The Canadian Poverty Institute is an inter-disciplinary institute housed within Ambrose University that seeks to heal poverty through teaching, research and practice.
Our Vision
The vision of the Canadian Poverty Institute is a compassionate and just society where the material, social and spiritual well-being, rights and potential of all people are attained.
Our Mission
The mission of the Canadian Poverty Institute is to advance the eradication of poverty in Canada through teaching, research and action that promotes systems change.
What We Do
The Canadian Poverty Institute conducts research and teaching that informs public policy and promotes effective practices to prevent and eradicate poverty.
a) Research. Research is based on the range of work of the Institute and is categorized as academic research, applied research and research within evaluation. The CPI uses research as a vehicle for holistic interaction with poverty issues, people affected by poverty and those seeking to address poverty from various perspectives including practitioners, students, and interns.
b) Teaching. Teaching involves extending understandings of poverty informed by research and practice for students, non-profit organizations, and all interested parties from across Canada. The CPI uses teaching as a way to educate, engage and raise awareness around poverty.
c) Practice. Practice involves the advancement of evidence-informed work with governments, civil society and non-profit organizations, and businesses to promote the eradication of poverty in Canada. The CPI uses practice to engage with practical problems in anti-poverty work, social services work and similar interventions. This is to enable more efficient and effective processes and systems for people on the frontlines of poverty prevention or the assistance of people living with poverty an low-income .
Our Philosophy
The Canadian Poverty Institute believes that poverty must be addressed through the restoration of trust relationships that build resilience by strengthening the bonds of community. It is in the resilience of community that the gifts of all people can be valued and brought into being. We believe that by actively seeking, nurturing and sharing the gifts people hold poverty in all its forms will be eradicated. The Canadian Poverty Institute is grounded in the Christian tradition of extending compassion while seeking justice and reconciliation for the marginalized and oppressed.
OUR PRINCIPLES
The following principles guide the work and decisions of the Canadian Poverty Institute.
Prioritizing the voice of lived experience: We believe that those with a lived experience of an issue are the first experts of it. We value that and deliberately incorporate this input into our work.
Rights-based: We understand poverty to be a violation of a person’s economic, social and cultural rights.
Anti-oppressive: We work to dismantle systems of oppression and affirm the right of people to live free of domination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race and ethnicity, ability and age.
Inclusive: We strive to make our work free of discrimination and create a sense of belonging for people with diverse perspectives.
Inter-disciplinarity: We predicate our research on knowledge from various disciplines because we recognize that anti-poverty work intrinsically cuts across knowledge divides.
Systems-change: We work to identify and remove barriers, bridge gaps and enhance processes in anti poverty work.
Equity: We strive to create conditions that enable people to achieve their material, social and spiritual wellbeing, particularly those who have been marginalized and oppressed.