The next Teeny Tiny Summit will take place on November 30 starting at 10 am and will be exploring how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) supports community economic development. As communities, economic developers, organizations, and others focus on economic recovery, applying DEI frameworks help create stronger, more resilient local economies. This session will explore ways in which communities are investing in diversity, creating a culture of equity, and removing barriers to ensure inclusion. At the Teeny Tiny Summit, a summary of leading DEI practices will be shared and there will be a panel featuring four speakers who will share on the ground examples from their communities.
To register for the Teeny Tiny Summit, please visit this link.
In the summer of 2022, the Community Economic Development group from Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) connected with rural communities to discover leading DEI practices in economic development.
Hillary Geneau is the Director of Corporate Services for the Municipality of North Grenville. Prior to this role, she worked in the economic development field in both North Grenville and Brockville. Two of her current files include DEI and assisting in the creation of an economic development strategy and she will share her community’s experiences in these areas.
Jimmy Côté is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of Val Rita-Harty. Jimmy works closely with the Mayor, Council and with staff to ensure Council’s goals and objectives are achieved. Val Rita-Harty has embedded DEI within their strategic plan. Val Rita-Harty hosted James Bay evacuees in 2022 and this is described as a “huge undertaking” and a prominent point of pride for the community.
AJ Adams is a communications professional and a social change advocate with a passion and focus on rural 2SLGBTQIA+* advocacy. During his undergrad, he conducted a research study on the importance of pride in rural Ontario which has led him to become a voice and leader for rural 2SLGBTQIA+ and diversity issues. AJ provides his knowledge, skills and lived experience to community organizations including as president of Stratford-Perth Pride and other volunteer organizations.
Mark Nonkes is the Local Immigration Partnership Manager at County of Huron and will share the work they have been doing to share stories of business owners in Huron County and how those are helping to increase the visibility about the diverse populations living in Huron County.
Teeny Tiny Summits were initiated in 2016 as a forum to discuss scale-appropriate economic development strategies for Ontario’s smallest communities. In 2017, Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) committed to multi-year support of the Teeny Tiny program. Teeny Tiny Summits share practical examples, lessons learned and community economic development tactics. Since inception, the summits have been hosted in every region of the province and attracted over 2,150 attendees both in person and virtually.
To learn more or to view previous webinars visit the Teeny Tiny Summit webpage.
Leave a Reply