Community Projects
- Community Project A: Millenials' Giving
- Community Project B: Immigrants and Engagement
- Community Project C: University Students
- Community Project D: Francophones and SMEs
- Community Project E: The Rural Context
Community Project A: Millenials' Giving
Print a brochure of the Millenials' Giving Project (PDF)
Print the logic model for the Millenials' Giving Project (PDF)
Who is the community partner?
JustChange is an organization founded by a group of 12 diverse young professionals from the millennial generation who identify themselves as change makers. Their mandate is to accelerate great ideas that will produce a positive economic, social or environmental impact. They can be seen as an alternative form of giving analogous to a giving circle. This structure brings people together to pool funds ($1000) for bi-monthly grants to support locally based, bold ideas that create social and environmental outcomes. The process has a low-barrier entry call-for-proposals that caters to innovative high risk projects with high potential social return on investment. A consensus voting system ensures an inclusive and deliberative decision-making process. The group also organizes grant-giving celebrations that accelerate initiatives by connecting grantees with diverse networks and provide a platform to share ideas and request additional support. JustChange board members engage the community by partnering with local champions, reaching out to traditional media, producing blogs and sharing throughout social media, as well as, make connections among grantees to create a community of practice around local giving.
Why are the partners working on this project?
We know from the CSGVP data that those who are most likely to volunteer are young (between ages 15-24), highly educated (university degree), and have a high household income (greater than $100k). Furthermore, they are more likely to volunteer if they have been active in student government in high school, had parents who volunteer, or saw someone they admired volunteer. Despite these findings, members of the millennial generation are the recipient of negative stereotypes and biases. Without evidence, some are labeled as being less involved in their communities than their parents' generation. As members of the millennial generation, our partners are interested in challenging this stereotype by demonstrating they are active members in their community. They are also interested in understanding the motivations and circumstances surrounding the creation of JustChange in an effort to expand the model to other cities and provinces across Canada and to other countries. Together, we are exploring how CSGVP data and recent literature can contribute to understanding millennials' motivations and patterns of giving and volunteering.
What are the project's main activities?
We collaborated to systematically interview each member of JustChange (Ottawa chapter) so that we have a better understanding of individual motivations for joining the group, the driving forces that led to the group's formation, how the group operates, and individual and collective future goals for community engagement. The information will lead to a better appreciation of the complexities faced by organizations operating on a consensus basis. The rich source of data is being combined with other data sources for co-creation and development of knowledge products such as infographics, workshops, organization start-up manual, a survey of millennials, and a number of articles and presentations.
What are the anticipated results or outcomes from this project?
The partnership will increase our understanding of motivations and barriers to community engagement among members of the millennial generation. An anticipated outcome of the project is increased awareness and promotion of an alternative form of giving and volunteering among members of the millennial generation, and the public at large. This awareness can lead to an increase in the number of giving circles nationally, eventually contributing to an increase in hours volunteered and funds donated and to producing stronger and more resilient communities.
Community Project B: Immigrants and Engagement
Print a brochure of the Immigrants and Engagement Project (PDF)
Print the logic model for the Immigrants and Engagement Project (PDF)
Who is the community partner?
The Catholic Centre for Immigrants (CCI) which is in turn closely connected to other settlement agencies through LASI (Local Agencies Serving Immigrants) and OCASI (Ontario Coalition of Agencies Serving Immigrants) is our partner. CCI is one of the largest settlement agencies in Ottawa, and offers a full range of services to newcomers. The mission of CCI includes: a) promoting and facilitating the reception of newcomers to Canada, b) informing Canadian communities to address and respond to newcomers' needs, and c) helping newcomers in realizing their full potential in the Canadian society. The CCI serves over 8,000 clients annually, fundraises, and works with volunteers in a multitude of settings.
Why are the partners working on this project?
From the CSGVP, we know that immigrants are generally more interested in volunteering compared to Canadian-born individuals, but they tend to actually volunteer less. Many challenges are likely involved. New immigrants constitute a significant segment of the Canadian population such that about 1 in 5 Canadian residents is a new immigrant, and this proportion is expected to rise given immigration has become one of the most significant contributors to Canada's economic and population growth. This highlights the importance of considering ways for better immigrant integration and to build a caring community that is sensitive to the needs of newcomers. Previous research suggests that community engagement (e.g., volunteering, giving, participating) may help to build skills and knowledge in individuals, as well as to strengthen connections within a community. The partners are building on the findings from the CSGVP and literature to further understand how community engagement can contribute to immigrants' settlement transition and adaptation in Canadian communities. Of particular interest are interventions and initiatives that support new immigrants in making that first step, or "toe in the water", approach to community engagement.
What are the project's main activities?
Various activities are planned or underway for this project, with a particular focus on developing solid evidence that captures the contributions of 1-on-1 pairing between recent immigrants and long-term residents within the context of volunteering. Following up on the analysis and interpretation of the CSGVP data focused on immigrants, we are undertaking interviews with new immigrants and long term residents to identify themes such as past and current community engagement, definitions of volunteering, outcomes of community engagement, and experiences with the 1-on-1 pairing as an intervention to increase community engagement. A literature review on community engagement, intergroup contact and immigrants is also being used to interpret and integrate findings from the analyses and interviews. The findings from the project will be made accessible to networks of immigrant serving organizations, community development and volunteer networks, government, and academia in the form of community friendly reports, newsletters, book chapters, policy documents, information workshops, and scientific reports.
