For the fourth edition of its annual
Agents of Change program, the
Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) has teamed up with 15 public- and private-sector partners who will give the winners a crash-course in city building.
The
annual program provides office space, promotional help, consultations and networking opportunities to 10 people chosen as agents. While past efforts have focused on youth and newcomers, this year’s agents will be selected for their city-building aspirations and abilities. “We’re looking for two things: the potential for impact and the likelihood of success,” says Adil Dhalla, director of culture at CSI.
Winners get to spend time with each of the 15 partners, which range from developers like Daniels and Westbank to the David Suzuki Foundation, Civic Action and
Spacing magazine. “It’s curriculum by committee. Some of them will be informal while others will be planning specific programming that will support the agents,” says Dhalla. “Everyone is being asked to bring something to the table, but that something is for them to determine. It may prove to be the most eclectic program for city builders that I’ve ever seen.”
Dhalla says the partner sessions could turn into opportunities for some of the agents, who may not otherwise know who to turn to for help. “When you’re at the early stages of your project or startup, one of the challenges is getting in front of your ideal advisor/mentor or even customers. With the program, if you had an idea for a kitchen library, for example, in new condos, you could go straight to the right people based on the social capital and connections the program will create.”
For the first time, Agents of Change will take place not just in Toronto, but in CSI’s New York location, which opened in 2013. Ten winners there will go through a similar program.
The deadline for applications is Sunday, November 30.
Writer: Paul Gallant
Source: Adil Dhalla