Counting Change in Grande Prairie: Making Poverty Reduction Everybody’s Business Community Engagement Session March 22, 2012 Grande Prairie Public Library

Session Outcomes To understand the current state, impact and costs of poverty in Grande Prairie To engage key stakeholders To learn about how other communities are tackling poverty To determine a path forward for Grande Prairie

Agenda AMGreetings Setting the Context Do the Math Exercise Poverty Priorities PMDeveloping the Network Poverty Reduction Perspectives – Lessons from Alberta and Vibrant Communities Canada Wrap up and Next Steps

Setting the Context Current State of Poverty in Grande Prairie – What we know, what we need to know – Impacts of poverty on the community

Do The Math Instructions: – In your table groups, work through the work sheets to determine what it costs to live in Grande Prairie. Reflection Questions: – What surprised you? What did you learn? What inspired you?

Poverty Priority Table Discussions What are the impacts and costs of poverty on Grande Prairie? Who is already working on this problem? What are some of the priorities the community should focus on to reduce poverty in Grande Prairie? What are the next steps for Grande Prairie?

Building our Social Network

Poverty Perspectives Dan Meades – Vibrant Communities Calgary Liz Weaver – Vibrant Communities Canada

Next Steps Counting Change in Grande Prairie: Making Poverty Reduction Everybody’s Business