The BUILD Program
Growing initiatives for impact and solidarity
Intake for this program is paused
In learning from the cycle of seasons, good programming is attentive to both root and shoot. Though we could be carried by the excitement of this year’s success and push for rapid or continuous growth, we know this might endanger the health of the program, including the intentions, outcomes, participants, and team members. Instead, we are making space to reflect, digest, and integrate learnings from this inaugural year of offering the BUILD program.
If you are keen on expanding your skills and learning in an active program, consider the Migrant Systems Change Leadership Certificate program.
Who should join?
Navigate to learn more:
BUILD is a good fit for initiatives that are currently active and looking to refine their model to grow their impact. We focus on strengthening the skills and foundations of people shaping and developing their initiatives (e.g. for-profit, non-profit, co-op, mutual aid, movement building, and collectives).
BUILD is for you if you want to explore topics including how best to communicate your initiative, how to gather ongoing feedback from the people your work serves, how to explore and test key revenue and or partnership opportunities, how to use key tools and frameworks for effective operations and finances and much more.
contact
Stay Connected
If you have questions about the BUILD program, email build@radiussfu.com.
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You:
- Are a community-connected person working while racialized (Indigenous folks, Black folks, folks of colour)
- Are excited to join a program led and populated by a representative team who get what it might be like for you
- Have a deep understanding and knowledge of an issue your community is facing (e.g. lived experience or studied)
- Are ready to deepen your commitment to your work in the world (e.g. sustainability shift to this being your primary focus; grow your initiative well enough to pay salaries and sustain people; establish an effective co-op model)
- Could focus better on your work in shifting or transforming systems with support to relieve your survival burdens (e.g. stipends and support to help meet basic living expenses)
Your Work:
- Is focused on shifting systems toward the wellness of people or the planet or both
- Is “active and refining.” You’ve already tested your work with the folks you aim to serve or in the marketplace (e.g. service, product, offering) and are ready to deepen your impact
- Has a clear working answer to the question “Who is your community” or “Who is your customer”
- You have feedback from the folks your work serves—that this meets a need
- You may know what support your initiative needs and are ready to learn how to make it happen
You + This Program:
- You are willing and able to commit 5–8 hours per week to the program (includes small-group learning time & independent work)
- You are excited to connect with experts and professionals for tailored advice and support
- You want to understand how to access resources (e.g. networks, funding, skills) to sustain or grow your initiative
- You are excited to work alongside a small group of committed, impact-focused people working on their own part of the puzzle
- It’s the right time for you to be part of a responsive program that will adapt based on learning how to best support you
"Anum (she/her)"
As a nursing student, Anum noticed a pronounced gap in women’s health—recognizing and understanding symptoms of iron deficiency. With a few folks in her personal and professional circles, she hosted workshops and talking groups to share knowledge, with positive feedback from folks she worked with and the people who attended. After one year of hosting these, she explored the early-stage idea in a program that helped her refine her work to the top five under-serviced health conditions for women aged 30-45. Now in her second year as a practicing nurse, her goal is to sustainably embed this community solution back into the larger healthcare system and to expand the service to be available in multiple languages. She wants to connect with expert professionals for advice and feedback and be in a group again for accountability.
"Kio (they/them)"
Kio has worked in policy for eight years in municipal government and various organizations to lift up their community. They recently engaged in policy-focused capacity-building and consulting “on the side” and are ready to expand this as their main focus. They want to learn about Equity-Centred Design to integrate it into their work. They also want to grow their confidence in business tools and frameworks, so they can expand their relationships with organizations nationally.
"Food-Sovereignty Collective"
What began as a common need among a group of friends who were missing the flavors of home turned into a social enterprise. The three friends started out catering fusion global potlucks, then learned that their neighborhood is classified as a “food desert”. They turned their attention to enduring solutions for food security, and changed focus to permaculture community gardens. Eager to grow and scale their idea, and have gotten feedback from accelerator programs they’ve applied to that they need to focus on getting more clear on the basics, before they are ready to scale. They want to refine their marketing and branding, while making sure they continue to centre equity and community needs. Their main focus is how to tell their story to find different revenue sources to keep this going.