Carleton University has co-founded a new international network on universities, communities, social innovation, citizenship and work.
On November 25-28, 2013, the Carleton Centre for Community Innovation co-sponsored a meeting for researchers from five countries–Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Uganda and the United States–in Rio de Janeiro to plan the Better Futures Network.
Carleton’s Vice-President (Research and International) Kim Matheson, Senior Advisor to the President and Provost Katherine Graham, 3ci Senior Research Fellow Ted Jackson and 3ci Associate John Saxby participated in the planning meeting, which was hosted by COEP, a Brazilian social mobilization network, and supported by Canada’s International Development Research Centre, the Office of the President of Brazil, and Furnas, the Brazilian electricity company.
Representatives of community organizations in northeast Brazil presented the results of partnership projects in information technology, climate change, youth leadership and small enterprise, among other areas. Other presentations focused on waste management cooperatives in Sao Paulo, small agribusiness incubation in Uganda, hydroponic enterprises in the Caribbean, and the Community First (CFICE) project based at Carleton. The importance of creating appropriate government policy in response to community needs and capabilities was highlighted, as well.
To be officially launched in early 2014, the Better Futures Network will include individual members and associated networks based in all regions of the world. It will gather and disseminate knowledge on policies and models and cases produced through partnerships and social innovation that promote full citizenship rights and decent work for all, address climate change, increase affordable access to affordable food and water, reduce violence against women, and build youth leadership capacity for a changing world. The network will be coordinated by COEP and 3ci.