iNSPiRED PRACTiCE » Just Us

Annex

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:16:25 +0000

Annex: v. to attach, append or add esp. to something more important. or n. a subsidiary building.

Oh so many years ago even before iNSPiRED PRACTiCE was a little tadpole, I along with my big dreams for a better world lived in a gorgeous main floor character apartment in the lower Annex. It was a magical time for me. The Annex stole a little piece of my heart and this fall, I plan to collect.

On October 1, I will join a collective of social and environmental entrepreneurs, community innovators and world builders as a founding tenant at the Centre for Social Innovation Annex. Yippee!

What is the Centre for Social Innovation? (You may ask.) Well…

[CSI's] mission is to spark and support new ideas that are tackling the social, environmental, economic and cultural challenges we face today. [CSI] is creating the spaces that social innovation needs to thrive and contributing a few of [their] own ideas along the way!

The original CSI finds its home at Spadina + Queen and celebrated its 5th birthday in September 2009. I learned about the Centre for Social Innovation via my work with Commons Group back in 2003. This was even before CSI had a home and grew into a thriving community. Back then what I loved about the concept was that the heart of CSI is in building partnerships and surfacing collaborations ACROSS traditional sectors. CSI challenges the conventional limitations of “for profit” and “non profit” labels and redefines the very meaning of “progress” for both citizen and business sectors. And so does iNSPiRED PRACTiCE.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT: The very concept of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE came to me back in 2004 while I was working with Tonya Surman (Commons Group) who is founding Executive Director of CSI.

Located at 720 Bathurst Street (the building pictured above), the CSI Annex will house five floors of rockin’ superhero goodness. This is the vision for the space that iNSPiRED PRACTiCE will soon get to work and play in.

Our vision for the Centre for Social Innovation Annex is a dynamic space that’s bursting at the seams with creative and entrepreneurial energy. The first floor will be a community gathering place, with event spaces and plenty of unstructured social space to chill-out and connect. The second floor will be a vibrant mix of desks and hot desks, hosting an incredible diversity of members in a beautiful and open collaborative environment. Floors three through five will be a mix of offices, desks, and themed incubation spaces focused on improving our city and bringing new projects to life.

I truly value individual ingenuity but I am equally partnership-oriented and that is what ultimately leads me to the Centre for Social Innovation. Every day I try to reach out to businesses, organizations and networks of like mind and heart to enrich the communities in which I live, work and play. I fully appreciate the role that collaboration plays in social entrepreneurship and I am so excited to find an opportunity such as this one to connect with other imaginative leaders who see and create different possibilities to build a better world.

Jealous? No need my friends. You too can benefit from and contribute to the community riches generated by the Centre for Social Innovation and its members. Go here (if you are interested) and hopefully I will see you around the ‘hood.

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Hello/Goodbye

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:58:31 +0000

Is it just me or has 2010 somehow turned into THE year for a whole lotta people? More than ever, I keep bumping into people who are transforming their lives, fulfilling long-held dreams, and basically making their lives EPIC. Did I miss a memo or did we perhaps all arrive at this epiphany individually? Maybe I missed an episode of Oprah… Regardless, since the start of this year, I sensed 2010 would be an important year of transition for me, my business, and my dreams.

And it certainly is turning out that way.

To everything there is a season. ~ The Byrds (originally from the Book of Ecclesiastes)

I strongly believe that my voice, passion and gifts are infinite. There is no expiration date on my inherent value to building a better world. That much I know. However, I strongly believe that “to everything there is a season” and that it is possible to reach a point with projects or clients at which the value I can offer is no longer optimal.

I very much like what Danielle LaPorte has to say about her own work credo.

1. Be useful. If your stuff is not 100% about utility, practicality or wisdom, then…

2. Be inspiring. If you’re not flush with inspiration, passion, motivation, then at least….

3. Be entertaining.

I believe utility is paramount. Over the course of a work relationship, needs change and must be fulfilled with new spirit and perspectives and skill sets. Since March, I have felt myself be pulled in a new direction. Who is doing the pulling is a matter of perspective but suffice it to say, an important decision surfaced. As of the end of September 2010, I will be proud to pass the flame along to the next torchbearer of the Children’s Health & Environment Partnership of Manitoba.

