From Our Vantage Point

Watch this podcast with closed captions here.Guests:Christopher T. Sutton | Wavefront Centre for Community AccessibilityShelagh Levangie | Harbour West ConsultingHost:Maria Turnbull | Vantage Point's Associate Executive DirectorEditor:Elijah Walsh

Guests:Megan Dykeman | British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary Prairie Chiu | Vantage Point's Director of Engagement and AdvocacyHost:Zahra Esmail | Vantage Point's Chief Executive OfficerEditor:Paul Wang

Guests:Dr. Delbar Niroushak | Dr. Delbar's LinkedIn | Coaching for Change EnterpriseHassan Pardawalla | Hassan's LinkedInHost:Rachelle Smalldon | Vantage PointEditor:Elijah Walsh

Resources:2023 State of the Sector Report: thevantagepoint.ca/sector-reports/Guests:Christoph Cloudius | The Discovery GroupCarol Hall | Victoria FoundationLynette Milkashen | YMCA – Northern BCHost:Cherie Payne | Vantage Point

Resources:Tamarack Institute’s Resources: Collaboration Spectrum Tool and A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient CollaborationAdrienne Mare Brown’s Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and MediationSustained Collaboration Network tools for non-profits: https://www.sustainedcollab.org/for-nonprofits/Resource on effective mergers and amalgamations: Merging for Good Resources on co-location/shared space: https://www.edmonton.ca/sites/default/files/public-files/documents/PDF/Non-profit-SharedSpace-Toolkit.pdf

Strengthening the capacity of the Non-profit sector is a primary focus at Vantage Point. Through all our work we seek to support, convene and uplift non-profit organizations in British Columbia. That’s why this conversation is so important to us. How can we use effective fund development practices and efficient technology to support our sector? The tools are out there. How can we use them best? Why are inclusive fundraising practices important? Who is responsible for financially supporting the sector? In this episode, our host and CEO of Vantage Point, Zahra Esmail, talks with Bryna Dilman, the Senior Director of Growth and Marketing at Keela, exploring the importance of strong and inclusive fund development and how data-driven technology can help us in building a stronger non-profit sector.

Warrior Life PodcastSqueaky Wheel PodcastBryce, P.H. (1922). The Story of a National Crime. James Hope & Sons Ltd, Ottawa.The Gift Of Sacred Being. In L.B. Brown, "Two Spirit People: American Indian Lesbian Women And Gay Men by: D. ChampagneDaschuk, James. (2013). Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics or Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal life. University of Regina Press, Regina.Geddes, Gary (2007). Medicine Unbundled. Heritage House, Victoria.  Joseph, Bob. (2018). 21 Things you May not Know about the Indian Act. Indigenous Relations Press, British Columbia.Manuel, Arthur & Derrickson, Ronald. (2017). The Reconciliation Manifesto: Recovering the Land, Rebuilding the Economy. James Lorimer and Company Ltd, Toronto.Palmater, Pamela. (2015). Indigenous Nationhood: Empowering Grassroots Citizens. Fernwood Publishing, Nova Scotia.Reynolds, Jim. (2018). Aboriginal Peoples and the Law. Purich Publishers, UBC Press, Vancouver.Teillet, Jean. (2019). The Northwest is our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, The Metis Nation: HarperCollins Publisher’s Limited, Toronto.Out Saskatoon, Two Spirit Missing and murdered indigenous womens report 

This episode we speak with Kevin McCort, CEO of the Vancouver Foundation, and Katie Clogg, Executive Director of the Sunshine Coast Resource Centre about the new Recovery & Resiliency Fund – $34 million of new funding available for not-for-profits and open for applications until September 30. It is an eye-opening conversation about what these two leaders have learned about good practices in past funding models, and what this new Fund can seek to correct with novel approaches, innovative evaluation criteria, and commitment to multi-year funding to ensure sustainable staffing and projects. BC not-for-profits and charities can apply for a grant from the Recovery and Resiliency Fund at this link: https://www.vancouverfoundation.ca/grants/recovery-and-resiliency-fund

Timestamps 00:08 | Intro01:36 | Hello, Darrell!05:46 | What is coaching?10:19 | Why is coaching an essential leadership skill?16:14 | Coaching stories23:26 | Ad24:21 | Choosing your timing29:36 | Ethical concerns & common mistakes35:07 | Final suggestions & resources36:24 | Outro & BOSS Conference InfoResourcesOrganizational Coaching Certificate (UBC)Introduction to Coaching (Vantage Point)See next available in our events calendarLove + Work by Marcus BuckinghamOak Management ConsultingEssential Impact

