Who we are

The Institute for Community Prosperity is a hub of social innovation, systems-learning and community engagement that bridges the knowledge, wisdom and experience of community with academic learning and scholarly insight. We bring together community, students and faculty from across disciplines, sectors and backgrounds to tackle the complex social and ecological challenges of our time.

What is community prosperity?

Community prosperity is the interconnection of cultural, economic, social and ecological conditions necessary for individuals, organizations and societies to flourish.

Our home at Mount Royal University is situated on an ancient and storied land that is steeped in ceremony and history that, until recently, was occupied exclusively by people indigenous to this place. With gratitude and reciprocity, we acknowledge the relationships to the land and all beings, and the songs, stories and teachings of the Siksika Nation, the Piikani Nation, the Kainai Nation, the Iethka Stoney Nakoda Nation (consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney Nations), the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Metis.

What we do

Activate

We activate student learning through co-curricular opportunities that are experiential, engaged with community, and rooted in systems-learning.

Grow

We grow the capacity of changemakers by offering professional development in systems change and social innovation.

Experiment

We experiment with new ideas and approaches through creative collaborations, social labs and pilot initiatives that push boundaries and provoke new ways of thinking and doing.

Convene

We design, convene and facilitate participatory processes for transformative change.

How we work

The complex challenges society is facing are not linear and cannot be solved in isolation, but require mindsets, tools and approaches that allow us to enter into complexity, recognize patterns and dynamics and identify places for transformative change. At the Institute for Community Prosperity, we bring a systems thinking approach to all that we do.

Our place within the university is a place of privilege that comes with both opportunity and responsibility. We are guided by principles of reciprocity and inclusion, working with community as partners and co-creators in building prosperity for all.