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. ~ Dr. Seuss

Since February 2008, I have held a part-time contract with the Partnership as founding Secretariat Director and unofficially worked with this group since 2006 in helping to transition the former Children’s Environmental Health Project into a formal, multi-stakeholder partnership.

I have passionately and diligently pursued the Partnership’s mandate to advance the state of children’s environmental health in Manitoba. Providing partnership development and non-profit management expertise to such a worthy initiative has helped me to grow and iNSPiRED PRACTiCE to blossom. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with children’s health advocates who daily strive to create environments that support the healthy development of future generations to deservedly fulfill every ounce of their human potential.

All I can truly say to these awesome individuals – with a big smile and brimming heart – is thank you so very much for allowing me to walk this road with you.

Because God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies… (Or so says, Elizabeth Gilbert.)

This fall, I will embark on a new adventure. (You didn’t think I was done, did you? Ha! Not even close.) This new adventure will take me to my own personal rockstar status and well…I absolutely can’t wait!

Check back here in mid-August for a special ANNOUNCEMENT that I imagine will make the hearts of many fabulous people around the world sing out loud.

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Rave On

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:44:31 +0000

(Photo by Christine Lebrasseur)

On April 4, 2007, I launched iNSPiRED PRACTiCE into the brave new world. Yesterday marked the 3^rd birthday of this little-company-that-could. I have long considered iNSPiRED PRACTiCE my “baby”. It is certainly my brainchild. And much like a child it consumes nearly all of my time and energy. (Three year-olds can be so demanding!) Much like a human toddler, this 3 year old business has evolved and in ways that continue to surprise me. But if I am to be totally truthful, iNSPiRED PRACTiCE’s story began long before 2007. There was a history before its birth…

I started my first social venture when I was 19 – although at the time, I didn’t quite realize it was a social venture. (FYI: Not realizing things at once is a recurring theme in my life.) I had co-founded the University of Toronto Environmental Resource Network (UTERN) with a fellow student. It was a “network” – a web to help unite individuals/groups, encourage partnerships and fuel collaboration. UTERN responded to the need to connect a somewhat massive student and academic community that in reality cuts across various disciplines that intersect the environment and three distinct campuses in three different geographic locations. A year after its inception, I realized it could not simply be a network. The community itself was unsustainable without resources. I considered all sorts of routes to connect resources with the thoughtful people and ideas who needed them. I even contemplated jumping into the foray of student politics. (Not one of my better ideas.) Through discussions, brainstorms and research, I discovered that UTERN was destined to be a grant-making body for student-led environmental and social impact initiatives – a hub for sustainability innovation at U of T. And that is exactly what it became.

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Genius is more often found in a cracked pot than a whole one. – E.B. White

It was a bit of a lunatic idea – never attempted at a Canadian university and certainly not something most 4^th year undergraduates would be contemplating. It meant spending 12-hour days on campus in class, at work, fulfilling my duties as co-President of the Environmental Students’ Union and then finally on building support for UTERN. By March 2003, UTERN had a governance framework, mentoring support, approval from Student Affairs, participation by numerous environment-related student communities, representation from all three campuses and funding guidelines plus a draft grant application for future applicants (i.e. recognized student organizations at U of T). Most importantly, it had won a successful campaign for an environmental levy (50 cents per full-time student) which translated into approximately $25,000 in annual funds. And 7 years later, it still exists. This small yet significant legacy persists.

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Most people, after one success, are so cringingly afraid of doing less well, that they rub all the edge off their subsequent work. – Beatrix Potter

In 2004, after I had begun my graduate studies, the concept and name of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE floated into my brain. By 2005, life had taken me on a detour across the border to New York and considerably farther away from the path to iNSPiRED PRACTiCE. After a series of breakdowns and breakthroughs, I landed back in the place of my own birth – Winnipeg. It was there that I finally found my inner amphibian and gave voice to iNSPiRED PRACTICE. And since its start, I have learned: you may succeed with a fixed-mindset – simply maintaining your own personal status quo. But you will enjoy your success much more if you take risks and challenge yourself to go beyond what you can already achieve. Like with all businesses, I have experienced some unique successes and some disheartening set-backs. But at 3 years old, I remain wildly enthusiastic about iP’s evolution.

I dream of what iNSPiRED PRACTiCE will be like when it is 5 and 7 and 10 years old. I wonder how its story will change and how it will change the world’s story.