The Community Engagement office at UBC supports university and community partners to work together, bringing the full force of combined experiences, expertise, and knowledge to advance a more just and sustainable society. This episode features Kat Cureton, Advisor at Community Engagement, and Katie McCallum, who is the Manager of the Community Engagement office. It was great to talk to them both about where possible opportunities lie for not-for-profits and universities to work together towards their common goals. Before we jump into the conversation, I’d like to introduce you to our guests.Timestamps00:00 | Intro 03:00 | Self introductions: Kat & Katie                           05:51 | What part can universities play?10:07 | Navigating the university system 14:29 | Stories from the Help Desk17:43 | Funding opportunities & hiring students23:12 | Resource re-cap23:35 | Humanity Financial Ad24:28 | Making the ask28:14 | How can universities listen?33:12 | Reciprocity35:28 | Accessible learning opportunities38:45 | Closing reflections40:40 | Outro ResourcesCommunity Partner Help DeskContact email: community.engagement@ubc.caTwitter: @ubcCommEngageFunding for community partners:Partnership Recognition FundCommunity University Engagement Support FundMitacsUBC Arts AmplifierUBC Centre for Community Engaged LearningSocial Impact LabUBC CareersOnlineCommunity Scholars ProgramEdXUBC Extended Learningevents.ubc.ca 

Timestamps00:00 | Intro 01:37 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 104:07 | Warning Signs of Stage 104:35 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 207:47 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 308:48 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 411:54 | Financial Wellbeing: Stage 516:30 | Most Common Barriers to Financial Liberation19:20 | OutroResourceshttps://humanityfinancial.ca/https://www.charitydata.ca/

Timestamps00:00 | Intro01:52 | How it all began04:28 | How boards can make a difference06:39 | Who is Our Kids Climate for?07:43 | What action looks like11:37 | Does keeping up mean “going green”?12:30 | Mitigation and Adaptation16:06 | Ad17:01 | Exploring Our Kids Climate Sessions20:06 | Strategic planning for climate justice21:23 | Scoping sector interest in climate action26:26 | Getting started27:56 | Expecting the unexpected31:25 | Outro-----------------------Resourcesourkidsclimate.caEp. 63: Democracy, Equity, and Climate Change - oh my!------------------------SummaryNot-for-profit leaders are uniquely situated in the fight against the climate crisis – regardless of their organizational mission. Michael Davis of Our Kids Climate joins for our third episode of the year to discuss how boards can integrate meaningful environmental sustainability dialogue into their work and act towards climate justice within their own organizations. We also talk about how a focus on climate is a matter of keeping up with social innovation and being a leader in inevitable public policy changes.

Leah Coss of Build a Biz Kids joins the podcast this month to talk about the benefits of engaging skilled volunteers. Rowan and Leah discuss what it can look like to take the leap and re-envision volunteerism in your organization, and how organizational leaders can get creative with volunteer engagement. Resources Build a Biz Kids bit.ly/3vfkN8Y Episode 55: “A For-Profit Lens in Not-for-Profit Organizations” bit.ly/3vdtHUq Book: The Lean Startup bit.ly/3JSvwdD Book: Lean Impact bit.ly/3IiuB5L Engaging Skilled Volunteers Workshop bit.ly/34YKpwo Customized Training at Vantage Point bit.ly/3JSYAlq Timestamps 00:00 | Intro 02:10 | A for-profit lens 06:37 | Volunteerism at Build a Biz Kids 19:12 | Why volunteer? 24:52 | Ad 25:33 | Volunteer recognition 29:45 | A closer look at group interviews 37:08 | Re-evaluating your volunteer program 41:50 | Outro

