Changemaker in Residence

In September 2022, the Studio began working with Calgary Reads in support of its Dandelion Strategy. In 2021-2022, Calgary Reads began the process of dissolving and distributing its program assets to various organizations - Seed Partners - throughout Calgary and Canada in support of children’s literacy.

Steacy Pinney, CEO of Calgary Reads explains, “The dandelion is our strategy to address succession, sustainability and scale. Community change efforts need to be dynamic and sustainability doesn’t always have to mean preserving the current form. Our goal is a more equitable and resilient future for young readers, but also distributed leadership - new partners who will own this great challenge, work in new ways, and collaborate strategically, to redesign the systems that must work better to support children.”

Using the Adaptive Cycle framework as a foundation, the Studio facilitation team began working with Calgary Reads and the seven Seed Partners over a series of workshops to support the dissolution of Calgary Reads and the successful integration of program assets across a broader ecosystem of organizations. With a focus on systems change, the Seed Partners have been mapping the literacy ecosystem in Calgary and identifying opportunities for deeper collaboration. The Seed Partner workshops will conclude in September 2023.