Activists recharged their batteries at IMCD conference

Determined to learn and share new ways of helping their communities, about 750 leaders of grassroots organizations all over North America gathered at the Loyola Campus for five days in June.

The 58 workshops, seminars and training sessions were part of the sixth annual Concordia Institute in Management and Community Development (IMCD) Summer Program, one of only three similar events held across the continent. The Institute was established in 1993 to help non-profit community groups learn fundraising and leadership skills, and build bridges among often farflung communities.

There was a lively barbecue on June 17 at the Campus Centre. Since it was a sweltering hot day, most participants stayed in the air-conditioned building, where they munched on salads and mingled over the sounds of singer-guitarist Michael Browne, of the Stephen Barry Blues Band.

"Community groups are often drained of energy by the end of the year," said David Driscoll, founder of Van-City, a Vancouver-based credit union, while sipping his beer. "Concordia is re-energizing us."

Driscoll added that with the dwindling role in society of the church, once the main support network for the disadvantaged, pressure on community groups has mounted. "That's why a conference like this one is important," he said. "It provides an opportunity for mutual gift-giving, learning from each other."

Mireille Landry, coordinator of the Summer Program, agreed that there is a lot of pressure on community groups. "With budget cuts to almost everything, it seems to be getting worse," she said.

The conference is an excellent opportunity for activists to promote their achievements. "Communities are not just places with problems," Landry said. "Through this conference, groups can see what has been accomplished in other communities and learn how to apply it to theirs."

Sharon Leslie, of Montreal's Third Avenue Resource Centre, said she was attending the Institute's Summer Program for the third consecutive year because it provided her with a chance to meet other professionals in her field.

"This kind of conference is crucial for community activists, since we don't have much money for additional training," she said. "Every seminar provides a little something to bring back to the workplace. It's been very thought-provoking."

Chuck Collins, co-founder of Boston-based United for a Fair Economy, was a presenter at a workshop on the concentration of corporate power in Canada and the U.S.

Concentration of wealth is an issue Collins grappled with himself when he inherited $500,000 from his great-grandfather, hot-dog manufacturer Oscar Mayer. Unable to accept such wealth while others around him were so poor, he donated his fortune to charity groups 12 years ago. "I put my money where my values were," he said. "I think it's dangerous to have too much wealth concentrated in the hands of too few people."

Collins said the seminars at the Summer Program are a good way to break out of a rut. "People really appreciate the chance to learn new skills," he said. "This is an excellent opportunity to get away from the office and spend time as a learner."