Project Citizenship
YOU’RE LOOKING AT
Opening reception of Project Citizenship Exhibit at SNAP Gallery 2012
Citizenship is at the heart of what we do
Project Citizenship
People with disabilities are frequently discriminated against and undervalued as full participating citizens. Often treated as second class citizens, people with disabilities are not given the same rights and opportunities as others.
Story sharing has the power to inspire, shift attitudes, build empathy and move people to action. Project Citizenship uses a unique approach to bring people with disabilities, University of Alberta students and staff from Skills Society together to explore the notion of citizenship and ways to remove barriers that limit citizenship and full participation for individuals with disabilities.
Through story-telling, individuals with disabilities are empowered to gain control by shifting the power balance from the caregiver to the individual, resulting in individuals making decisions that best meet their personal needs.
What started as an innovative two-year partnership project with the University of Alberta Community Service-Learning has become an internationally recognized, enduring social change initiative for Skills Society and our community.
Achievements to date
- Over 55 stories documented and shared through our website, Face Book, Twitter, YouTube, University of Alberta students and Make Something Edmonton
- Featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as an exemplary social innovation.
- In July 2014, Project Citizenship was also awarded the 2014 Digital Alberta Award for Digital Philanthropy Innovation!
- Public events in Edmonton at the SNAP gallery, and City Hall that featured the work of the project and citizens with disabilities
For Questions about Project Citizenship contact
Ben Weinlick, MA – Ben@skillssociety.ca – 780-801-3231
Project Objective
- Learn how best to support the full participation of citizens with disabilities
- Research conducted on the impact of Project Citizenship by University of Alberta researchers
- Share learnings with others who work with people with disabilities
- People with disabilities enjoy active participation as citizens in our community
- Document and share stories in film and photographs about how people with disabilities are valuable citizens in our communities
- 10 new stories documented annually in video, photos, narrative, and mixed media
- 10,000 people access the stories through the website, social media, public relations and public recognition of the project
- 1 large public event celebrating the engaged Citizenship of people with disabilities and Project Citizenship each year
- 25 University of Alberta students participate annualy, enabling them to take what they learn into their careers
Impact
- Through the process of documenting their stories, individuals with disabilities move from the margins of society to active participation in the community
- Those working with people with disabilities learn how best to support citizenship, implementing new and innovative ways to meet individual needs and ensure a participatory, meaningful quality of life
- Overturn negative stereotypes in the community about people with disabilities
How you can support this project
-
Sponsor Project Citizenship
Project Citizenship is a flagship initiative for helping Skills Society improve the citizenship experience of the people we support. It is funded entirely through the generosity of individual donors, corporations and foundations.
Your investment in this innovative, award winning project will keep Project Citizenship moving forward.
Funds raised will support:
- Continued documentation of inspiring stories of engaged citizens with disabilities
- Sharing those stories and changing the experiences of people with disabilities in the communities
- Continuous learning for staff of Skills Society as well as other agencies and individuals working with people with disabilities
For more information on how you can support Project Citizenship please contact:
Rachel Lawrence Hohl, Skills Society Fund Developer
Skills Society Edmonton
203 Parkington Plaza
10408 – 124 Street
Edmonton, AB, Canada
T5N 1R5Phone: (780) 496-9686
Fax: (780) 482-6395Email: rachel@skillssociety.ca
Charitable Registration # 107984403 RR0001
Thank you to our past sponsors
University of Alberta Community Service-Learning
Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists
Edmonton Arts Council
Field Law
Leadership
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Ben Weinlick
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
Debbie Reid
CONTRIBUTE
If you’d like to volunteer and support documenting stories of citizenship, please get in touch!
VOLUNTEER FOR US
YOU’RE LOOKING AT
Jason “Captain Community”
