Red Deer anti-poverty group joins Vibrant Communities Canada
Central Alberta alliance join Vibrant Communities Canada to reduce poverty
Beacon Staff Reporter
Vibrant Communities Canada has welcomed the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance as a member.
A Red Deer alliance that works to help central Albertans in their struggle against poverty is the newest member of Vibrant Communities Canada.
The Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) added Red Deer as a member of Vibrant Communities Canada: Cities Reducing Poverty, which is an association that will give CAPRA access to support and learning from across the country.
In Red Deer today, the CAPRA group was welcomed into Vibrant Communities Canada at a lunch session featuring guest speaker Liz Weaver from the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement.
Vibrant Communities Canada works to link communities from all across the country to reduce poverty at the grassroots level.
Community leaders from across central Alberta attended the session, which focused on engagement between regional leaders and officials who are interested in planning to reduce poverty through a systemic and universal approach.
CAPRA is a group of local not-for-profit agencies and individuals that has been collecting community perceptions and input regarding poverty and its impact on central Alberta.
“We want people to join the poverty reduction movement that CAPRA is creating and local champions are keys,” said Tricia Haggarty-Roberts, CAPRA co-chair. “Red Deer has been a leader in the area of homelessness with the Mayor’s Task Force. We can be a leader in poverty reduction, which is an achievable goal, as well.”
CAPRA will use its membership in Vibrant Communities Canada and local feedback to develop a clear focus for their efforts in the coming year.
“Poverty is viewed as a complex issue, but CAPRA is working to break down those complexities and determine some tangible tasks for our community and our leaders to take on,” said Amanda Ens, CAPRA coordinator.
“The poverty reduction strategies that CAPRA is working on are very different from poverty alleviation – it is more than food banks, welfare and handouts.”
The Province is working on a poverty reduction plan and CAPRA wants Red Deer to be ready to act when the plan is announced.
“The Provincial government recognizes that there are systemic changes to be made,” said Ens. “CAPRA plans to assist leaders throughout Central Alberta in making good policy decisions, and getting our community ready for when Provincial strategies roll out, which will ultimately assist those in poverty.”
CAPRA looks forward to being a part of Vibrant Communities Canada and rolling out strategies for Central Alberta in the coming months. The group has already achieved success in raising awareness about the impacts of poverty on the region, and they are anxious to continue their forward momentum.
“We believe in inspiring action,” said Haggarty-Roberts. “Together we can make a difference, and reduce poverty in Central Alberta.”
Category: Red Deer
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