People-Powered Platform — The Stride

People-Powered

Platform

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” - Margaret J. Wheatley

When organizations, such as the Calgary Chamber and Calgary Foundation, collaborated and envisioned a program connecting young leaders from for-profit and non-profit sectors to address issues impacting Calgarians in 2017, The Stride was born. Originally named “Gen YYC”, this people-powered platform was formed to develop a leadership program and build a strong foundation within the community. The idea was to have the founders, a group of dedicated leaders, develop unique ideas and solutions, governance systems, develop programs and content and determine how these two communities could work collaboratively. In 2019, The Stride rebranded and launched into more social and community issues, still allowing young professionals an opportunity to connect and belong. However, when the pandemic hit, The Stride was forced to change its gait and move at a different pace.

Transitioning to an online environment forced the organization to change from the community engagement experience of in-person group meetings, narrowed theme focus, and still maintain a level of interest for participants. Garnering feedback from Striders, the organization dropped all age restrictions and membership fees and opened participation to all. The level of interest has improved in 2022 and the focus is finding resources and people to learn from each other and make positive changes despite the challenges set forth by the pandemic.

The Stride is now focused on offering workshops and learning events in a hybrid model, online when required (and to support accessibility), and in-person when possible. Past events have included topics such as Impacts of Intergenerational Trauma, Intersectionality, and Accessibility for People with Disabilities. The platform has also removed all financial barriers and individuals can now attend by paying ticket prices, choosing free tickets or paying what one can afford. The impetus for change was derived from a continued equity learning journey.

With a new year underway, the organization is hopeful that rebuilding small in-person groups will reignite that lost sense of building relationships and trust. The pandemic has created a loss of connectedness; however, The Stride is still grounded in the original focus of developing a deeper understanding of the challenges and

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