Jennifer Walowic of SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue returns to From Our Vantage Point to expand on democratic engagement and introduce her new workbook, Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts. This is a sequel to our February 2020 podcast, The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement. Resources: Podcast – The 5 Principles of Democratic Engagement https://bit.ly/3H6PvV1 Workbook: Where to Start? A Workbook for Evaluating Democratic Engagement Impacts https://bit.ly/3rUYTVo Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue https://bit.ly/3KZYB8u Participedia https://participedia.net/ Time stamps: 00:00 | Intro 02:40 | About the Workbook 04:36 | Five Principles Re-Cap 08:22 | Unpacking Dialogue 11:00 | “Yes, And...” 12:00 | Ad 12:42 | Choose Your Own Adventure 15:07 | Step 1 17:17 | Step 2 21:08 | Step 5 23:37 | Humanity in Research 26:08 | Wrap-up & Outro

Celebrate the end of 2021 with us Vantage Point staff members as Rowan interviews fellow colleagues Cherie Payne, Maria Turnbull, and Shagun Bhanot. After what was a turbulent year for many of us in BC and the not-for-profit sector, we thought it would be nice to come together, enjoy each other’s conversation, and celebrate the challenges we surpassed in 2021 as well as look ahead to the future. We also had a great discussion on where Vantage Point is at and what our most recent changes might mean for you, our community members. We hope you enjoy our farewell to 2021 and we’re looking forward to the work to come in the new year. To find out more about the staff behind the scenes at Vantage Point, go to www.thevantagepoint.ca/about/our-people/ Episode moments: 00:00 | Intro 01:06 | Guest intros 01:52 | A Vantage Point memory from 2021 03:45 | A sector memory from 2021 06:15 | Looking ahead with Vantage Point’s new leadership 10:26 | Reflections on the AGM 16:28 | -------- Ad --------- 17:19 | Reflecting on a year of change in the sector 22:20 | What keeps us motivated 27:50 | 2021 inspirations for 2022 30:33 | Online shopping or online meetings? 33:44 | Thank you’s and farewells

This month’s podcast features Mark Friesen, a familiar face at Vantage Point for his work on the team as a consultant for many years. Mark was instrumental in the development of our Capacity Lab, a series of learning opportunities designed for not-for-profit leaders to apply the Lifecycles Model. It allows them to take a step back from the day-to-day to identify where their organization’s growing pains exist and strategize how to move forward. In this episode, Mark explains the Lifecycles Model and how Capacity Lab came to be out of a need for this overarching self-evaluation, and a space where leaders can convene to support each other in their assessments and strategic planning.

This month’s podcast shines a light on fat employees and how leaders can build safe working environments for employees of any size! Sasha Burden joins From Our Vantage Point for a great discussion on what inclusion in the not-for-profit (and for-profit) workplace looks like when it comes to employees of size: What are some things to consider when planning team building activities? How do we account for fat employees’ needs in HR policies? We even discuss healthy ways to talk about health. We hope this episode answers some of your “taboo” questions relating to culture and policy planning.

In a special edition podcast, Director of Government Relations and Sector Development Cherie Payne guest hosts a conversation with Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development and Non-Profits, Niki Sharma. Niki was appointed her role as a first for BC’s provincial government in 2020 and has lots to say about her work bridging the connection between not-for-profits and government. Together, Cherie and Niki cover an array of topics, from emerging gender inequality trends and insights in the work force since the start of Covid-19, childcare funding allocation and unique community needs, and how decisions around funding the not-for-profit sector are made in government at all levels. We hope you enjoy!

We centre food insecurity in the Lower Mainland with Zahra Esmail, Executive Director of South Van Neighbourhood House, and Upkar Singh Tatlay, Executive Director of Engaged Communities Canada Society in this very special podcast. While food insecurity is the theme, Zahra, Upkar, and podcast host Rowan discuss how racial biases impact the lives of immigrants, refugees, and street-entrenched individuals and how ECCS and Neighbourhood House support the work to meet their needs. Meet Our Sponsor: Humanity Financial [https://humanityfinancial.ca]

Anna Whelan, Executive Director of the HiVE, and Board Member Juliana Craig, join us to introduce Vancouver’s only not-for-profit coworking space. Here we discuss what the HiVE’s pandemic recovery looks like and how collaboration and community have bolstered and uplifted staff, members, and the sector in general throughout times of change. HiVE Vancouver is a not-for-profit social enterprise serving the social venture community. Their space is a unique coworking space located in the Gastown neighbourhood of Vancouver, BC. They are home to change makers, social enterprises, environmental sustainability groups, and other creative class individuals that support social and environmental sustainability. With over 100 desks, three board rooms and 9,000 square feet of space, there’s a home for just about everyone at the HiVE.