Announcing the 2024-2025 Ontario Community Changemakers Program
Do you have an idea to improve your community? The Ontario Community Changemakers (OCC) program is back for its fourth year, offering leadership and micro-grants for individuals with bold ideas to activate public spaces, enhance civic engagement, and foster social inclusion. Powered by 8 80 Cities and funded by the Balsam Foundation, this program is open to anyone aged 19 and over. Applications are now open and will close at 5:00 PM (EDT) on July 26, 2024.
Expanding Our Reach: More Changemakers, More Impact
This year, the program has expanded to support 30 Changemakers, up from 20 in previous years. Over the past three years, we’ve supported and mentored 60 Changemakers across 25 communities in Ontario. We believe that communities thrive when people of all ages and backgrounds come together to create positive change. That’s why we’ve opened the program to anyone aged 19 and above, recognizing that changemakers come from all generations.
What is the Ontario Community Changemakers Program?
The OCC program is a leadership and micro-grant initiative designed to help spark new ideas and invigorate change in local communities. We support leaders from diverse ages, backgrounds, and experiences to deliver creative projects that:
- Activate Public Space: Enhance public areas like sidewalks, streets, parks, and community centers to support community well-being.
- Enhance Civic Engagement: Bring people together to address common challenges and increase participation in civic processes.
- Foster Social Inclusion: Break down barriers that prevent marginalized communities from accessing public spaces and participating in public life.
Who Can Apply?
We are looking for Ontario residents who are 19 years or older and have a creative solution to a challenge related to public space, civic engagement, or social inclusion. We encourage applications from activists, tactical urbanists, designers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, and more, especially those from BIPOC and LGBTQ2SIA+ backgrounds or individuals with underrepresented lived experiences in the placemaking sector.
What You Get
Selected Changemakers will receive $5,000 in seed funding to implement one community project over one year. These projects must address public space, civic engagement, and/or social inclusion, and be implemented through collaboration within Ontario or First Nations territories within the provincial boundary of Ontario.
The Studio
The 2024-2025 Studio will consist of one two-hour online session and two full-day in-person sessions in October 2024 in Toronto, followed by regular monthly sessions until September 2025. The Studio aims to inspire and equip Changemakers with the tools needed to implement their projects, fostering a network of peers across generations and geographies.
Are You Eligible?
- Must be 19 years or older at the time of application.
- Must reside in Ontario or a First Nations Territory within the provincial boundary during the project implementation period.
- Must propose a project that activates public space, enhances civic engagement, and/or fosters social inclusion.
- Preference will be given to those who can attend all three days of the Studio (October 17, 26, and 27, 2024).
Travel, meals, and accommodation will be provided for the in-person Studio sessions.
Apply Now
Applications for the 2024-2025 program are now open. The deadline is 5:00 PM (EDT) on July 26, 2024. Apply Now
For more information, visit the Ontario Community Changemakers page. Join us in creating positive change in your community!
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact us at occsupport@880cities.org.