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And I say to my heart: rave on. – Mary Oliver

Greetings from the Pond

inspiredpractice — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:53:44 +0000

Just the other day, in a land not so far away, came iNSPiRED PRACTiCE…

It was born from the belief that ambition coupled with compassion could evolve us toward an economy that promotes quality of life for all and enriches our natural environment.

Find out what it’s all about. Here.

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From me to you…

inspiredpractice — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:18:43 +0000

Starting a legacy

inspiredpractice — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:26:42 +0000

Project Tanzania 2009

View more presentations from kristlect.

As you know, back in July iNSPiRED PRACTiCE announced a special endeavour called Project Tanzania 2009. Project Tanzania 2009 was born from our desire to build community and healthy futures for children. The timing of this project coincided with preparations for the upcoming nuptials of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE’s founder, Kristle, and her husband-to-be, Mike.

Bucking tradition, Kristle and Mike turned their wedding shower into an alternative event with a greater purpose. Together Mike and Kristle wanted to transform the celebration of their wedding into a powerful and lasting legacy. iNSPiRED PRACTiCE and sister-company Options for Success invited friends, family, colleagues and clients to share in this meaningful action to help hundreds of children become healthy and strong adults. With the participation of so many wonderful globally-minded citizens, we have done just that!

iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is proud to announce that we have exceeded our goal and raised a total of $2,400 - ALL of which will be donated to World Vision’s Survive Five program.

When Mike and Kristle travelled to Tanzania in August 2009, their purpose was rooted in connecting with their sponsored child, Miriamu, learning about her community, and providing much-needed educational supplies to her primary school. A big part of Kristle and Mike’s own education in Tanzania was that they wanted to learn first-hand about the needs of children in Tanzania.

They learned that there is no greater need or better gift than health.

To all who donated to the project, we want you to know that your generous contributions will support a widespread implementation of the Survive Five Program in Tanzania to strengthen health and build a future for all children. For the amount of money that we raised, more than 500 children under the age of 5 will now have the chance to grow into healthy and happy people.

The next phase of this project will include an email campaign to colleagues and professionals within our circles to encourage them to contribute to the great work Survive Five will accomplish in Tanzania.

All donations from here on out will be made directly through the World Vision site. Go to the site to make a donation right away or you can contact Ana Alves at 1-800-387-7722 ext. 3779 . She will walk you through the rest. Don’t forget to reference iNSPiRED PRACTiCE when you talk with her!

To all who have contributed, we are honoured by your generosity, conviction and hope. Thank you.

Project Tanzania 2009

inspiredpractice — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:00:28 +0000

(Photo via Flickr)

In August, Kristle will be embarking on a very exciting journey to Tanzania. She is working with World Vision’s Survive Five Program to bring about a happy and healthy future for Tanzanian children.

Do you remember your fifth birthday? Did you have a big cake with fluffy white frosting and five candles? Did you have hugs and kisses from family members? Laughs and smiles with your friends and family? Were you healthy and happy?

The idea of helping kids survive their 5^th birthday may seem extraordinary for those of us who live in a country with universal health care, emergency food services, running water, low infant mortality and generally, good quality of life. There are children here who have to fight for their lives at a very early age due to congenital defects, disease and developmental challenges. Many of those kids beat the odds, thankfully and grow to be perfect versions of themselves – happy and fulfilled.

Unfortunately, in Tanzania, making it past your fifth birthday is by no means a given. The infant mortality rate in the country is 70.46 deaths per 1,000 live births. To put it in perspective for you, Canada’s infant mortality rate is 5.08 deaths per live births. Poverty, malnutrition, disease, and drought make each year a life-or-death struggle for millions.

In 2008, World Vision started Survive Five with the aim of reducing child deaths from malnutrition, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and other major childhood diseases. Survive Five provides bed nets, vitamin A capsules, vaccines, antibiotics and other items to help children survive past the age of five.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (which was ratified on November 20, 1989) identifies access to health care as a basic human right to which all children are entitled. While there are many worthy issues to address in developing countries, health is perhaps the most deserving. Without health, you cannot overcome poverty, conflict or despair.

Through the administrative support of iNSPiRED PRACTiCE, Kristle and her husband-to-be, Michael, will travel to Africa this August 2009 to meet their sponsored child, Miriamu, who lives in Singida, Tanzania. Their visit will include learning about the communities that live in the poorest region of the country and providing educational gifts and school supplies for the 100 or so children who attend school with Miriamu.

