United Way BC Paves the Way for Social Change with 2024 Public Policy Institute
Congratulations to the 2024 graduating class of United Way BC’s Public Policy Institute, a hub for excellence in public policy education.
Twenty-one non-profit leaders from across British Columbia are now equipped with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience to navigate complex policy landscapes and advance social issues to improve the lives of vulnerable British Columbians, thanks to United Way BC’s Public Policy Institute (PPI).
The Public Policy Institute, an advocacy leadership training program for the non-profit sector offered by United Way British Columbia, is modeled after similar programs offered by the Maytree Foundation in Ontario and the Max Bell Foundation in Alberta.
The program is characterized by innovative small group training, case studies, and ongoing applied learning through participants’ own policy projects.
This six-month training program is specifically designed to help non-profit leaders and their organizations increase their knowledge of the public policy process and their capacity to influence it. United Way BC is committed to investing in policy development and supporting the non-profit sector to advance change that leads to healthy, caring, and inclusive communities.
The Public Policy Institute remains an important part of our commitment to building stronger communities through non-profit engagement, influence, knowledge, research, training, and collaboration.
2024 Class Summary
This year marked another success amidst the significant challenges faced by those in the non-profit sector. From financial strains to workforce turnover and navigating a polarized political landscape, our community persevered.
Participants this year addressed critical issues central to our social fabric: healthcare, environment, housing, and safety for female leaders in political spheres. Their advocacy projects reflected a diverse cross-section of pressing policy concerns.
With federal and provincial elections approaching this fall, participants are actively building relationships in anticipation of upcoming leadership announcements, eager to implement their policy proposals for the betterment of British Columbians.
We began the year with Carole James, Dana Hayden, Jim Rutkowski, Andrea Reimer, Ginger Gosnell-Myers, and Ruth Wittenberg. Following February’s session, we bid farewell to Jim as he pursued a new role, welcoming Nikki Hill as his successor for our 2024 PPI program.
We’re pleased that Nikki will continue with us into 2025, alongside our dedicated faculty, with the exception of Dana Hayden, who served admirably for seven years and will soon pass the torch to a new member, to be announced this fall.
Throughout the program, we’ve focused on integrating guiding principles of relationality, inclusivity, and decolonization. This year, all participants concluded their presentations with land acknowledgements, reflecting our commitment to deepening awareness of BC’s lands, history, and the collective responsibility for truth and reconciliation.
Starting each session with a land acknowledgment and discussions centered on Truth and Reconciliation was profoundly impactful, shaping how participants recognize the unceded, ancestral lands on which they work.
After four years of service, Esther Moreno, Capacity Building Specialist at United Way BC, will transition back to her roots in education. Her contributions have been deeply rewarding, and she carries forward cherished relationships, committing wholeheartedly to advancing Truth and Reconciliation in her future endeavors.
Ida Goodreau Alumni Award Winner
Ida Goodreau was a formidable force for the Public Policy Institute as a faculty member and a leader in the non-profit sector. To honor her legacy, PPI established the Ida Goodreau Alumni Award.
This year, PPI is honoring Samantha Gambling, the former Provincial Lead of the BC Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food, administered by the Public Health Association of BC. Gambling organized collective advocacy, engagement, outreach, and communication activities to advance the Coalition’s vision for a universal, cost-shared, healthy school food program for BC and Canada.
“The Public Policy Institute gave me the foundation to advocate in a way that aligned with government processes so I could be effective in my advocacy,” Gambling said. “I think it’s important baseline knowledge for anyone in the non-profit sector who wants to advocate or push forward a particular issue, to understand the ins and outs of how to do that.”
Through Budget 2023, the province announced it is investing $214 million over three years so school districts can create or expand local food programs in schools throughout B.C. The funds will be used for purchasing food and hiring dedicated staff to coordinate providing meals and snacks to students. This is the largest investment in school food programs in the province’s history.
“It’s been really amazing to see what collaborative action can do given the right opportunity,” Gambling said. Gambling has also been involved in federal advocacy around a national school food program. After years of meeting with MPs, budget submissions, public campaigns, and network building, the national Coalition for Healthy School Food celebrated the federal government’s announcement that they will invest $1 billion over five years towards the creation of a national school food program.
“We are starting to see some of these asks that people have been pushing for, for 30 years, come into the public arena and public policy, and a lot of that has been due to this growing momentum,” she said. Gambling noted that while access to subsidized, nutritious, and culturally preferable breakfast and lunch programs is expanding, there is still a long way to go in BC.
“It’s definitely a work in progress. We are just coming up on the end of our foundational year of Feeding Futures, where school districts are figuring out what is already happening on the ground, what can we build on, and how can we use this funding to serve more students higher quality food more often.”
“It is critical to create an equitable school community that is inclusive and non-stigmatizing, ensuring all students have access to healthy food at school every day to help them learn, grow, and connect.”
As for Gambling, she is grateful to be recognized with the Ida Goodreau Award. “I think it emphasizes the importance of collaborative and collective advocacy. I am not the sole advocate; I am a representative of this broader network. It is a real honor to represent this network of people and to know the work is recognized is really impactful.”
Partners leading community change
The Public Policy Institute thrives with the strong backing of our dedicated local union and corporate partners, all united by a shared commitment to fostering positive, lasting social change within our communities.
We extend our gratitude to CUPE Metropolitan Vancouver District Council and the United Steelworkers District 3 for their invaluable support as session sponsors and for their contributions to our cohort this year. Special thanks to Earnscliffe Strategies for their continued role as a supporting sponsor of the Institute. Your time, expertise, and encouragement are instrumental in guiding our participants through their public policy journeys.
We also wish to express our deep appreciation to UBC Robson Square, our long-standing host venue, for consistently providing an exceptional classroom experience for our faculty and participants.
United Way BC is profoundly grateful to all our sponsors for their leadership in driving community change and making our communities better for everyone.