THUNDER BAY – A new project was launched on Friday aimed at connecting organizations to work together in helping local non-profits and community groups that are still struggling with recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Lakehead Social Planning Council’s new initiative, Empower the North, will help local non-profits and community groups bounce back from the pandemic together.
"We know how difficult it is right now to attract staff -- we're all experiencing that,” said Marie Klassen, executive director, LSPC.
"Our fundraising efforts are being mitigated by a lot of things. We're losing our volunteers daily. It's a different world, and again, how do we adjust to that? How do we help each other recover."
The program is made up of two components, a network of community organizations that will work together to share ideas and resources, and a website that encourages everyone, from organizations and agencies, to businesses and individuals, to post stories of their impact, raise awareness, encourage civic engagement, participation, discussion, debate, and anything that people want to share in the way of news and information.
United Way of Thunder Bay CEO Albert Brule encourages all local non-profits and community groups to sign up.
"Any service clubs, community groups, sports organizations, arts groups -- it's meant to be a welcome, warm place to come. You can share your stories, share your events, and invite people to join with you in making a difference for our community,” he said.
The program is funded until July 2025 by a $141,000 grant from the Trillium Foundation. When that time is up, the LSPC will report back to the province about the success of the program.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland said he's looking forward to seeing the data.
"We're far removed from the rest of Ontario, and we need to really erase those imaginary borders between our communities, and between our districts. We need to really come together and collaborate on the issues that are affecting the North. I can take that information and advocate on behalf of Northwestern Ontario,” he said.
Empower the North's first big event will be a community recovery lab called "Better is Possible." They're inviting local non-profits, businesses and government leadership to join them on May 6 and 7 to discuss how to recover from COVID together.
For more information visit this website.