What are the anticipated results or outcomes from this project?
While the project focuses on the specific partner organizations and networks, within the context of the broader E=MC2 Project, we anticipate that the results will be relevant and useful for many other Canadian immigrant serving organizations, and community development and volunteer networks. In the short and medium term, the partners are aiming to learn about: barriers and facilitators for new immigrants volunteering; how new immigrants view and define volunteering; how to encourage and assist immigrant volunteers through pairing; and possible improvements to current settlement programming (e.g., employment search services) with respect to community engagement. Another anticipated outcome is having solid evidence to assist with obtaining resources for further development of settlement initiatives related to pairing and community engagement. The long-term goal of the current project is to increase community engagement among new immigrants, given the strong potential benefits to individuals, families, organizations and communities.
Community Project C: University Students
Print a brochure of the University Students Project (PDF)
Print the logic model for the Unviersity Students Project (PDF)
Who is the community partner?
The Centre for Global and Community Engagement at the University of Ottawa (CGCE) which in turn is connected to various national networks including the U15 (Canada's research intensive universities) and the Canadian Alliance for Community Service Learning (CACSL). The CGCE was established at the University of Ottawa to promote community engagement and social responsibility. The Centre offers a matching service to the community by helping match students to on- and off- campus volunteer positions. The Centre also has its own programs, organizes group projects in the National capital region and abroad. The Centre operates on a large campus of 43,000 post-secondary students, offering various opportunities to develop and test innovative approaches to effectively engaging students with their communities.
Why are the partners working on this project?
From the CSGVP and other data sources, we know that formal volunteering and direct helping in the community by students and youth is frequent, but quite variable. Some high school programs include volunteering requirements; but there is often a significant drop in rates of engagement as students transition from high school into post-secondary situations, despite the potential large benefits both to themselves and to their communities by remaining engaged through volunteering and direct helping. Across Canadian university campuses, offering of community service opportunities are growing but student participation is not always matching the efforts put into developing these opportunities, or requires heavy promotional investment in bringing these to the attention of students. These programs or services are fueled by a variety of interests: to connect to communities, to improve the student experience, to address community needs, to carry out specific research, for academic learning and success, for building skills and resumes, or for student retention. The scale and number of activities vary from one institution to another, as does the infrastructure available to support these. Determining how to match and promote opportunities to meet the needs of specific sub-groups of students is of high priority, particularly within a continuum of involvement ranging from short-term one-off projects to more structured skill development opportunities. This project focuses on using findings from the CSGVP data related to barriers and motivations identified by different groups of youth/students to develop, tailor and test specific interventions for initiating community engagement activities among students.
What are the project's main activities?
Various project activities have taken place or are underway with two specific initiatives being tested. Following the analysis of the results from the CSGVP for different sub-groups of youth, an initiative entitled Days of Service was developed to provide a (very) short-term volunteer opportunity allowing students to "dip their toe in the water" and explore volunteering. Days of Service are social volunteering activities designed to be fun, engaging and a direct response to a community need. The second initiative, the Living Learning Community, builds on the CSGVP findings as applied to the student residential experience. This initiative provides an opportunity for students living in residences to collectively take part in community service projects, an interactive way to meet other students and get involved in the community. Evaluations of these initiatives combined with lessons learned and best practices on adapting and using national level data on volunteering and participation for program improvement and development will be disseminated through the partner networks via presentations, webinars and postings.
What are the anticipated results or outcomes from this project?
While the project focuses on University of Ottawa, within the context of the broader E=MC2 Project, it will link with the league of U-15 and we anticipate that the results will be relevant and useful for many other Canadian colleges and universities. In the short and medium term, the partners are aiming to learn about: how students improve skills through even short-term community service involvement, how these experiences can contribute to subsequent community involvement, how matching initiatives with students' needs and motivations increase their levels of participation, and identification of community benefits from increased student involvement. The long-term goal of the current project is to contribute to the development of students' life-long commitment and interest in volunteering, and actively participating in positive community development, in view of the sustainability of community engagement.
Community Project D: Francophones and SMEs
Print a brochure of the Francophones and SMEs Project (PDF)
Print the logic model for the Francophone and SMEs Project (PDF)
Who is the community partner?
The Fédération des centres d'action bénévole du Québec (FCABQ) represents a network of 114 Volunteer Centres (Centres d'Action Bénévole – CAB) across Québec. The Federation serves its member organizations through its mission to "mobilize, support and represent" the local centres in order to promote volunteer action in communities. The Federation is actively involved with the local Volunteer Centres by coordinating and promoting activities aiming to respond to information and training needs, as well as yearly documentation of volunteering through profiles of its members and providing an overall picture of volunteering in Quebec.
Why are the partners working on this project?
