one example from my own riding, in Ahuntsic. There is a wonderful organization called AMRAC. It grew out of a community plan to revitalize the local neighbourhood and create employment opportunities. AMRAC refurbishes furniture and builds new furniture. It employs and trains people who are having difficulties finding work. The organization has two storefronts––one for the furniture it sells to the general public, and another store that provides household items at prices that are affordable to individuals and families with low incomes. The revenues generated are reinvested into training programs and equipment.

IAM CARES is another example. It stands for the International Association of Machinists’ Centre for Administering Rehabilitation and Employment Services. IAM CARES offers services to those with physical and sensory disabilities to help them find jobs. Its mandate is to take on 400 clients per year and place about half in jobs. They usually surpass that number.

To help fulfill the potential of the social economy, we have been asking stakeholders what they see as the barriers holding back the growth of social enterprise in Canada. Five key barriers keep coming up in these discussions. The first is a lack of recognition. This relates partly to public awareness. Expanded political recognition can play a part in shifting attitudes and helping to establish a climate that properly honours social and community-owned businesses for the crucial role they play. There are also issues about how social enterprises are recognized under the law, particularly in relation to tax status.

Another issue is the need for a level playing field so that social enterprises can have access to the business development supports that governments currently make available to private business. Related to this is a need for access to loans, as well as long-term patient capital and a view that the financing needs of social enterprises are not being adequately met by private banks and lending institutions.

Another very important barrier, at least in some communities, is the lack of prior community-based planning exercises that are required to generate new social enterprises and underpin their growth. In particular, this relates to the need to build capacity among the various economic development organizations in the community that help to drive community partnerships.

Organizational and human capacity issues are also a challenge. Social enterprises, and the networks and organizations that support them, require skilled employees, managers and board members. And finally, there is a lack of research and knowledge. We must demonstrate when and why social economy approaches are successful, and identify and share the strategies that work best. Building this evidence is essential for two reasons: first, because it will help build credibility and shift public attitudes about the social economy, and second, because it will help those involved in the social economy to continually improve and become stronger.

I can imagine you now want to know: “What is the role of the federal government in the social economy?” Let me assure you that the social economy has emerged as a significant new priority for the Government of Canada. The February 2004 Speech from the Throne acknowledged the promising and vital contribution of social entrepreneurship in community development. The March 2004 Budget announced up to $132 million in new spending and firmly put the social economy on the Government’s agenda for helping communities. ...

So ... how do you feel?

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Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Economy, Nonprofit, Social Enterprise

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A Social Enterprise or a Government Sponsored Programme?

This Thursday the City of Vancouver's Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets will receive a recommendation of the General Manager of Engineering Services to wit...

THAT Council approve a street cleaning grant of $60,000 to Family Services of Greater Vancouver - Street Youth Job Action to supplement cleaning of sidewalks, lanes and public spaces by City forces, with previously approved funding from the 2007 Street Cleaning Operating Budget.

Firstly, congratulations to the folks contributing to the growth of Street Youth Job Action.

The idea was a good one back when the City funded Save Our Living Environment (SOLE) from the "Solid Waste Capital Reserve".

It's interesting to note the City invited "five independent Vancouver based social enterprises" to apply for the grant with these two organisations submitting in addition to SYJA:

• Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House - Youth Spot Services
• The Kettle Friendship Society

Little steps. Little steps.

About Street Youth Job Action:

Street Youth Job Action (SYJA) helps homeless and at-risk youth help themselves by creating flexible, temporary, and part-time employment. Employment is provided on a first-come-first-served, work-today-paid-today basis. Presently, this program provides the community with needle pick up and graffiti removal.

SYJA Funding:

Funding for this program is provided by the Ministry of Employment & Income Assistance and through business contracts with community partners.

Community Partners:

• Vancouver Coastal Health Authority,
• Davie Village Business Improvement Association,
• Yaletown Business Improvement Association and
• Homeless Nation

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Interested in learning more about social enterprise? Take a browse through the Vancouver Social Enterprise Book Store (Vancouver | United Kingdom | United States) and see what other social entrepreneurs recommend reading.

Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Enterprise, Nonprofit, Funding

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IMPACS - No Longer

The Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS) was committed to strengthening the voice and profile of civil society organizations in Canada and internationally.

The March 21 Statement from the board declares the ten year old organisation insolvent. A highly regrettable outcome.

IMPACS has been a friend to the VSEF since our inception. As a civil society organisation believing ...

that when not-for-profits, or civil society organizations, do a better job of communicating the issues that are important in their communities - such as environmental protection and social justice - those issues are more fully and better represented in public policy debates.

... we had areas of mutual interest.

We note the following portion of the board's statement:

The Board and management of IMPACS have worked hard over the last several months to keep the enterprise viable and solvent. However, a number of factors have combined to make that goal elusive.

While IMPACS had recently received word of some greatly appreciated new funding for some of its programs by a number of Canadian foundations and new federal funding for one of its international projects, the IMPACS Board has determined that the only responsible course of action available at this time is to plan for an orderly wind-up of IMPACS, assisting in the securing of new work opportunities for the organization's employees and to limit the adverse financial exposure of the organization and its valued creditors.

The experience of IMPACS is, regrettably, not an isolated instance. There are numerous non-governmental organizations and charities in Canada's community non-profit sector that are facing many of the same financial stresses. Chief among them is the lack of what is often called "core-funding,"i.e. revenue sources from operations or grants from governments or foundations that can sustain what is even the modest central management function at the heart of any organization.

There are lessons here.

Heads Up Credit | Rob Cottingham
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Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Economy, Nonprofit

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Social Enterprise Day - November 16th

Although it's not a celebration opportunity in Canada ... we thought we'd adopt it from the UK.

Join us in celebrating social enterpreneurs, everywhere.

In our work to advance social enterprise, this sort of thing keep us looking to the future ... imagine a dedicated position in the federal cabinet to the needs of the "Third Sector".
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Tags for information about: for:vsef, Social Enterprise, Nonprofit, Civil Society

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