elnonline.ca

Bringing local choice to Ontario municipalities

eln — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:11:17 +0000

How can we make municipal elections more relevant, effective, fair and participatory? Better Ballots has answers, and this ELN-incubated project has hit the radar of more than 150 Councillors and Mayors from across Ontario.

In early May, Better Ballots co-founder Dave Meslin spoke at the 2012 Ontario Small Urban Municipalities Conference (“Municipal Leaders Summit”) in the Town of Huntsville, describing the ways in which elected officials can enable municipal voting reform.

A key component to voting reform is the Better Ballots Local Choice Campaign, which proposes the Province adopt enabling legislation to give Ontario’s municipalities more choice in how they conduct their elections. Currently, the campaign team is seeking endorsements to continue to build momentum.

The Local Choice Campaign builds on the series of town halls Better Ballots held in April 2010, which raised awareness of 14 different options for voting reform. ELN helped to incubate Better Ballots by convening rising civic leaders around this issue, supporting the formation of a volunteer team, and providing strategic support and mentorship.

For more information about Better Ballots, visit www.betterballots.to.

Advice for City-Builders: ELN members recognized for leadership and share lessons learned

eln — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:25:00 +0000

On March 22^nd, ELN members Eva Wong Scanlan and Salima Rawji were profiled as two of the most dynamic new leaders in the Toronto region alongside Amanda Parris of Lost Lyrics. Addressing a full room at a Yonge Street Speaker Series panel discussion, they shared the following advice for city-builders:

Know the common fact base. “Start with places where you agree, and then move forward,” said Salima, who described this as her biggest tool of influence.
Tap into leadership networks. The three panelists praised initiatives like CivicAction’s ELN and SWB’s Emerge: Young Leaders for connecting them to other civic leaders and transforming their ideas of community leadership.
Make your voices heard. Salima challenged emerging leaders in the room to make a tangible difference, whether through advocacy or action projects. “Leadership is about influence and making a positive impact.”
Start with incremental change. Eva described how Toronto Homecoming emerged from a discussion of economic development that quickly focused in on a specific, concrete opportunity: helping to reverse the “brain drain” by reconnecting talented Canadians living abroad to professional and social networks in Toronto.
Collaborate strategically. Don’t just do it for collaboration’s sake, but bring diverse perspectives around the table and build strategic partnerships with organizations that have complementary mandates.

Recognized as “leaders of tomorrow”, Eva, Salima and Amanda are making a tremendous difference in the Toronto region today.

In 2009, Eva Wong Scanlan and Andrew Graham founded Toronto Homecoming, an ELN-incubated initiative dedicated to making it easier for talented Torontonians living abroad to return home. Their third annual conference is set for June 7-10 and applications are open until March 30^th.
Amanda Parris and Natasha Daniels run Lost Lyrics. This arts-based alternative education initiative works with thousands of young people in the Jane-Finch and Malvern communities to create a bridge of knowledge between the streets and the classroom.
Salima Rawji plays a leadership role in three initiatives: Rise Asset Development, TORONTO+acumen, and as one of three co-chairs of CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network (ELN).

This event was organized by Yonge Street Media and sponsored by the Toronto Community Foundation and Waterfront Toronto and moderated by Devon Ostrom, a curator, community organizer and advocate.

Looking for more tips? CivicAction Chair John Tory and former VP, Strategy Naki Osutei shared civic leadership advice at our ELN meeting in September 2011.

What are your thoughts on civic leadership? Would you add or give different advice than the speakers? Tweet to us at @elnonline.

Know someone who is thinking about moving back to Toronto? Encourage them to apply for Toronto Homecoming.

eln — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:12:01 +0000

Invite talented Canadians living abroad to come home. Toronto Homecoming is an initiative incubated by the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN).

Toronto Homecoming 2012 is set for June 7-10 and promises to be even bigger and better than ever. Toronto Homecoming seeks to attract talented leaders with global experience back to the region to drive economic growth and innovation. One hundred talented professionals will return to the city and be connected with career opportunities in three streams: Financial and Professional Services, Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods, and Technology and Telecom.

Do you know someone who is thinking about moving back to Toronto? Make it easier for them by encouraging them to apply for this event.

Living abroad or know someone who is? Looking for great career opportunities in Toronto?

Finding great career opportunities from a distance can be very challenging. Toronto Homecoming 2012 is a four day conference offering Canadians living abroad opportunities to connect with top tier employers who are interested in hiring successful professionals with global experience.

Toronto Homecoming 2012 is taking place June 7-10. This year’s event will focus on three career streams: Financial & Professional Services, Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods, and Technology & Telecom.

Participation is limited to 100 people. They should be professionals in the early-to-mid stages of their careers, currently living abroad and interested in returning to Toronto.

Deadline to apply is March 16th, 2012. Free to apply; $100 registration fee for successful applicants.

The first 25 people who apply and are subsequently accepted and register will receive a complimentary resume review by Thorek/Scott and Partners, one of Toronto’s top executive search firms and a valued Toronto Homecoming partner.

For more information and to apply, please go to: www.torontohomecoming.ca

Toronto Homecoming is a volunteer initiative incubated through CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network (ELN), a network of 500+ civic leaders working to advance the Toronto region’s economic and social prosperity. ELN plays the role of an “action incubator” by convening leaders, helping inform and facilitate dialogue, and offering mentoring and organizational support to groups working collaboratively on challenges facing the region.