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

Workshop Registration: Poverty Studies Summer Institute | Eventbrite

Early bird pricing until April 4th.

1. Transforming Practice through Indigenous Research Methodologies. Indigenous knowledges, innovation, planning and responsiveness are enduring reference points for the maintenance of balance and harmony and ones that have effectively sustained Indigenous nations for thousands of years. Despite the ubiquity of Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, relatively little is known on the part of mainstream knowledge systems about the nature, beliefs and motivations of Indigenous cultures. In this interactive session, participants will be  introduced to the Indigenous paradigm and Indigenous methodologies using Willie Ermine's Ethical Space of Engagement (2007) as a reference point. Participants can expect to walk away with a flexibility in thinking and deeper understanding of Indigenous lifeways and methods for conducting respectful research from an Indigenous perspective. Facilitated by Dr. Gabrielle Weasel Head, Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies,  Mt. Royal University. May 6th: 9:00 -4:00.

2. An Introduction to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - Increasingly, we are coming to understand poverty as a violation of a person’s fundamental Economic, Social and Cultural (ESC) rights. This half-day workshop provides an introduction to ESC rights, the foundation of those rights and practical guidance on how to apply a rights-based approach to poverty reduction practice. Facilitated by Derek Cook, Director of the Canadian Poverty Institute. May 7th: 9:00 - 12:00.

3.  Building Creative Pathways to Address Poverty - This half-day workshop will explore how the arts can address the material, social, and spiritual dimensions of poverty. Participants will engage in creative practices that not only reflect the challenges of poverty but also use art as a tool for fostering empathy, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. The session will focus on how creative expressions can nurture care for marginalized communities and encourage collaborative solutions to systemic issues. May 8th: 9:00 - 12:00.

4.  Healing through Creativity: An Arts-Driven Approach to Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Trauma - This half-day workshop will explore how arts-based practices can serve as a powerful tool for healing those experiencing poverty and mental health challenges, such as chronic stress and burnout. Participants will explore how art can help break the cycle of poverty, restore mental wellness, and heal from systemic trauma, especially the types of stressors that can exacerbate the experience of poverty. Attendees will receive a Rest Planner to take home, alongside access to an accompanying online course focused on sustaining mental health and wellness through arts-driven practices. May 8th: 1:00 - 4:00.

5.  Program Evaluation 101: Principles for Non-Profit Organizations - This full day workshop introduces concepts and approaches to evaluation, sensitivities around evaluation and reporting your work. Learn tips and tactics of honestly, accurately and holistically taking stock of your programs and projects without feeling like you are being assessed, watched, doing a disservice to your work or the work of your colleagues. This interactive workshop is open to managers, non-profit staff, junior bureaucrats, and anyone who is curious about program evaluation. This workshop will be led by Dr. Rita Yembilah, Senior Researcher and Evaluator with the Canadian Poverty Institute and adjunct professor at Ambrose University and the University of Calgary. Dr. Yembilah is a Credentialed Evaluator (CE) with the Canadian Evaluation Society. May 9th: 9:00 - 4:00.

6. Business and Human Rights - Explore the important role of business in protecting and fulfilling our economic, social and cultural rights. This half day workshop will explore the important role that businesses and other organizations play in protecting human rights both globally and in workplaces here in Canada. We will explore global business and human rights initiatives as well as focus on policies and frameworks that Canadian businesses can use to responsibly procure products and services. We will also look at anti-discrimination, diversity, and inclusion best practices in Canadian workplaces. Leave with tools that you can apply in your organization.  This workshop will be led by Dr. Angie Redecopp who practices business law with a focus on small businesses and social enterprises. She also advises organizations on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks and policies. Prior to starting her own legal practice, Angie was an associate professor in the business program at Ambrose University, a development director for International Justice Mission Canada, a corporate law partner at Borden Ladner Gervais, and a small business owner. Angie has bachelor’s degrees in education and law, a master’s in business administration, and a PhD in the field of business and human rights.  May 13th: 9:00 - 12:00.

7.  Community Connector Training - This full-day workshop provides an introduction to the Community Connector model of Community Development. Learn about Action Dignity’s Community Connector model that fosters connections with racialized newcomers and immigrants, empowering them to access information, resources, and services. It also strengthens their capacity to advocate for themselves through systems change and policy advocacy. This workshop is designed for program managers, coordinators in non-profits or service organizations, students, and academicians interested in adopting the community connector model. Staff and community connectors of Action Dignity will facilitate the workshop using multi-pronged teaching strategies, including small group discussions, case studies and sharing of lived experiences. May 14th - 9:00 - 4:00.

8.  Allyship: Working Respectfully with Marginalized Communities - This full-day workshop will engage attendees in developing their anti-oppressive allyship practice. Attendees will work together to sharpen their power analysis through discussion and learning activities. Resources for further learning will be collected and distributed after the session. Facilitated by Sharissa Hantke, RN, MEd who is an able-bodied cisgender white settler nurse and educator. In 2021 she completed a master’s in educational foundations under the supervision of anti-racism expert Dr. Verna St. Denis. Sharissa is connected with the Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership, and with Tamarack's Communities Ending Poverty, where she has facilitated the Anti-Racism Community of Support since 2022. May 16th: 9:00 - 4:00.

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

The Canadian Poverty Institute gratefully acknowledges the Tamarack Institute and the United Way of Calgary and Area for their generous support of the 2025 Summer Institute program.