Vibrant Communities is a national network of communities and sponsors, collaborating to reduce poverty in Canada. Committed to sharing experiences from innovative approaches already taking place at the community-level across the country, Vibrant Communities is developing tools, resources and processes that will support these groups’ daily work at the local level.

At the heart of the initiative is the Pan-Canadian Learning Community (PCLC), comprised of 16 participating communities plus project sponsors, the J.W.McConnell Family Foundation, the Caledon Institute of Social Policy and Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement. The PCLC holds tele-learning sessions and regional and national forums to discuss poverty reduction issues and to develop solutions based on their collective experiences.

Currently, six member communities of the PCLC, known as Trail Builders, have developed comprehensive, collaborative initiatives aimed at reducing poverty in their home communities. Trail Builders receive extra financial and coaching support to implement a well-developed community plan, rooted in extensive partnership-building at the local level.

For more information go to http://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/