Equity Ottawa Community of Practice (EO-CoP)
Equity Ottawa strengthens the capacity of local organizations to establish and achieve their goals related to equity and inclusion of immigrant and racialized communities.
About
Equity Ottawa is a group of organizations working together to promote fairness and inclusion for immigrants and people from racialized communities. They examine inequalities in how services are planned and delivered, and how they affect different communities.
Together, Equity Ottawa member find ways to improve these services and make them more equitable. The partnership is co-led by Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) and Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC).
What does Equity Community of Practice do?
Vision and Goals
Equity Ottawa imagines a city where every organization has the knowledge, tools, and ongoing support to fully and fairly include immigrants and racialized people.
To make this vision a reality, we focus on three main goals:
- Creating a supportive environment that helps organizations across the city work together toward equity and inclusion;
- Building a strong Community of Practice where people can share ideas, learn from each other, and grow together;
- Developing useful resources, strategies, and tools that help organizations improve how they include and serve diverse communities.
Values and Principles
A set of core values and principles guides our work:
Urgency
We understand that inequities are real and seriously impact people living in the Ottawa community right now.
Collective Responsibility
We believe that addressing these challenges is a shared responsibility. This is not just an issue for immigrants or minority groups—it affects and involves the entire Ottawa community.
Value of Diversity
We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to the strength, health, and success of our organizations and our city as a whole.
Ongoing Commitment
We know that building inclusive and equitable organizations—and a more inclusive Ottawa—takes continued, thoughtful, and dedicated effort over time.
Diverse Pathways
We understand that each organization is on its own journey toward becoming more inclusive. We respect these different paths and support one another in the process.
Collaboration and Mutual Support
We work together, sharing our experiences, knowledge, and resources, so we can create shared solutions and move forward as a community.
Why Equity?
Many of Ottawa’s growing immigrant and ethno-cultural minority communities continue to face isolation and exclusion from public services, opportunities, and decision-making spaces. To better serve a changing population, organizations need to recognize and use the strengths that come with diversity. And commit to becoming more equitable and inclusive.
While many local organizations have taken steps to become more welcoming to immigrants and racialized communities, this work comes with ongoing challenges. Even experienced organizations still seek support to evaluate their progress and learn new ways to improve. Their lessons and successes can help others who are on a similar journey.
View the Socio-civic integration sector table for more information.
Our efforts focus on three key areas:
Building A Strong Community of Practice—A Space for Learning and Support:
This peer-learning network helps organizations and practitioners:
- Work together to create and apply new strategies.
- Stay motivated and feel supported in their efforts;
- Use research and real-world experience to guide organizational change;
- Identify common challenges, barriers, and gaps in knowledge or resources;
- Recognize and build on practices that have been proven to work;
- Develop shared language and goals around equity and inclusion;
- Exchange tools, resources, and opportunities;
Creating and Sharing Useful Resources for Local Organizations:
- Developing strategies and tools that are tested and proven locally, and sharing them through an online hub;
- Helping people learn from others working in similar roles or contexts;
- Supporting joint efforts among organizations to address shared challenges and create real change;
- Strengthening progress across all areas of organizational change;
- Increasing the overall impact of these efforts across the Ottawa community.
Creating An Environment Where Equity and Inclusion Can Grow:
- Promoting collaboration among organizational and community leaders;
- Encouraging leaders to stay committed and help drive progress on shared goals.
- Raising awareness about why equity and inclusion matter;
Partners
