Let's Talk Poverty

What makes housing truly accessible? Where do people turn when they can't find it? In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Krista Davidson Flint takes Michelle James on a tour of Inclusio by AccessibleHousing. Inclusio is a fully accessible, supportive living home for adults with limited mobility who require some assistance with activities of daily living but also value autonomy and independence. K...

Michelle James sits down with Dr. Andrew McGee, associate professor at the University of Alberta and Courtney Mo, Director of Community Impact at Momentum, to discuss the findings of new research on Alberta's Gig Economy. Led by the Calgary Social Policy Collaborative, this new report exposes the pressures facing Alberta's gig workers and the policy tools that could better support them.  

Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Jean Boulton, complexity scientist, author of The Dao of Complexity and Embracing Complexity , and thought leader on systems change. Together, they explore what it means to rethink how the world works , seeing systems as dynamic and relational . They talk about embracing uncertainty, using narrative and shared sense-making to co-create the future, and shifting fro...

Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with members of the  Enough for All  Lived Experience Network — a group of individuals who have personally experienced poverty in  different ways .  Together  they discuss the need for a compassionate society, the lasting impacts of intergenerational experiences, and  how listening to  people's  lived experiences can change how we see poverty and one anothe r. Their d...

Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with Vinod Rajasekaran, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Future of Good, to explore systems change and what it takes to unlock lasting impact. An award-winning innovator, Vinod leads Canada's leading digital publication dedicated to making sense of the social-impact world through stories, news, analysis, and commentary. Together, they explore how we move beyond band-aid solu...

Jaclyn Silbernagel sits down with four executive directors of legal guidance organizations across Alberta to discuss access to justice, the need to provide free or low-cost legal advice and representation, and why we need to influence broader systemic change. Many thanks to our guests , Executive Director of Calgary Legal Guidance Lisa Stebbins, Executive Director of Edmonton Community Legal Centr...

In this episode of  Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Larry Mathieson, President and CEO of Unison at Kerby Centre to talk about the myths and misconceptions around older adults and poverty, how local non-profits are supporting Calgary's older adult community , and where the gaps exist in supports.  

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Buddie Dixon and Shawna Morning Bull, the co-chairs of the Indigenous Gathering Place. They discuss the need for a purpose -built and culturally rich gathering space dedicated to ceremony and the sharing of Indigenous knowledge.  

For World Health Day, we sat down with Dr. David Campbell and Dr. Am ity Quinn, co-directors of the Health Policy Trails Unit at the University of Calgary to ask them questions like: how do we improve health outcomes for C algarians living in poverty ? How can small interventions, like financial incentives, impact patient and physician behavior? W hy is it important for academic researchers and co...

In December 2024, VCC hosted 25 Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers , and community members for a pipe ceremony to honour their work, strengthen connections, and discuss Indigenous perspectives on building a future where there is enough for all.   Aligning with Indigenous teachings of oral storytelling traditions, this reflection captures the conversations, wisdom, and experiences shared during t...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Dr. Brian R. Sinclair about the Quality in Canada's Buil t Environment research project, including Calgary's role in the project , and the challenges and opportunities of Calgary's urban landscape.  

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty Meaghon Reid speaks with Kate Koplovich from Calgary Economic Development to discuss and explore how dynamic strategies like Uplook can drive meaningful social and systemic change. In this episode Explore the role of Calgary Economic Development and the Uplook strategy in driving economic development that directly impacts poverty reduction, with a focus on cre...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty , Meaghon Reid speaks with Alex Sarian , CEO & President of Arts Commons,  to explore how the arts can drive systems change, reduce barriers for patrons and artists, and foster civic dialogue.

Making Ends Meet is a work from creator Sage Cannon. This project was part of Sage's M aster of F ine A rts research at the University of Calgary. Sage had the privilege of working with three young adults who opened themselves up to a creative process and told her their lived experiences of poverty. Sage also includes her own experience s of poverty throughout childhood and adulthood in this proje...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Lee Stevens, Policy and Research Specialist at VCC and Nick Falvo, a leading researcher on housing and homelessness to discuss t he No Place To Go report, its findings and f urther actions that need to be taken to end homelessness in Calgary.  

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Leslie Hill, Executive Director of Discovery House, about the realities of support provided to those affected by domestic violence, the need for trauma-informed care and the importance of policy changes to provide long-term support and prevention.   Resources   24-Hour Violence Helpline : If you or someone you know is experiencing i...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Lee Stevens connects with Jill Pable, a professor at Florida State University and creator of the non-profit, Design Resources for Homelessness, to discuss trauma informed design principles ofr homelessness. 

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Dan Jones, a police-officer turned academic to discuss human-centered and trauma-informed practices in the criminal Justice system, the v ic tim- o ffender overlap, and how evidence-based practice can reduce crime .   Resources referenced in this episode: Trauma Informed Lawyer podcast I Am More Than My Criminal Record   Targe...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Dr. Richard Lewanczuk, Edmonton-based endocrinologist and Senior Medical Director of Health System Integration for Alberta Health Services to discuss loneliness and its impacts on health and well-being. 

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Lee Stevens connects with David MacDonald , senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives , to discuss his recent report on CEO pay in Canada, taxation and income inequality.  

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Jaclyn Silbernagel connects with Inam Teja, a local advocate and policy expert working to shape the way we think about housing, homelessness and city-building in Calgary.  

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid sits down with me ntal health and addictions advocate Karen Gos bee to discuss the realities of domestic violence , the importance of systems work ing together to create wraparound supports and how we can shift the mental models surrounding mental health and addictions .   Links:    https://www.karengosbee.ca/book/   https://www.calgary.ca/social...

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid sits down with Catriona Le May Doan, President and CEO of Sport Calgary, to talk about creating a Calgary where sport is accessible to all, breaking down barriers to provide equitable community sports programs and representation in sports. Learn more about Sport Calgary here: https://sportcalgary.ca

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, J aclyn Silbernagel sits down with Elder Wanda First Rider to talk about Indigenous ways of knowing and being, the importance of ceremony and teachings, and her perspective on poverty and how everything we need is here .     

In this episode of Let's Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid chats with Anna Murphy, a community advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, about trans rights in Alberta, the fragility of human rights and what real allyship looks like.