Systems Thinking in Philanthropy & Innovation
Philanthropy and innovation are crucial drivers of social change. But in a world marked by complexity and interconnected challenges, how can systems thinking enhance their impact? Insights from two thought-provoking sessions at the 2024 Banff Systems Summit—"Making an Impact in Complexity: Systems-Led Philanthropy" and "The Missing Piece of the Puzzle in Innovation: Systems Thinking"—illustrate the transformative potential of adopting a systems lens.
December 2024
There was a Buzz in the Bleachers
In October, Changemaker-in-Residence Steacy Pinney spoke at netWORDING, an event that brought together hundreds of education changemakers from four universities and five school boards. In this story, Steacy shares her thoughts on the importance of early childhood literacy and the need to come together to form mutually sustainable relationships to ensure impactful systems change.
November 2024
Is the Policy System the Policy Problem? A Student Changemaker’s Perspective
Creating policies does not also create systems change, it’s PR and a reason to/not to vote for you in the next election. Public policies are like wind and they blow through our Ani to Pisi vibrating our collective being.
September 3, 2024
Inclusive Systems Work: What might be the gaps in existing approaches to systems thinking?
Systems thinking makes grand claims to help us build a more resilient, more equitable society - but what might be the gaps in existing approaches to systems thinking?
August 1, 2024
Decision-making in a (Poly)crisis: The Urgency of Slowing Down
How do we take the time to really understand, dig deep, ask better questions, and assert a systems-led approach to challenges when there is social, political and cultural pressure to 'act fast'?
August 1, 2024
The Fabric of Reality: A Systems Way of Seeing the World
What can we learn from Blackfoot cosmology, non-Western, and Western science-based insights into ways of understanding systems that help us better address the problems of our time?
July 17, 2024
Weaving the Web of Change - The Banff Systems Summit 2024
In the words of Elder Roy Bear, “celebrating good vibrations”, like a well-strummed web, the event generated waves of thoughtful insights and reflections that potentially set in motion threads of future systems change.
July 16, 2024
Capturing Complexity in Systems: Catamount April Reflections
Sharing Our 2024 Catamount Research Reports
May 14, 2024
Unraveling Complexity in Global Challenges: Map the System 2024
Empowering change agents by bridging the gap between theory and practice.
May 3, 2024
Community Showcase and Creative Work Launch: Catamount March Reflections
Unveiling Perspectives through Creativity.
April 16, 2024
Celebrating Our 2024 Map the System Campus Finalists!
Students embed themselves in the problem space to tackle wicked challenges.
April 15, 2024
Bringing Systemic Issues to Life: Catamount January and February Reflections
Engaging with Community During Our 2023 Community Conversation Series.
March 18, 2024
New Institute Publication: Accessing Canada Scan
Check out our post featuring content from our publication Accessing Canada: A Scan of Issues, Trends, System Dynamics and Innovations in Accessibility.
March 5, 2024
Unpacking the Affordable Housing Crisis
This article is a summary of the affordable housing crisis in Canada compiled from our three most recent annual Environmental Scans
February 14, 2024
Engaging with Systems and Communities: Catamount November and December Reflections
Creating our 2023 Catamount Community Conversation Series.
January 16, 2024
A Radical Way to Ramp Up Impact by Winding Down
For our latest publication, The Dandelion Wager: Scaling Social Impact by Winding Up and Giving it All Away, we were invited to document a bold strategy to increase impact by closing an organization. Capturing this case study provided the opportunity to not just chronicle the dissolution of a cherished community organization, but more importantly it was an opportunity to see how one organization’s legacy can ‘live on’ in other forms and have the potential to paradoxically scale.
December 12, 2023
Transforming Higher Education for Social Innovation: A Call to Action
In July 2023, our Executive Director, James Stauch, had an opportunity to present at TedXCalgary: Yes, and…(2023).
November 30, 2023
Leaning into Systems Thinking: Catamount October Reflections
Exploring systems mapping and digging beneath the surface.
November 14, 2023
Kicking Off Our 2023-2024 Catamount Fellowship Journey!
Introducing our fifth cohort of Catamount Fellows and sharing their journey so far.
October 17, 2023
Our 2023 Annual Impact Report Launched!
As we reflect on the events of 2023, one word encapsulates the essence of our journey: transformation.
September 19, 2023
The Age of Rage: 2023 Environmental Scan
Commissioned by the Calgary Foundation, this seventh annual scan looks at a wide range of contemporary and emerging issues.
Apr 19, 2023
On the wings of change: Carrying Wishes from the Community
Megan Davidson, a MRU Criminal Justice student and 2022-2023 Catamount Fellow, shares her experience conveying a community's wishes on canvas.
May 10, 2023
Salomé Faria Blanco, a MRU Psychology student and 2022-2023 Catamount Fellow, reflects on her experiences in the fellowship.
April 19, 2023
Student explores underresearched area of access to healthcare
Kaitlyn Squires travelled to Oxford to present her Map the System research "Sex Workers in Canada Face Unequal Access to Healthcare.”
December 1, 2022