6/27/2012 Regena Farnsworth, Ph.D. BCAPI Leader Dean of Business, UNB Saint John & Chair, Vibrant Communities Saint John Presentation for OCE Social Innovation & Poverty Alleviation Forum June 26, 2012 SAINT JOHN OCE Social Innovation Poverty Alleviation Forum WHAT IS BCAPI? A non-profit organization, founded in 1997 by Bill Gale New Brunswick WHO ARE THE MEMBERS? 100+ business leaders and professionals BCAPI’s PURPOSE: Substantially reduce poverty in Saint John Our Story Move beyond “charity”. Help people get out of poverty. Address root causes. Break the cycle of poverty. BCAPI’s ROLE: “Catalyst” for Change Work in partnership with community. Contribute business leadership, skills, resources, influence. Why Business Leaders are Helping to Reduce Poverty in Saint John BCAPI FOUNDERS and ACTIVE LEADERS Its the right thing to do. It makes economic sense: - Savings to government - A ready workforce - Increased tax base The whole community benefits The status quo isn’t working. Solutions = Leadership + Change Bill Gale, FOUNDER, retired executive, RBC J.K. (Jim) Irving, J.D. Irving, Limited Derek Oland, Moosehead Breweries Lino Celeste(retired) and Charlie Harling, Bell Aliant Gary Lawson, Lawson &Creamer Tom Gribbons, RBC Dominion Securities Bob Vincent, Stewart McKelvey Regena Farnsworth and Robert MacKinnon, UNB Saint John John Wheatley, John B. Wheatley and Associates Nancy Creamer Ervin, TD Waterhouse Brice Belyea, CANLink Global Paulette Hicks, Fortis Properties Gerry Pond, Mariner Partners Rob Belliveau, Emera New Brunswick John Adams, Stantec 1 6/27/2012 Saint John Poverty Studies Women and children are the predominant face of poverty in the City •73% of people in poverty in SJ are part of a family. •Almost half of Saint John’s poorest citizens are attached to lone-parent families. •The poverty rate is highest for children under 6 years of age (34%). Saint John has neighbourhoods with high concentrations of poverty. 5 neighbourhoods have concentrations of poverty that exceed 25%. 3 of these neighbourhoods exceed 40%. Comparative Poverty Rates Census Year 1996 2006 2016 Cities Saint John Moncton Fredericton Halifax St. John’s Charlottetown Provinces NB NS N&L PEI % 27 22.4 20.7 25 23 % 19 19 21 15 % 20.8 Target: National Average 18.1 17.7 14.3 (now a regional municipality) 20.2 19.7 % 13.5 13.8 14.7 11 Canada 20.6 14.5 Sources: Statistics Canada. % Population below LICO (before tax) LICO = Low Income Cut-Off WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE VISION: • No child will ever again suffer lifelong poverty MISSION: • Break the poverty cycle STRATEGY: • Invest in families: school success, workforce participation, neighbourhood revitalization BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY in Saint John PREGNANT & PARENTING TEENS CHILDREN And TEENS Close the gap for school success PRIORITY NEIGHBOURHOODS Affordable housing solutions and the revitalization of lowincome neighbourhoods INVEST IN: LEADERSHIP RESEARCH A COMMUNITY STRATEGY MULTI-SECTOR ACTIONS TARGETS & MEASURES COMMUNICATION Help young moms achieve their education and be good parents SINGLE PARENTS New polices and programs that remove the Welfare Wall 2 6/27/2012 BCAPI’s FOCUS: Rates of Return to Human Development 8 Investment Across all Ages Early childhood education and care 6 Pre-school Programs Return Per $ Invested Children’s education School 4 A key strategy K – 12 school success To break the Cycle After-school programs of R Job Training 2 Poverty PreSchool Access to Post-Secondary Education EARLY LEARNING CENTRES 0 School 6 Post School 18 Age Founders Network PALS – Partners Assisting Local Schools 10 years of growth: 7 PALS Community Schools in SJ Priority Neighbourhoods 16 PALS Schools in Saint John 30 PALS Schools in NB In Saint John: 100 businesses/organizations are PALS partners 1000 mentors and volunteers $$$$ - significant financial investment AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS PRIORITY NEIGHBOURHOODS 3 6/27/2012 FIRST STEPS Vibrant Communities Saint John Leaders from business, government and community who learn together and collaboratively lead a poverty reduction strategy for Saint John. NB Poverty Reduction Plan Workforce Participation Cornerstone of GSJ Poverty Reduction Strategy 1. PUBLIC CONSULATION AND REPORT: • Connecting individuals to services and supports • Readiness programming and/or employment training (essential skills based) • Intensive Workforce Coaching with follow-up • Work-ready individuals profiled as assets to employers • Strengthening connections with employers WHAT’S BEING ACCOMPLISHED? Declining Poverty 30 a. Economic and Social Inclusion Act b. Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation (Crown Corporation) c. Community Inclusion Networks WHAT’S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED? • Leadership • Involvement - People - Organizations 28 % in SJ Living in Poverty 2. GOVERNANCE and IMPLEMENTATION: 26 • A Methodology 24 22 20 18 16 14 1996 2001 2006 2011 2015 - Do the Research - Determine Priorities - Develop Community Strategy - Build Initiatives + Partnerships - Evaluate progress - Communicate 4 6/27/2012 WHAT WE’VE LEARNED  Nobody wants to live in poverty Thank you!  There are no simplistic solutions Regena Farnsworth  Communities must be leaders and social innovators  IT TAKES TIME AND RESOURCES BUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS ENORMOUS BCAPI Leader Dean of Business, UNB Saint John Chair, Vibrant Communities Saint John www.sjhdc.ca/povertyreduction www.bcapi.ca 5