Build Flourishing Communities
What Are Community Impact Labs?
Community Impact Labs at Georgian College are community-based initiatives that support collaboration between students, faculty, community organizations, and local business to address complex social issues. Labs bring together diverse community partners to deeply understand local issues and develop innovative solutions together. These labs present a distinct opportunity for organizations and the wider community to unite in a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and social responsibility.
The three cycles in Community Impact Labs:
How it works:
- A complex community or organizational social issue is identified
- Community Lab project timeline, generative scope, and budget is confirmed
- The Stewardship Committee and Working Group are established
- Lab kicks off with Ecosystem Actor mapping to determine roles and involvement
- Georgian College Social Innovation provides project management
- Specific research and social innovation methods are determined collectively
- Prototype(s) are developed, implemented, and evaluated collectively to develop a pilot
- Viability of the pilot is also assessed collectively to ensure sustainability
Community Impact Labs to date:
- Affordable Housing
- Seniors in Social Isolation
- Climate Action
- Rural Community Development
How Do Community Impact Labs Benefit the Community?
The primary goal of the labs is to create a positive and lasting impact on the community. By addressing real issues faced by the community, the labs contribute to its betterment.
These labs actively involve the community in the problem-solving process, ensuring that the solutions generated are tailored to local needs and values.
As a center for learning, the knowledge generated through these labs is shared with the community, benefiting not only the organizations involved but also other community members.
Community Impact Labs provide students with invaluable real-world experience, making them better equipped to tackle complex issues and become more active, engaged citizens.
Build Flourishing Communities
What Are Community Impact Labs?
Community Impact Labs at Georgian College are vibrant and multifaceted initiatives created to cultivate collaboration between students, faculty, community organizations, and local businesses. They serve as a structured platform for building flourishing communities by developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. These labs present a distinct opportunity for organizations and the wider community to unite in a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and social responsibility.
The three cycles in Community Impact Labs:
How it works:
1 – A complex community or organizational social issue is identified
2 – Community Lab project timeline, generative scope, and budget is confirmed
3 – The Stewardship Committee and Working Group are established
4 – Lab kicks off with Ecosystem Actor mapping to determine roles and involvement
5 – Georgian College Social Innovation provides project management
6 – Specific research and social innovation methods are determined collectively
7 – Prototype(s) are developed, implemented, and evaluated collectively to develop a pilot
8 – Viability of the pilot is also assessed collectively to ensure sustainability
Community Impact Labs to date:
– Affordable Housing
– Seniors in Social Isolation
– Climate Action
– Rural Community Development
How Do Community Impact Labs Benefit the Community?
The primary goal of the labs is to create a positive and lasting impact on the community. By addressing real issues faced by the community, the labs contribute to its betterment.
These labs actively involve the community in the problem-solving process, ensuring that the solutions generated are tailored to local needs and values.
As a center for learning, the knowledge generated through these labs is shared with the community, benefiting not only the organizations involved but also other community members.
Community Impact Labs provide students with invaluable real-world experience, making them better equipped to tackle complex issues and become more active, engaged citizens.