In an effort to inspire thought and discussion amongst community members, the Edmonton Social Planning Council organizes a series of discussions titled the Lunch and Learn Series. Guest speakers are invited to share their thoughts and experiences regarding social issues and the work that they do with front-line organizations that have an impact on Edmonton society.  Bring a lunch and join us in a series of dialogues that affect the health and well-being of Edmonton and its citizens.

Time: 12:00-1:00PM

Topic: Exploring Early Cultural and Economic Adaptation Process of the Newcomers in Michener Park, Edmonton, Alberta

Speaker: HM Ashraf Ali, ESPC Social Justice Intern and doctoral student at the University of Alberta

Description: The ESPC's Social Justice Intern HM Ashraf Ali will discuss the findings from his research project to understand the social, cultural and economic constraints that immigrants in the Michener Park area in Edmonton face. It is the hope of the author that this research will help shape policies that address the unique problems that immigrants in our community face.

Topic: iHuman- Building trust with youth

Speaker: Catherine Broomfield, iHuman Youth Society

Description: Since 1997, iHuman has been engaging youth with high risk lifestyles in a caring and creative environment allowing youth to be accepted for who they are and where they're at in the present moment.  By 'keeping it real' and building trust, iHuman bridges youth to community support and advocacy that they might not know of, trust or accept otherwise.  This presentation will focus on the organization's unique ability to successfully connect with youth that others marginalize.

November 20th, 2013

Topic: Preventing Gender Violence in Edmonton

Speaker: Melanie Alexander, Coordinator, University of Alberta Student Union's Gender Based Violence Prevention Project

Description: Our guest speaker will describe the Gender Based Violence Prevention Project at the University of Alberta. In her presentation, she will talk about what led to the formation of this project, their approach towards gender violence, and the awareness, education, and policy programming that the program delivers. 

April 17th, 2013

Topic: The interplay of homelessness, mental illness and addictions, and their interactions with the health and justice systems

Speaker: Jay Freeman, Executive Director, Edmonton Homeless Commission 

Description: Social issues such as homelessness, poverty, mental illness, addictions, and crime are each complex issues. But the complexity is magnified when you consider the interplay of these social issues.

By definition, complex issues have a high degree of unpredictability. There are no right answers, just many competing ideas. The causes and effects of these issues are often only seen in hindsight. We must rely on creative and innovative approaches to address these issues in our community. It has been said that the only way to deal with complex social issues is by using collaborative methods. 

This presentation will examine the inter-connectedness of homelessness, mental illness & addictions, and crime. It will also examine this population's high utilization of the health and justice system

Fact sheet

January 23, 2013

Topic: Ending Poverty in Alberta

Speaker: John Kolkman, Edmonton Social Planning Council

November 14, 2012

Topic: Seniors Abuse in Edmonton

Speakers: Anjulie Talwar and Amanda Gravel, SAGE (Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton)

Description: Our guest speakers will discuss elder abuse and the SAGE Safe House, which serves as a temporary safe haven for seniors who are leaving an abusive environment.

Topic: Hatred: Racial Discrimination and Its Impact on Edmonton

Speaker: Charlene Hay, Executive Director, Centre for Race and Culture

Description: Our guest speaker examined the spectrum of racial discrimination, from hateful acts to unconscious discrimination and related them to the Edmonton scene.

Fact Sheet

May 23, 2012

Speaker: Jan Fox, Executive Director, REACH Edmonton.

Description: Jan Fox spoke about the purpose of REACH Edmonton and the work it is doing to improve public safety in Edmonton.

April, 4, 2012

Topic: The Power of Organized Labour: The History of the Alberta Federation of Labour

Speakers: Winston Gereluk and Jim Selby, Alberta Labour History Institute (ALHI)

Description: Winston Gereluk and Jim Selby will look at the history of the Alberta Federation of Labour and its contribution to the labour movement in Alberta.
Fact Sheet

Speaker: Sabrina Atwal, Project Director, Indo-Canadian Women's Association

Description: Our guest speaker discussed honor-based conflict and the ICWA's research on culturally motivated violence against women in immigrant communities in Canada

YouTube Video   |  Pictures  |  Fact Sheet 

Speakers: Jonna Grad and Wendy Peverett, Centre for Family Literacy

Description: Our speakers discussed the impact of lower literacy rates on all aspects of a person's life.  They will also talk about programs offered by the Centre to help Albertans improve their literacy skills.

Fact Sheet

Speaker: Heidi Veluw, Project Manager, Live-Local Alberta

Description: Heidi Veluw spoke about the importance of supporting locally-owned businesses.

YouTube Video  |  Pictures  |   Fact Sheet

Pictures 

Topic: Mental Health Patient Advocacy in Alberta's Health Care System

Speaker: Fay Orr, Alberta Mental Health Patient Advocate

Speaker: Bernadette Iahtail, Creating Hope Society 

Description:  The vision of Creating Hope Society is to engage in a process of reconciliation that will allow Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal caregivers to arrive at a new place of understanding child welfare that will end, forever, the historically devastating impacts of child welfare.

YouTube Video   |  Pictures  |  Fact Sheet

Topic: Human Trafficking

Speaker: Kimberly Ferland, ACT Alberta

Description:  April 13 was Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Edmonton!  ACT Alberta is a coalition of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, survivors of trafficking and the general public who are concerned with identifying and responding to human trafficking in our province.

Speaker: Betty Wedman, Community Advocate

Description: Betty is a mother who, in 2008, lost her son to suicide due to bullying and depression.  It is her hope to bring awareness and shed light on changes needed within our society to enhance mental wellness in youth

YouTube Video  |  Pictures  |  Fact Sheet

Speaker: Ione Challborne, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton

Fact Sheet  | Pictures  

Speaker: Bill Moore-Kilgannon, Executive Director, Public Interest Alberta and John Kolkman, Research and Policy Analysis Coordinator, Edmonton Social Planning Council

Report: Time for Action: Working Together to End Poverty in Alberta

Speaker: Marjorie Bencs, Executive Director, Edmonton Food Bank

Fact Sheet  |  Pictures

Speaker: Pat Power, Social Worker and member of the Edmonton Elder Abuse Intervention Team.

Fact Sheet  |  Pictures

Speaker: Susan McGee, Executive Director and Murray Soroka, Director, Housing First, Homeward Trust Edmonton

YouTube Video  |  Pictures

Speakers: John Bol, Sudanese Refugee and ESPC intern, and Jim Gurnett, former Executive Director of the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers.