Community Planning and Diversity
Partnerships for inclusiveness, social justice, and community well-being
A first international meeting of community social planning leaders and practitioners
from throughout the United States and CanadaTORONTO, CANADA, MAY 4-7, 2006
Co-Sponsors
National Association of Planning Councils (NAPC) - United States
Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) - Canada
Purpose . Conference Schedule, Topics & Speakers . Resource Fair
Hotel & Reservations . Visiting Toronto . Registering for the Conference
Download the conference brochure . Download the conference registration form
To National Association of Planning Councils (NAPC) Website
To Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO) Website
In communities throughout the United States and Canada, social planning councils are leading and supporting community initiatives to address community issues and bring about positive change. This conference will provide a first opportunity for community planning leaders and practitioners from both countries to explore key issues...gain new perspectives, information and tools...find new colleagues... and learn from one another.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Increasingly, diversity is a key issue for communities everywhere. This conference will explore:
- diversity in promising partnerships for community planning and action
- diversity in emerging social and health issues, and in approaches to addressing them
- diversity in the arenas in which councils are working for social justice
- cultural and ethnic diversity, successful perspectives and practices
- similarities and differences between Canada and the United States in community social and health planning viewpoints and practices
Participants can:
- learn what works, from leading practitioners
- develop valuable new relationships and exchange ideas, experiences, resources, and tools with peers from across both countries
- see first-hand some interesting community building work under way in Toronto, Canada’s most diverse city
- exchange materials
- enjoy social and networking activities...get acquainted and have fun
- explore the wonderful city of Toronto
CONFERENCE CO-SPONSORS
The National Association of Planning Councils (NAPC)…U.S.A.
NAPC is a private non-profit organization which promotes quality community planning and supports its members as they provide leadership for community-based human services and health planning and action. Planning councils bring people together to identify needs and work toward solutions, mobilizing community involvement, developing and coordinating services, advocating for informed decisions by funders and policy makers, and linking people with community resources.Online: www.communityplanning.org. 11118 Ferndale Road, Dallas, Texas 75238; 1-800-795-9834; email - napc@communityplanning.org
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The Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO)…Canada
SPNO is a coalition of social planning councils (SPC), community development councils (CDC), resource centres, and planning committees located in various communities throughout Ontario. Each of the individual organizations has their own mandates but are connected in the cause of effecting change on social policies, conditions, and issues.Online: www.spno.ca
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE, TOPICS, AND SPEAKERSThe conference theme of diversity will be explored from several intriguing perspectives through a series of conference panels.
Presenters will introduce aspects of the topic, then participants will exchange ideas and share experiences–focusing on what works, learning from each other and drawing inspiration. There will be ample time for dialogue and networking.
After the conference, view selected presentations online:
www.communityplanning.org.
Thursday, May 4th
Come early and enjoy Toronto!
Pre-conference meetings:
10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: National meeting of leaders of social planning councils from throughout Canada (at the Harbourfront Community Center)
1:00-4:00 p.m.: National Association of Planning Councils Board of Directors meeting (at the hotel)
5:00-7:00 p.m.:
THE CONFERENCE OPENS with a RECEPTION AT CITY HALL ...hosted by Mayor David Miller
Since his election in 2002 with the support of an informal coalition of labour, social justice, and community organizations, Mayor Miller has won praise as a champion of Toronto’s diverse communities, and has provided national leadership in pursuing a "new deal" for Canadian cities in terms of funding and influence.Toronto City Hall, designed by architect Viljo Revell from Finland, is an internationally-recognized landmark–arguably the city’s most distinctive structure (and the CN tower provides tough competition!).
Gather at the hotel and take cabs to City Hall in groups, or go directly there. Afterward, you can join others for dinner if you wish; a list of suggested area restaurants will be available.
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Friday, May 5th - at the Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto Harbourfront7:15-9:00 a.m. Conference registration—and place your materials on the resource tables in the Ballroom
7:30-8:10 a.m. Breakfast buffet and your choice of breakfast roundtables—topical small-group sessions:"Collecting and using diversity indicators for community change"…Michael J. Banish, NAPC Board member; Director of Community Data Services, Community Research Partners (Columbus, Ohio); and Ben Warner, NAPC Social Indicators Team Leader; Deputy Director, Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) (Jacksonville, Florida); Board President, Community Indicators Consortium
"A new model using ServicePoint web-based software for eligibility screening and data sharing among multiple social service systems—improving service delivery, improving efficiency, and building a comprehensive new database for community planning"…Rachel Howell and Angela Luck, Partners, Copia Consulting, LLC, and Gene Doeker, VP, Bowman Systems (Austin, Texas)
"The Community Solutions Project: successfully engaging diverse partners to create genuine community change—with a case study: The Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas"…Meg Poag, Brook Son, and Korey Darling, Planners—Research and Planning Division, Travis County Health and Human Services and Veterans Service (Austin, Texas)
"Hotel Workers Rising: across North America, hotel workers, the trade union movement, and social justice, faith and other community organizations have come together in a campaign to raise the living standards of the primarily female visible minority and immigrant workers in the sector. Find out about the progress of this exciting international initiative"…Andrea Calver, organizing coordinator, UNITE HERE Canada (Toronto, Ontario)
8:10-8:50 a.m. Breakfast buffet and your choice of breakfast roundtables—topical small-group sessions:"Communicating for Action—introducing a new toolkit for community coalitions"…Tommy Darwin, Ph.D., University of Texas Director for Community Outreach (Austin, Texas)
"Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS)—computerized tracking for case management; lessons learned"…panel of leaders of councils involved in HMIS, including Martha Blaine, NAPC Board Member; Executive Director, Community Council of Greater Dallas (Dallas, Texas), and Jim Lyall, Associate Director, Community Service Council of Greater Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
"A new planning partnership working for mental health system change: how a university and a mental health agency are coordinating a collaborative community process"…Donna M. Johnson and Cheryl Munday, Ph.D., University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University Project CARE (Detroit, Michigan)
"2-1-1 updates: exchanging experiences among communities where 2-1-1 has been launched; plans for future development" (speakers to be announced)
9:00-9:30 a.m. Welcome from the conference sponsors:
Co-chairs John Campey and Elaine Andersen, and NAPC President Pam Kestner-Chappelear
Participant self-introductions/networking
9:30-11:45 a.m. Morning topic—panel and discussion:
"Diverse allies and promising partners for community planning and action"
Moderator: Fred Butler, NAPC Vice President and member of the conference committee; Executive Director, Community Action Network (Austin, Texas)
Perspectives from key community sectors…
Universities: Gregory Vincent, Vice Provost, University of Texas (Austin, Texas)
Labour: John Cartwright, President, Toronto and York Region Labour Council (Toronto, Ontario)
Business/corporate sector: Nancy Findeisen, NAPC Board member; Executive Director, Community Services Planning Council (Sacramento, California)
Government: Pam McConnell, Toronto City Councilor; past Co-Chair, Toronto’s Inclusive Cities Initiative (Toronto, Ontario)
Funders: Amanuel Melles, Director of Organizational Capacity Building, United Way of Greater Toronto; past Co-Chair, Toronto’s Inclusive Cities initiative; former Vice-President, CSPCT Board (Toronto, Ontario)
Service provider agencies: Heather McGregor, Executive Director, YWCA (Toronto, Ontario)
Noon-1:30 p.m. Buffet lunch
Lunchtime topic—panel and discussion: "Social indicators as tools for community change"
Moderator: Elaine Andersen, Conference Co-Chair; NAPC Board Member; Executive Director, Human Services Council (Norwalk, Connecticut)
"Vital Signs: the city’s annual check-up"…Anne Swarbrick, President and CEO, Toronto Community Foundation (Toronto, Ontario)
"Tools you can use…how work being done by NAPC and CIC can help support and enhance work in your local community"…Ben Warner, NAPC Secretary and Social Indicators Team Leader; Deputy Director, Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI) (Jacksonville, Florida); Board President, Community Indicators Consortium
1:45-4:00 p.m. Afternoon topic—panel and discussion:
"Diversity and social justice…perspectives on emerging issues and effective initiatives"
Moderator: Linda Terry, member of the conference committee; Executive Director, Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries (Cambridge, Ontario)
Greg Brown, NAPC Board Member; Executive Director and President, The Center for Community Solutions (Cleveland, Ohio)....Chair of NAPC’s National Voice Committee, he will facilitate a discussion of effective strategies for using councils’ knowledge of community needs to impact public policy
Martha Blaine, NAPC Board Member; Executive Director, Community Council of Greater Dallas (Dallas, Texas)...played a key role in organizing Dallas’ response and resettlement of 25,000 people following Hurricane Katrina; reflections on problems revealed and lessons learned
Marvyn Novick, Professor, Ryerson University (Toronto, Ontario)...has been one of Canada’s leading thinkers, researchers, and authors on social and economic justice, poverty, and social inclusion for over thirty years
Soirée (food and drinks) at the restored "Cabbagetown" Victorian home of conference host John Campey ... 5:00 p.m.-->
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Saturday, May 6th - at the Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto HarbourfrontSaturday, May 6th
- at the Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto Harbourfront8:00-9:15 a.m. Breakfast buffet, and the NAPC Annual Meeting (everyone is welcome)
9:30-11:45 a.m. Morning panel session and discussion:"Negotiating Diversity in Social Planning: Toronto’s Social Development Network"
Moderator: John Campey, Co-Chair of the conference committee; SPNO Board Member and Executive Director, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)
The Toronto Social Development Network was established by the City of Toronto to bring together the diversity of organizations engaged in social planning in Toronto. Its initial membership includes:
- Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
- Portuguese Interagency Network
- African Canadian Social Development Council
- Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
- Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
- Hispanic Development Council
- Chinese Canadian National Council, Toronto Chapter
- Toronto Women’s Network
- Aboriginal Peoples’ Council of Toronto
- Ontario Council of Agencies Serving ImmigrantsOver the past year, the Network has been engaged in developing a framework and analysis for social planning that truly reflects the growing diversity of Toronto’s communities. This workshop will outline the development of this process, the challenges it is addressing, the issues it has raised, and the opportunities this model presents for creation of truly inclusive planning processes in any diverse community.
Noon-1:15 p.m. Buffet lunch...in a sunny space overlooking the harbour and islands...relax and visit with new colleagues
1:30-5:00 p.m.:
Bus Tour and commentary... "Toronto—Canada’s most diverse city: a look at some neighbourhoods and successful community-building initiatives"Toronto takes pride in the diversity of its neighbourhoods–the city motto is "Diversity our Strength." Join us on a bus tour that will give you a "taste of Toronto," stopping in a sample of our communities, and showcasing some of the organizations and institutions that support them. The tour will include:
Toronto’s historic Kensington Market (home to successive waves of immigration for more than a century), and St. Stephen’s Community House and Youth Arcade Toronto’s downtown Chinatown (the oldest of Toronto’s four Chinatowns) The Church-Wellesley Neighbourhood and the 519 Church St. Community Centre, hub of both the local geographic and LGBT communities St. James Town (the most densely populated high-rise neighbourhood in North America, and one of the most culturally diverse) and the brand new St. James Town Community Centre and Library Regent Park (Canada’s largest public housing complex, just beginning a decade-long process of total transformation into a mixed-income neighbourhood) and the Regent Park Community Health Centre The St. Lawrence community, Toronto’s successful mixed-income downtown neighbourhood Conference Celebration Banquet
A sumptuous ten-course banquet in Toronto’s historic Chinatown!
6:00 reception (cash bar); 7:00 dinner
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Sunday, May 7th - at the Harbourfront Community Center
8:30-10:00 a.m. Social planning councils in Canada and the U.S....exploring the possibilities for staying connectedFarewell breakfast celebration
Brief tour of the model Harbourfront Community Center
This spectacular community facility, combining neighbourhood center and elementary school, is located on the water’s edge, just a five minute walk west of the conference hotel through the waterfront park and "music garden."
Post-conference meetings:10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. – meeting, NAPC Board of Directors
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. – meeting, Social Planning Network of Ontario
Stay over and enjoy Toronto!
RESOURCE FAIR...bring your materials!
As a means of exchanging information about councils’ and related groups’ successful initiatives and latest publications, the Resource Fair has long been a conference highlight. All conference participants are strongly encouraged to bring materials for the resource tables, which everyone can visit throughout the conference.
If you wish to ship materials to the hotel, please label all boxes with the hotel address, group name ("planning councils conference"), your name ("arriving guest"), and your arrival date. The hotel will handle delivery of up to five boxes free of charge; after that, a delivery charge of $5.00 per box will apply. If the 5 boxes are more than 25 lbs. per box, a $5.00 per box fee will apply.
The Radisson Admiral Hotel - Toronto Harbourfront is a small boutique hotel in a convenient downtown location overlooking Toronto Harbour and islands. www.radissonadmiral.com
The discounted conference group rate is $175 per night (in Canadian dollars...typically about 15% less in American dollars depending upon the exchange rate) plus taxes, for a single or double-occupancy room.The hotel will extend this same room rate for up to two nights before or after the conference for the convenience of conference attendees who wish to explore the Toronto area further during their visit.
The Guestroom Block will be held until April 3, 2006. All blocked rooms remaining unreserved on this date will be released for general resale. After April 3, additional reservations will be accepted at the conference rate if rooms are available.
----> Making hotel reservations:
Hotel reservations may be made by individual attendees directly with the hotel by calling 416-203-3333 (local number) or 1-800-333-3333 (toll-free number) by April 3, 2006. Delegates should identify themselves as part of the PLANNING COUNCIL group. All reservations must be accompanied and guaranteed by a credit card.
Hotel reservations may also be made online. Visit the hotel registration web page, which also offers other information useful for conference attendees and visitors to Toronto: www.radisson.com/cpadIf need specific assistance or have special requests, it is best to call the hotel directly and talk with someone in the reservations department: 416-203-3333.
Hotel features and amenities...as described on the hotel website:
The hotel features award-winning cuisine and stunning views of Toronto’s
harbour and islands. The spacious, newly renovated rooms feature three
telephones, voice mail, in-room movies, coffeemakers, hairdryers, and
irons/ironing boards. All rooms provide High-Speed Internet Access. Other
hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, beach access, fitness
center, weekday morning newspaper, business center, and laundry/valet
service. Underground hotel parking is available for $18 per vehicle, per
night, with in and out privileges.
Area attractions
The hotel offers easy access to major Toronto expressways. Among the many visitor attractions nearby are CN Tower, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Air Canada Centre, Toronto Zoo, Eaton Centre Shopping Mall, and Art Gallery of Ontario. The hotel web page for our conference offers links to several points of interest: www.radisson.com/cpad
Hotel address: 249 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto ON M5J 2N5, Canada
Local phone: (416) 203-3333
Reservations: 1-800-203-3333
The hotel has extended the discounted group rate for up to two nights before and after the conference for the convenience of those who plan to spend additional time in the area.
For information which may be helpful in planning your trip, please visit
the official website of Tourism Toronto:
www.mytorontomeeting.com/Visitor/MyMeetingHome
American visitors to Canada do not have to have a passport to cross in
either direction, but if you have one, bring it to possibly expedite the
process. Visitors may be asked to verify their citizenship and should
therefore carry any one of the following documents: birth certificate,
naturalization certificate, Green Card or passport. Photo identification
is required so visitors should carry their driver’s license or other
photo ID with them.
American visitors may be able to obtain a rebate on the 7% GST payable on accommodation, meals, and purchases. For more information or an application form, visit www.cra.gc.ca/visitors, or call 1-800-668-4748 (within Canada) or 1-902-432-5608 (from outside Canada). The information is also available at all border crossings.
Other helpful information
Clothing
"Business casual." Toronto’s weather conditions can vary greatly in May…check the weather before you come; you may want to bring a raincoat or umbrella and jacket just in case. Forecast
Meals
Conference breakfasts and lunches will be buffet-style and vegetarian options will be included. If you require special meals, please note your specific requirements on the registration form.
Getting to the hotel
Depending on traffic, the hotel is about 30-40 minutes away from Pearson International Airport, which is west of the city. Taxi fare from Pearson is approximately $40.00. The hotel also suggests taking the Airport Express bus to the Westin Harbourcastle hotel (a one way ticket is $14.25); the Radisson is then a five minute cab ride from there.
After the conference
Visit this website again to view and download some of the conference materials and speaker presentations, and enjoy scenes from the conference on our online photo album!
Included:
The registration fee includes all conference sessions and materials; three evening social gatherings with refreshments (Thursday, Mayor’s reception at City Hall; Friday, host’s soirée; Saturday, celebration banquet in Chinatown); full hot breakfasts, buffet lunches, and morning and afternoon refreshments on Friday and Saturday; bus tour of Toronto with community planning commentary on Saturday afternoon; and Sunday morning farewell breakfast.
Conference fees and deadlines:
The conference "early bird" registration fee by April 3 is $299.
An additional person from the same organization registering by April 3 may attend for $249.
Organizations wishing to send three or more people may contact the conference committee about a special group rate; please email inquiries to: conference@communityplanning.org.
After April 3, additional registrations will continue to be accepted on a space-available basis at $350 per person.
Conference registration fees may be paid by check or credit card.
Guests:
Conference attendees may wish to invite spouses/guests to come with them to enjoy Toronto. Guest tickets are available for conference meal functions and the bus tour. Attendees' companions may accompany attendees to the Thursday City Hall Reception and the Friday Soiree as guests of the conference.
Please purchase your guests' tickets in advance when registering for the conference.
Canadian participants:
Mail registration form with payment to: 2006 Conference, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, 2 Carlton St., Suite 1001, Toronto, ON M5B 1J3
Please make cheques payable to: Community Social Planning Council
of Toronto
If you pay by credit card (Visa is the card accepted), your statement will say this charge is to the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto. Make a note of this, please, to avoid confusion when the statement arrives. If paying with a credit card, you could also fax the registration form, attn: John Campey...416-351-0107.
American participants:
Mail registration form with payment to: 2006 Conference, National Association of Planning Councils, 11118 Ferndale Road, Dallas, TX 75238
Please make checks payable to: NAPC
If you pay by credit card (Visa and MasterCard are accepted), your statement will say this charge is to the Community Council of Greater Dallas, which generously provides credit card processing services and other business/accounting support for the National Association of Planning Councils, a conference co-sponsor. Make a note of this, please, to avoid confusion when the statement arrives.
Conference registration forms:
Please complete a separate form for each person attending. For a downloadable form/registration instructions, please click here.
Hotel reservations:
Please make your hotel reservations directly with the hotel (see above).
2006 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM
(Click here for a downloadable form)_____________________________________________________________________________________________Name
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Position
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Organization
_____________________________________________________________________________________________Address
__________________________________________City _______________________________State or Province
__________________Zip or Postal Code ____________________Phone
____________________Fax
______________________________Email ______________________________Website
_____________________________________________________ Any special needs, food or other? (Please describe specifically)
Planning to attend THESE EVENTS:
___Thurs. reception ___Fri. breakfast roundtables ___Fri. conference sessions ___Fri. soirée
___NAPC annual meeting ___Sat. a.m. sessions ___Bus tour ___Sat. celebration banquet ___Sun. breakfast
(The events above are open to all conference participants)___Canadian councils gathering on Thursday
(This meeting is open to representatives of social planning councils across Canada)
____ Registration fee
Early bird rates, by April 3, are
____ $299 - first person from an organization
____ $249- each additional person from the same organization (name of first registrant?_____________________________)____ Later registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis for $350 per person
____ Companion tickets to conference events for spouse/guest(s) of conference attendee:
___ $15 for each lunch at the hotel…Friday: ___ Saturday: ___
___ $20 for the bus tour
___ $30 for the Chinese banquet Saturday night (cash bar)Name(s) of your spouse/guest(s):__________________________________________________________________________
____ Additional contribution, to: ___SPNO ___NAPC
____ Additional contribution to the Conference Scholarship Fund
____ TOTAL enclosed
Type of card: ___________________ Card number: _____________________________________
Expiration date: ________________ Name on card: ____________________________________Billing address, if different from address above:________________________________________________________________
For more information,
please e-mail -- conference@communityplanning.orgPlease visit this conference website often for the latest conference information, any changes/additions, etc.
After the conference, visit this website again for some downloadable speaker presentations and an online conference photo album.
Purpose .
Conference Schedule,
Topics & Speakers . Resource Fair
Hotel & Reservations .
Visiting Toronto .
Registering for the Conference
Download the conference brochure
.
Download the conference registration
form
To National Association of
Planning Councils (NAPC) Website
To Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO)
Website
To Top of Page
Looking back ...
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2005 National NAPC Conference
A joint meeting of the
National Association of Planning Councils
and the Community Indicators Consortium
Improving Our
Communities:
Indicators and Community Practice Working Together
May 12 - 14, 2005
Hotel Washington - Washington, DC
Introduction Agenda & Presentations For More Info Looking Back
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2004 NAPC National Conference, May 6-8, 2004
Waterside
Marriott Hotel - Norfolk, Virginia
Information Online photo album
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2003 NAPC National Conference,
May 8-10, 2003
Asilomar Conference Center - California
Presentation highlights Online photo album
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Information and photos from other past NAPC conferences:
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998
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