Environment & Diversity
Overview
Why We Need Diversity
Who's Involved
Diversity Activities Learning & Resources Conference
Diversity Blog

Activities

2009

• initial survey and interviews with core collaborative partners on successes, challenges, needs related to diversity to determine training/coaching priorities
• Establishment and meeting (x2) of the Advisory Council
• Workshops: Board Diversity, Ethnic Media and Communications, Inclusive Recruitment and Hiring with hireimmigrants.ca
• Creation of a formative learning and evaluation plan and first-annual project review
• Ongoing support, coaching for collaborative partners

2010

• Recruitment and hiring of six project interns to build capacity within the collaborative partners
• Intern Training: Social Media Training (check out the diversity blog), Facilitations Skills, First Nations 101, Anit-Racism
• Public Workshops: First Nations Awareness
• Sustainability Network leads and supports organizational Diversity Action Planning process with collaborative groups
• Refinement of learning and evaluation plan
• Ongoing support, coaching for collaborative partner
  
• Public workshops (fall)
• Advisory Council to meet (early summer and fall)
• Mini-grants program guidelines publicized (fall)

2011

• First round of mini-grants awarded (Total of $25,400 amongst six organizations)
• Diversity Conference June 3rd, 2011 - Collective Impact! The Environment & Our Diverse Society
• Native Bus Tour with the Toronto Green Community
  
• Diversity in Governance workshop with Maytree Foundation
  

2012

• Second round of mini-grants awarded (Total of 5 grants of $5000 each)
• More public workshops
• Final four-year project evaluation

The Environment & Diversity Project is a capacity-building initiative. The project builds diversity capacity on three levels:

Individuals - People in the Core Collaborative Organizations

• building confidence and providing support for leaders to become diversity champions in their organizations
• paid positions and a professional development plan for young professionals in each of the partner ENGOs to work with under represented communities and help them focus on reaching new audiences

Organizations - The Collaborative Partner Organizations

• customized ethno-cultural and Aboriginal diversity training and ongoing coaching to support for organizations
• development and tracking of diversity action plans (goals include internal aspects such as staff, board, volunteer diversity and external aspects such as programming and communications

Sector

• sector-wide training, networking and sharing
• mini-grants to support organizational diversity efforts outside of the core collaborative
• sector-wide diversity conference
• resource sharing tools

An ongoing, formative learning and evaluation process that includes reflection, documentation and sharing of experiences is a key component of this work. Check out Learning & Resources to find out more about what we've learned so far, and what tools and resources can help your organization become more diverse and inclusive.