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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

bringing minds together

CAPRA launching poverty-tackling collaborative Prosperity Project

Dec 19, 2023 | 1:00 PM

A new initiative by the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) aims to get social sector agencies and the business community together to collaborate on ending poverty in the region.

The Prosperity Project is the result of work coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, additionally intending to build empathy around poverty in business and the larger community.

“Talk evolved into the need to speak to the business community in a way that made sense to them and to take their concerns seriously,” says Alison Weir, Prosperity Project lead.

“Eventually, we settled on the idea of a multi-sector collaborative that would integrate businesspeople into the job of addressing the core causes of poverty. We hope this will be a way for non-profits, business, government and those with lived experience of poverty to build a shared understanding and language in order to act to end poverty.”

CAPRA is currently undertaking a feasibility study exploring best practices across Canada, and fine-tuning the project overall. It’s results should be available this February.

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Some residual funding is being used to push the project forward at this stage, but more will be required in order to act on recommendations, says Weir.

Recently, new data was released from the Alberta Living Wage Network — of which CAPRA is a member — looking at the living wage across Alberta.

In Red Deer, that figure is $18.75 per hour, well above Alberta’s minimum wage of $15.

BACKGROUND: Alberta living wages far exceed minimum wage; province ‘actively assessing’ wage structure

“We recognize that one of the root causes of poverty is simply not earning enough money and businesses adopting a living wage is an essential answer to the problem. In order to introduce initiatives like a living wage to businesses, the social sector needs to be able to present their case in a way that is compelling to businesspeople,” Weir adds.

“It’s not the same argument that is compelling to social sector professionals. The Prosperity Project is a way to build that understanding and enlist the business community in ending poverty. We anticipate that the project will produce innovative solutions and arguments for solutions like the living wage that will actually reduce poverty over time.”

According to data shared by Weir, people who work make up 42 per cent of all Canadians living in poverty.

“What The Prosperity Project really aims to do is develop and implement practical solutions to end poverty by combining the unique expertise found in multiple sectors. We want social agencies, the business community and governments to bring their resources to the table,” she says.

“Resources can come in the form of time, knowledge, financial support, influence or leadership and, most essentially, open minds to creating solutions to the problem of poverty.”

To become involved or learn more, contact CAPRA by email through their website.