The Social Impact Lab FMWB
United Way Launches Social Impact Lab in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo
What is The Social Impact Lab?
The Social Impact Lab is an initiative hosted and funded by United Way of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo. We work with the community to identify and address challenges in our community using human-centered design principles. Currently, our team is developing a vibrant and engaging space at the Redpoll Centre for community collaboration, and we are keen to facilitate conversations around new ways of working together to improve the lives of community members here in the Wood Buffalo region.
A Different Approach to Problem Solving
The human experience is at the core of everything we do. We gain insights from those directly affected by a social issue, and we bring those insights into The Lab to co-create solutions with people who have the means, knowledge, and influence to affect real change.
Community Co-Design
The Social Impact Lab Alberta’s model of Community Co-design uses proven methods to harness the strengths of the community to create social change that reflects their vision of the future. The aim of this approach is to empower community members to forge new relationships and adopt sustainable ways of working to identify and solve local problems.
In June 2024, we will kickoff a Community Co-Design project, inviting participation from individuals from all backgrounds and across sectors. Together, with a group of dedicated locals, we will delve into the issue of social support awareness and access, meeting regularly over 9 to 12 months to gain insights and develop innovative solutions, which will be tested with feedback from the broader community.
If you're interested in learning more about this initiative, please reach out to us at hello@fmwbunitedway.com. Join us as we embark on this journey of transformation and empowerment for Wood Buffalo and beyond.
we design.
We use design to create inclusive change.
we collaborate.
We enable collaborators to take a human-centered innovation approach to design with people and empower communities.
we connect.
We bring together people representing all facets of the community to design for a better future together.
Learn more
Join Inspire: Transformative Learning for Changemakers
Embark on a transformative learning journey with Inspire, a course designed for those eager to drive innovation and make a lasting impact. Inspire is not just a course; it's your gateway to becoming a change maker, entrepreneur, or social innovator in our community. Through our human-centered design process, you'll learn to navigate the intricacies of innovation, testing and iterating ideas to find the sweet spot for impactful change.
Sign up for Inspire today and choose the course that fits your passion – whether you're an individual eager to learn, a team ready to collaborate, or multiple teams working together for lasting change. Join us in shaping a future where innovation meets impact. Sign up today and be the change you wish to see!
The Story of Co-Design in Other Communities
If you're eager to explore the process and outcomes of community co-design projects that are unfolded in other communities, you're in the right place. Click here to delve into the inspiring stories of collaborative initiatives where communities, much like ours, have come together to shape their futures.
Want to Know More?
Land Acknowledgement
United Way Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo recognizes that we live, work and serve communities on Treaty 8 territory, the ancestral and traditional land of the Cree, Dene, and Métis people. We honour and acknowledge the Indigenous ancestors who marked these lands for generations and whose languages, histories and cultures continue to influence our vibrant region. Together may we all be stewards of the land.
