Case Study
Case Study: Vibrant Communities
This case study accompanies a video interview with Paul Born and Liz Weaver, president and vice president of the Tamarack Institute.
Key Facts
Initiative / backbone name: Vibrant Communities / Tamarack
Year initiative formed: 2002
Mission: Create and grow a movement of diverse leaders and communities from across Canada who are committed to exploring, challenging, and testing ways to unleash the potential of communities to substantially reduce poverty and ensure a good quality of life for all citizens
Geography: 50 communities across Canada
Impact area: Community Development - Poverty Reduction
Summary
Vibrant Communities is a multi-tier collective impact effort that unleashes the potential of communities across Canada to substantially reduce poverty and to ensure a good quality of life for all citizens.
Problem
By the early 2000s, efforts to reduce poverty in Canada had stalled:
- National poverty fell from 29% to 13% between 1961 and 1977, but lost momentum in the late 1900s and remained in 14-19% range through 2000s.
- Human service agencies struggled to meet community need as they simultaneously faced increased demand and decreased funding.
Innovation and collaboration were needed to regain momentum in Canadian poverty reduction.