A recent headline: "Charity watchdog urges donors to think twice before giving to Calgary Flames Foundation." Read it here if you haven't already. The article does not paint the Flames Foundation in a positive light. That said, I am not here to debate if the foundation is a cash hoarder or an expensive charity. I … Continue reading Why do we love bad stories about charities?
Author: Mark Holmgren
Mark Holmgren is the Executive Director of the Edmonton Community Development Company.
The Way of Innovation
<repost> The word "innovation" conjures up positive imagery. We see it as something we want to be known for. It's creative, desirable, inspiring, and we sense that if we can do it, if we can achieve it, we will lift ourselves up above the status quo, not to mention those who are quite comfortable in … Continue reading The Way of Innovation
Collective Impact as Uprising
I have written in the past about what I call the pendulum swing or the bandwagon effect. I think this is what has happened with respect to collective impact over the past 10 years. I suggest it also occurred in the late 1980s when outcome measurement rode into town on its stallion named Logic Model. … Continue reading Collective Impact as Uprising
My Basketball Coach
I have always been tall and husky. I was my current height, 6 foot 7 inches, in my freshman year of high school, and I was a basketball player and I was pretty good at that game. Back then a guy my size was automatically assigned the center position. And that's where my coach put … Continue reading My Basketball Coach
To not be a racist you have to know you are a racist.
There’s so much I wish would change. I am sure you feel the same way, too. Problem is sometimes what I want to change are those that would, if they could, transform me into a variation of them. And, yeh, that’s about the same thing I want to do to them. What is it about … Continue reading To not be a racist you have to know you are a racist.
Development as Community Strategy
Posted first on the blog of the Edmonton Community Development Company, where I am the Executive Director In my first three months as the executive director of the Edmonton Community Development Company, I estimate I have had over 100 meetings, most of them being one to one conversations or small group discussions about the communities … Continue reading Development as Community Strategy
Some Days Are Rich!
Some days are rich. I meet and talk with incredible people, people working hard to make positive change in their (in our) community. Yesterday I met with a delightful woman who is working with others to craft innovative approaches to ending racism. Ending racism is one of the game-change strategies of End Poverty Edmonton. Can … Continue reading Some Days Are Rich!
