Ontario Community Changemakers

Overview of the Ontario Community Changemakers program:

Ontario Community Changemakers (OCC) is a leadership and micro-grant program created for Ontario residents to help spark new ideas and invigorate change in their local communities. In its fifth year, the program supports leaders from diverse ages, backgrounds and lived experiences to deliver their own creative projects that will activate public space, enhance civic engagement, and/or foster social inclusion. The program is looking for ideas that fall under the following three themes: Activate Public Space Public spaces are areas or places that are welcoming and accessible to all. They play a key role in impacting health equity and community wellbeing. Sidewalks, streets, libraries, parks, gardens, community centres and places for ceremony are all potential locations for project ideas that create renewed energy, celebrate cultural heritage, and add vibrancy to local communities. Enhance Civic Engagement Bringing people and communities together is a fundamental aspect of civic engagement. Projects which address common challenges and are rooted in local contexts, cultural approaches, and traditional knowledge can help spur people to take collective action and increase community participation in civic processes. Foster Social Inclusion Change starts when we recognize visible and invisible barriers to participating in public space and public life. Creating the conditions where everyone, regardless of their lived experience and identity, is able to show up for themselves and one another can help to foster social inclusion. When we consciously design with and for marginalized communities, everyone benefits.

Benefits of the Ontario Community Changemakers program:

• The selected Changemakers will receive $5000 in seed funding to implement one community project in one year. These projects must address public space, civic engagement and/or foster social inclusion. .

Eligibility criteria of the Ontario Community Changemakers program:

• Must be 19 years or over at the time of application.
• Preference will be given to those who can attend all three days of the Studio.*
• Applicants must reside in the Province of Ontario or in a First Nations Territory within the provincial boundary of Ontario during the time of project implementation.
• Project must take place in the Province of Ontario or in a First Nations Territory within the provincial boundary of Ontario.
• Applicants must propose a community project that activates public space, enhances civic engagement, and/or fosters social inclusion.