Mark Holmgren's Blog
The recent reports of community resistance to a Capital Region Housing proposed development in Keheewin are yet one more example of the NIMBY-YIMBY quagmire we cannot seem to prevent. I read Councillor Walters' remarks in the Journal, which I found to be balanced and, to be transparent, they resonated with me, but there are a … Continue reading Access to Affordable Housing is a (Complex) Human Right
We live in a world - especially in the western world - where it is just given that economic growth is a sacrosanct necessity in order to ensure continued prosperity. If a company is not growing each quarter, investors look elsewhere to invest their money. If businesses are not continually adding new products and bells … Continue reading Rethinking Economic Growth
<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
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
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
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.
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
