Georgian YMCA holds information sessions on new ‘inclusive’ community project.

PRESS RELEASE
YMCA OF SIMCOE/MUSKOKA
GEORGIAN COLLEGE
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Together, Georgian College and the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka are committed to co-creating a new standard for collaboration, inclusion and community innovation within our communities.

As part of this initiative, Georgian College and the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka will host two information sessions and invite community organizations to learn more about how to participate.

“By collaborating across social and cultural communities, we have an incredible opportunity to explore what an inclusive future-ready landscape might look like,” said Nicole Norris, director, social innovation, Georgian College. “In these sessions, we will focus on how to make the power landscape sustainable through an innovation ecosystem that applies the social determinants of health as measurements of flourishing.”

The two upcoming sessions – May 22 and May 28 – aim to involve and involve community organizations in the Future of Belonging initiative.

The sessions follow a recent announcement by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka and Georgian at the college’s Research, Innovation, Scholarship and Entrepreneurship (RISE) Symposium. The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka and the Georgia Social Innovation Unit are moving forward with the launch of a Community Innovation Network, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region that will explore how various community services can maintain relevance in the future, as well as how where they can collaborate to bring about change and bring agency to underrepresented groups.

“Our collaboration with Georgian College is about harnessing the power of our community to co-create innovative solutions that truly address the needs of our diverse population. We invite community organizations to join us in shaping the future of community-led innovation together,” said Pamela Marck, Vice President of the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka.

Next steps: information sessions

• Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
• Time: 13:00 – 14:30
• Location: Sandbox Centre, 24 Maple Ave., Second Floor, Barrie.
• Register online to attend in person or virtually.

• Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
• Time: 9:30 – 11:00
• Location: Sandbox Centre, 24 Maple Ave., Second Floor, Barrie.
• Register online to attend in person only.

These sessions will serve as platforms for an overview of the project, dialogue and presentation of opportunities on how to get involved in this project and redefine community-led innovation in the region.

For more information on the Future of Belonging project, visit futureofbelonging.ca.

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