Nesting
We offer a nurturing environment for social change initiatives that includes peer connections, access to learning opportunities, evaluation support and back-end administrative support.
What if there was a better way
to build stronger communities
for all?
Inspiring Communities supports the growth and vitality of the field of systems change in Atlantic Canada. We provide a nest for experimentation, develop leadership in the field, and cultivate a culture of learning and evaluation for social change initiatives. We are helping to shift communities and changemakers from a mindset of competition and scarcity to one of collaboration and abundance so that systems can change for greater social impact in Atlantic Canada.
Find out more: Our Story What We Do
Our Areas of Focus
We support change efforts through:
Evaluation
We offer evaluation support to initiatives in our nest, through Developmental Evaluation frameworks, designing theories of change, data collection and analysis. This work includes developing connections between evaluators, and growing a culture of evaluation and learning to strengthen the field of practice.
Learning
We generate learning opportunities to help cultivate the skills and knowledge needed for systems change leaders. We are committed to growing a culture of learning in all that we do.
Our Vision: Collective Action for Change
Positive social change is happening across the Atlantic region, that is based on new voices at the table, capacity to act, and a culture of collaboration and abundance.
There is so much great work happening in Atlantic Canada. We see innovative, fresh ideas and the desire and vision to change how problems are addressed. We also understand the realities of limited resources, inequities and operational demands that exist for local changemakers.
That’s where we come in. We offer a space for social change leaders and initiatives to experiment in a learning environment, receive administrative and evaluation support, share experiences with their peers, and develop their capacity to act. We bring those with lived experience, community organizations, government, businesses and changemakers together, to collectively solve the complex social problems we face today. We are strengthening collaborative change efforts in Atlantic Canada.
We aim to build bridges, amplify diverse perspectives, and collaborate. We believe that the scarcity mindset and fragmentation that have acted as barriers to change can be overcome.
Together, a brighter future is possible for all communities in Atlantic Canada.
Our Values Find out more >
Today, more than ever, we need to work differently. Together we can find better ways of thinking that lead to better ways of creating positive change. The Inspiring Communities approach focuses on taking the time to develop trusted relationships, from which real change can grow. We are working to change embedded structures, power dynamics and approaches to problem-solving - that can't, and won't, be done overnight.
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Collaboration
The issues we tackle are complex and cannot be solved by any one person, group or sector. We work with others whenever possible. -
Diversity and Equity
We believe in respectful engagement by nurturing diversity and celebrating existing community strengths. We embrace an equity-driven approach as we look for meaningful solutions to closing opportunity gaps in the pursuit of social inclusion. -
Abundance
We believe that all communities have a wealth of assets and we work through a lens of abundance - not scarcity. By connecting and amplifying existing efforts, and supporting new ways of working, we can increase our collective resources and impact. -
Trust
We go slow to go far. We know that the change that is needed will rely on trusted relationships. -
Take Risks
Real change requires an openness to trying new things. We believe in careful experimentation and investing in learning along the way - in terms of what works well, and what doesn't.