Civic Engagement for Social Change
Civic engagement for social change fosters active citizenship, personal and community popular education processes to strengthen democracy and promote a more inclusive, just and sustainable society.
As a society we see the need to support collective, community-learning efforts that build awareness, critical consciousness, leadership, skills and action among those facing discrimination and marginalization. Transforming our society depends on it.
Our Funding Objectives
This funding stream was previously known as Adult Education. We have renamed it to use language that is more accessible and understood. We continue to support initiatives adopting a popular education process where individuals, as the source of knowledge, voice their experiences and needs to define goals to work as a group toward community action and change. Civic Engagement as a model builds on collective knowledge and strengths and offers opportunities for more equitable power-sharing, especially for groups systemically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.
Our Approach
The Foundation supports projects that use civic engagement or popular education processes to assist equity-seeking groups to collectively name the racism, poverty, violence or other forms of exclusion and oppression they experience.
CDF funds initiatives that engage these underserved groups to develop a critical analysis of the social, political or economic roots of problems they experience and then develop strategies for change by recognizing their group strengths and organizing for systemic change.
We encourage groups that develop leadership, communication, organizational skills and participatory research allowing equity-seeking people and allies to develop and implement strategies for change, particularly initiatives that amplify voice and strengthen community response and democracy.
What We Look For
We look for participatory processes:
- Where everyone teaches and everyone learns
- That begin with the experience of the group engaged in the program
- Involve a high level of participation, critical dialogue and reflection that helps develop new knowledge, consciousness, attitude, leadership and skills
- Culminating in action for empowerment, social and systemic change
The Foundation also embraces the significant role faith can have in motivating and sustaining social action for change. As a result, we consider multi-faith projects that draw upon religious and spiritual traditions in support of social change, such as work for peace, human rights, equity, and social justice. Such projects could take place within a specific faith community, multi-faith or secular context.
For examples of previously funded projects, visit our recipient directory here.
The Catherine Donnelly Foundation builds on the popular education traditions of Fr. Moses Coady (coady.stfx.ca/coady/movement), Paulo Freire (www.freire.org), and Myles Horton (highlandercenter.org).
Please note that the Civic Engagement for Social Change stream does NOT fund:
- Children and youth literacy/educational programs (participants of the project must be 18 years of age or older)
- Basic numeracy, reading and writing skills
- Group or individual counseling
- Job skills training or vocational training (including on the job learning)
- One-time conferences, symposia, or events
Civic Engagement for Social Change
Civic Engagement for Social Change
Civic engagement for social change fosters active citizenship, personal and community popular education processes to strengthen democracy and promote a more inclusive, just and sustainable society.
As a society we see the need to support collective, community-learning efforts that build awareness, critical consciousness, leadership, skills and action among those facing discrimination and marginalization. Transforming our society depends on it.
Our Funding Objectives
This funding stream was previously known as Adult Education. We have renamed it to use language that is more accessible and understood. We continue to support initiatives adopting a popular education process where individuals, as the source of knowledge, voice their experiences and needs to define goals to work as a group toward community action and change. Civic Engagement as a model builds on collective knowledge and strengths and offers opportunities for more equitable power-sharing, especially for groups systemically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of economic, social, and civic life.
Our Approach
The Foundation supports projects that use civic engagement or popular education processes to assist equity-seeking groups to collectively name the racism, poverty, violence or other forms of exclusion and oppression they experience.
CDF funds initiatives that engage these underserved groups to develop a critical analysis of the social, political or economic roots of problems they experience and then develop strategies for change by recognizing their group strengths and organizing for systemic change.
We encourage groups that develop leadership, communication, organizational skills and participatory research allowing equity-seeking people and allies to develop and implement strategies for change, particularly initiatives that amplify voice and strengthen community response and democracy.
What We Look For
We look for participatory processes:
- Where everyone teaches and everyone learns
- That begin with the experience of the group engaged in the program
- Involve a high level of participation, critical dialogue and reflection that helps develop new knowledge, consciousness, attitude, leadership and skills
- Culminating in action for empowerment, social and systemic change
The Foundation also embraces the significant role faith can have in motivating and sustaining social action for change. As a result, we consider multi-faith projects that draw upon religious and spiritual traditions in support of social change, such as work for peace, human rights, equity, and social justice. Such projects could take place within a specific faith community, multi-faith or secular context.
For examples of previously funded projects, visit our recipient directory here.
The Catherine Donnelly Foundation builds on the popular education traditions of Fr. Moses Coady (coady.stfx.ca/coady/movement), Paulo Freire (www.freire.org), and Myles Horton (highlandercenter.org).
Please note that the Civic Engagement for Social Change stream does NOT fund:
- Children and youth literacy/educational programs (participants of the project must be 18 years of age or older)
- Basic numeracy, reading and writing skills
- Group or individual counseling
- Job skills training or vocational training (including on the job learning)
- One-time conferences, symposia, or events