Two areas of common interests led to this collaboration. First, national CSGVP survey results report generally lower volunteering and giving rates in Quebec compared with other provinces. This raises the question of whether the vocabulary used in national surveys allows us to capture Quebec conceptualizations of giving, volunteering, community and civic engagement accurately. The first goal of the project is to understand factors explaining the differences found in national surveys. Furthermore, the issue of developing synergies between the voluntary and business sectors within the context of employer-supported volunteering is of interest fo the FCABQ, one of their committees having started to conduct some work on the topic. One of the volunteer centres of the FCABQ, the Centre d'action bénévole d'Autray (CABA), located in the region of Lanaudière, is a fitting case study due to the various local collaborations developed with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The second goal of this collaboration is to support the FCABQ in their objective to document promising practices within their members by examining employer-supported volunteering initiatives in Autray county.
What are the project's main activities?
Activities related to data collection and analysis are underway in relation to the two areas of collaboration. The meaning and definition of volunteering in Quebec, as well as opportunities and challenges related to employer-supported volunteering in the SME context are being documented. A quantitative component of analyses is based on CSGVP data on volunteering and employer-supported volunteering in Quebec, while a qualitative component comprises literature reviews on these two topics as well as interviews with employers, employees, volunteers and community representatives. This case study examines the collaborations forged between the businesses and voluntary sector. Interviews with volunteers in Autray and elsewhere in Quebec also allow us to characterize the ways in which community engagement is experienced and defined by Quebecers. Results of the case study will be disseminated to members of the FCABQ and contribute to the development of tools to help Volunteer Centres wishing to strengthen ties with businesses in their community.
What are the anticipated results or outcomes from this project?
Activities related to data collection and analysis are underway in relation to the two areas of collaboration. The meaning and definition of volunteering in Quebec, as well as opportunities and challenges related to employer-supported volunteering in the SME context are being documented. A quantitative component of analyses is based on CSGVP data on volunteering and employer-supported volunteering in Quebec, while a qualitative component comprises literature reviews on these two topics as well as interviews with employers, employees, volunteers and community representatives. This case study examines the collaborations forged between the businesses and voluntary sector. Interviews with volunteers in Autray and elsewhere in Quebec also allow us to characterize the ways in which community engagement is experienced and defined by Quebecers. Results of the case study will be disseminated to members of the FCABQ and contribute to the development of tools to help Volunteer Centres wishing to strengthen ties with businesses in their community.
Community Project E: The Rural Context
Print a brochure of the Rural Context Project (PDF)
Print the logic model for the Rural Context Project (PDF)
Who is the community partner?
The Renfrew County Healthy Communities Partnership is our partner. Renfrew County is a rural county just west of Ottawa. It has the largest geographical area of any county in Ontario. Renfrew County is characterized by a low population density; it covers over 7,000 square kilometers with a population of approximately 100,000 (2011). The Renfrew County Healthy Communities Partnership is a group of community organizations who are addressing the social determinants of health to make Renfrew County a more vibrant, healthier place to live. The three lead organizations involved in this project with the University of Ottawa include Renfrew Seniors Support Services, Barry's Bay seniors support services and the Killaloe Community Resource Centre. The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are also closely involved.
Why are the partners working on this project?
From the CSGVP and other data sources, we know that formal volunteering and direct helping in rural communities and small towns can be different from larger urban centres. There are different needs, challenges, and opportunities. In Renfrew County, many non-profit organizations depend on volunteers in order to carry on their work. While there are many volunteers in the county, many more are needed. To help address this need, the Killaloe Community Resource Centre developed a online volunteer portal through which residents can learn about opportunities for volunteering with various community organizations. Despite considerable efforts in the development of the portal, it is not being used to its full potential. Given this situation, community organizations in Renfrew County would like to learn how to better attract, support and retain volunteers within their rural community/small towns context. They would also like to learn whether an on-line portal will work at all and if so, how it could be configured to attract more volunteers
What are the project's main activities?
A variety of activities have taken place or are underway. Initially, there were some broader dissemination activities (community presentation, media events) with our partners to understand the CSGVP data. These events assisted in determining how the broader national level findings could apply to Renfrew County, and gap areas where additional knowledge was needed to understand how to attract, support and retain volunteers within a rural community/small town context. To fill these gaps, a local tailored survey was designed with the community partners to better describe and understand the county level issues and learn from it about their own strengths and challenges.
What are the anticipated results or outcomes from this project?
While the project focuses on Renfrew County, within the context of the broader E=MC2 Project, we anticipate that the results will be relevant and usefl for many other Canadian rural communities and small towns. In the short and medium term, the partners are aiming to learn about: barriers and facilitators to volunteering in rural areas; how residents would like to learn about volunteer opportunities; rewards of volunteering; how to encourage and assist volunteers in a rural context; and possible improvements to volunteer portals. Another anticipated outcome is having quality community-level evidence on volunteering to assist with obtaining resources for further development of community initiatives in this area. The long-term goal of the current project is to increase volunteerism rates in Renfrew County, Ontario, by attracting new volunteers and supporting and encouraging new and existing volunteers to continue and to possibly do more volunteering if they can.
Project Partners
