London Community Foundation launches 2021 Vital Signs Report: Be the Change

 

London Community Foundation launches 2021 Vital Signs Report: Be the Change

Report challenges us all to play a role in tackling our community’s most pressing issues

Today, London Community Foundation (LCF) launched its 2021 Vital Signs Report, Be the Change. A pulse check on the state of our community, this year’s report tells us that change can’t wait any longer and urges all Londoners to consider how best they can take action.

“Our community is a different place than it was two years ago,” says LCF’s Vital Signs Chair, Dr. Jerry White. This report paints a picture of serious problems we’re facing. But it’s not just about numbers, it calls upon us all to take action and provides people with the tools to start making social change.”

The report launched with an online event and moderated panel discussion featuring local thought leaders Mojdeh Cox, Executive Director of Pillar Nonprofit Network; Dr. Mike Moffatt, Assistant Professor, Business, Economics and Public Policy, Western University; and Nawaz Tahir, Lawyer at McCague Borlack LLP & Chair of Hikma Public Affairs Council. The discussion focused on how we can work together to create a more just and equitable community.

COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities and brought many pressing issues into sharp focus. Be the Change is a call to action to initiate the systemic change needed to provide greater equity, stability and safety to all vulnerable Londoners now and for the future.

“Whether it be COVID-19 perpetuating issues like affordable housing or unemployment, increasing hate crimes or the traumatic legacy of residential schools, we are seeing a heightened awareness and the desire for people to become more engaged. But as individuals, it can be difficult to know how to make an impact. This year’s report aims to give people a place to start,” says Dr. White.

Acknowledging that meaningful systemic change can only occur through collective action, Be the Change provides a series of tools and simple accessible actions that can be taken anytime, while suggesting a number of different organizations and causes in the community where further action can be taken. Guided by data and featuring guest blogs written by local changemakers, the report calls upon us all to play a role in addressing our community’s challenges.

Be the Change focuses on six issue areas that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic: housing, racial equality, gender equality, health and well-being, education and food security. These issue areas were identified through LCF’s COVID-19 Response Fund grant intake process.

New to this year’s report is the launch of a new community data hub – the London Vital Signs Data Hub. Using the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a framework, this data hub will act as a resource for citizens, non-profit agencies and local government to help support advocacy efforts as well as evidenced-based program and policy decision making. LCF is inviting any local agencies who collect community-based data to contribute to this project.

“Good data is essential to informing social change efforts,” says Dr. White. “The London Vital Signs Data Hub is a long-term project that will require partnerships and collaboration of local organizations and government. The goal is to track social trends over time and use that information to make positive changes that benefit our community.”

To view the full report visit: www.bethechangelondon.ca.