colleen diamond's blog

"Be the change you want to see" is a well known motivational phrase. CSI's Director of Programs and Partnerships, Eli Malinsky used this phrase the other day in reference to the way the staff team take care of our wonderful space. I think the sentiment is applicable to a lot of what staff and members do here at CSI, and I wanted to explore it a bit more, especially in relationship to the Live Green Toronto community action project CSI helped to produce.

The sentiment of this phrase includes two great elements:

For longer than I have been an employ at the Centre for Social Innovation, CSI staff have talked the talk and walked the walk on the topic of Community Animation. And, they've done a great job at it.

CSI staff claimed we were going to throw the mother of all parties, and boy did we ever!

We drew a crowd of almost 700 people (!!). There were mothers, fathers, designers, accountants, lawyers, familiar and unfamiliar faces, and even a few unborn babies in attendance! Most accurately, there were people from all aspects of the community who came together to dance, raise a glass for social change, and help us celebrate the purchase of CSI Annex.

Check it out:

Tonya and CSI are featured in the Toronto Star.

Socialfinance.ca is hiring!!! Check out the job posting here!

The topic of money has been everywhere for me lately. As CSI explores funding options and opportunites for the purchase of the new building, everyone here is chatting about how CSI will raise the necessary dollars. People are always chatting about funding for social innovators. And, in my personal life too, friends and I have been chatting about venture capital: what it is and what life would be like as a venture capitalist (!!), how do you get to that point. The key component to all of these conversations, though, is how does "good" relate to "venture" and to "capital."

GOOD Inc. is hiring that is!!

Catherine Porter wrote a great article about CSI in the Toronto Star last Thursday titled "Matchmaking for a Better City." The article talks about the folks working at CSI, our weekly salad club, the concept of community bonds, and CSI's new building project.

Check it out here.

Valerie Hussey, CSI's Director of Social Enterprise, comments on Social Enterprise (aka the third sector) in Canada and the UK:

CSI in the Globe and Mail Business section. Thanks Margie!

A desk, a phone and an end to isolation. By Graham Lanktree