Poverty Studies Summer Institute

The Poverty Studies Summer Institute is a unique study opportunity that brings together practitioners, students and community members into an intimate learning community to explore the causes and impacts of poverty and best practices in how to reduce and end it. The program consists of a variety of workshops and courses that provide both the knowledge and skill base to work effectively in the practice of poverty reduction. Courses may be eligible for credit for Ambrose University degree programs.

Summer Institute 2025 - The right to belong

Poverty is more than just a lack of income. Canada’s official definition of poverty states that poverty is “the condition of a person who is deprived of the resources, means, choices and power necessary to acquire and maintain a basic level of living standards and to facilitate integration and participation in society”. According to this definition poverty is equally about the inability to participate meaningfully in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the community. Join us at the 2025 Summer Institute as we explore these dimensions of poverty through a human rights lens.

The 2025 Summer Institute offers a variety of workshops and academic courses throughout the month of May. Residence accommodation is available if required. To receive updates about the Summer Institute please email us at povertyinstitute@ambrose.edu.

WORKSHOPS

The following workshops are tentatively scheduled. Check back regularly for updates. Registration opens in March.

1.       An Introduction to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

2.       Community Broker Training

3.       Building Creative Pathways to Address Poverty

4.       Healing through Creativity: An Arts-Driven Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Trauma

5.       Allyship: Working Respectfully with Marginalized Communities

6.      Evaluation 101 – Principles for Non-Profit Organizations

7.       Effective Government Relations

8.      Understanding UNDRIP and What It Means for Your Work

Academic Courses

Academic courses can be taken for university credit or for personal interest (audit). If you are interested in joining one of our academic courses, please contact enrolment@ambrose.edu for more information.

  • Psychological Impacts of Poverty (PS307) – This course explores the impacts of poverty on human psychological development. It examines the effects of poverty on the maturation of the brain; cognitive, social and emotional abilities; and health outcomes. Participants will also consider the influence of living in poverty on the understanding of self and others and on how this influence contributes to risk and resilience. May 5-16, 9:00-12:15.

  • Intersections Between Poverty and Government Policy (BHS450) – An overview of strategies and approaches to alleviate and reduce poverty. This course will survey a range of policy and program interventions to address the causes and impacts of poverty. The roles of government, business, the non-profit sector and the church will all be explored in this context. May 5-16, 1:00 – 4:15

  • Organizations, Power and Inequality (SO230) – A survey of organizational theory and an investigation of organizations in contemporary social life. The course content extends beyond for-profit businesses and employs sociological insight to study organizations of all kinds. There is a particular focus on organizational power dynamics, and how these dynamics interface with social inequality.   May 20-30, 9:00 – 12:15

For More Information Contact: PovertyInstitute@ambrose.edu