On August 31, 2009, we will include a link that allows site visitors to read more about Survive Five and make a secure and safe donation on-line.

Late

inspiredpractice — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:45:08 +0000

We’re late! Yes we are running behind on the launch of our iNNOVATORS section. But it is coming! There have been so many great projects surfacing lately that we ran out of time. Coming soon.

Month in review

inspiredpractice — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:22:48 +0000

A month has passed since we made our resolutions for 2009. Here is a summary of how we’re doing…

We resolved:

To place a greater emphasis on purchasing local and organic foods. So far our focus has been on the Dirty Dozen by choosing organic alternatives to these produce items we have contributed to better health and greater demand for these foods at our local and super markets.
To monitor our energy and resource consumption. At our Winnipeg offices, we have already done a lot of good work on this front. Our Toronto office is presenting a greater challenge. We have been doing a lot of research on LED lights along with better insulation options. We are also in the market for one of these – which, until Smart Meters take effect, will go a long way to helping us measure and source our energy consumption.
To spread the wealth. An annual giving program is in development. More on this to come.
To blog more and share stories, ideas and the outcomes of our work in a more timely fashion. Ok so we’re off to a slow start. Thankfully 2009 is 12 months long so we have some time to implement this resolution.
To have a greater presence. We are seeking out opportunities to participate in Young Environmental Professionals, GenNext and at a couple of upcoming events. We’ll keep you posted!

Mix and match

inspiredpractice — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:55:24 +0000

My oh my. The whole month of January has nearly come and gone. Between the holidays, sick people and power outages, it has been a little tough to get back in the swing of blogging. Never fear, iNSPiRED PRACTiCE has happily lined up a number of posts on topical issues. There is no common theme really – so feel free to mix and match. There are also some updates to the iNSPiRED PRACTiCE website that should appear before the end of the month. Good things are on the horizon. We will share more soon.

Happy 1st Birthday!

inspiredpractice — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:05:51 +0000

iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is one year old!

Look how we’ve grown – from little tadpoles to little frogs. Over this next year, watch us stretch our legs.

New Year. New Digs.

inspiredpractice — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:27:56 +0000

Check it out! We have a new addition to our suite of workspaces. This is our new home on the 5th floor of 70 Arthur Street (The Silpit Building). Like many other things, we share the space with sister-company Options for Success Inc. We’re on-site at least twice a week – so send us a note and drop by.

We're back…

inspiredpractice — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:08:25 +0000

Yes we took a little break from blogging. It was a lot of go-go-go during November and December 2007. Fortunately, January has been just as productive and profitable. But now we’re back… Welcome 2008!

How to Be Fearless

inspiredpractice — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:19:04 +0000

Over the course of my quarter century on the planet, a few people have taught me what it is to be truly fearless. In a world where so much of human behaviour is driven by fear, I often feel the need to revisit what I have learned. And reinforce it in practice.

Smile.

Not just any smile plastered on your face for the sake of others. A real smile from within – the kind that makes your eyes crinkle at the edges. Like you are enjoying your own little inside joke.

Believe.

That things will go your way. As Winnipeg-based artist and designer extraordinaire, Kal Barteski, once wrote in her LoveLife series: “Give more than you think you are and the world conspires in your favour.”

Liberate yourself.

From worry, doubt, expectation, anger, judgement – self imposed or other.

Take risks.

When you get to the edge, just leap. Both successes and lessons can be gained. Either way that is a great return.

Greetings from the pond…

inspiredpractice — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:47:56 +0000

Welcome everyone! Kristle here. I just thought I would send along personal greetings from the pond – which unfortunately, is frozen over right now (-27C). I’m looking forward to exchanging ideas and dialogue with anyone who stops by. So don’t be shy!

Hello world!

inspiredpractice — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 16:27:11 +0000

Welcome to AMPHiB LiB! iNSPiRED PRACTiCE is pleased to join the online world of blogging. This blog is meant to inspire, inform and empower you, the reader, to build a better world. In the name of AMPHiB LiB, we will share with you some easy, convenient and practical ways to transform your home, workplace, community, or corner of the world into one that is more sustainable, equitable and evolved.

So are you feeling particularly froggy today? Yes? Then leap!