AN OVERVIEW

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ANTI-POVERTY INITIATIVE (BCAPI)

By working together with people living in poverty, community organizations and government, we are dedicated to substantially reducing the number of people who live in poverty in Greater Saint John.

PRINCIPLES

• Public commitment to reduce poverty
• Community and business leaders committed to action
• Listen to and involve people living in poverty
• Focus on longer-term "break the cycle" solutions
• Emphasis on partnerships
• Sustainable, comprehensive and holistic approaches
• Business approach - research, analyze, plan, act and measure
• Accountable to our stakeholders and our community
• Catalyst (not "service") role
• Raise the profile of poverty and our partners, not BCAPI
• Minimize requests to government until planning is complete

ROLE
BCAPI is a "CATALYST", undertaking to provide:

• Leadership
• New Thinking
• Business Expertise
• Influence
• Assistance to community organizations in accessing resources and financial support
• Facilitation / Coordination

FOCUS
BREAKING THE INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY

BCAPI’s primary focus is increasing the opportunities for children, youth and single-parents, who live in poverty, to succeed in school and achieve employment that pays a living wage.

BCAPI’s secondary focus is the provision of adequate resources in low income neighbourhoods and schools to enable low income families to improve their wellbeing, work toward economic self-sufficiency, and feel valued as contributing members of a vibrant community.

GOALS (2010 - 2015):

• Enable children who live in poverty to succeed in school and break the poverty cycle.
• Reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy by enhancing youth programs that prevent pregnancy and improve well-being.
• Develop services that enable young parents to continue their education and achieve adequate incomes.
• Help single parents get into the workforce and off social assistance.
• Help ‘at risk’ teens and young adults complete their high school education, be ready for post-secondary pursuits and the workforce.
• Promote solutions to the lack of adequate and affordable housing in Saint John, the need for mixed income neighbourhoods, and the regeneration of priority neighbourhoods.
• Help others understand poverty, how it can be reduced and prevented, what is working in Saint John, and BCAPI’s ‘catalyst’ role.
• Facilitate a community-led and comprehensive approach to poverty reduction that involves all sectors of the community.
• Foster the continued growth of BCAPI.

STRUCTURE:

BCAPI Executive Committee (2010):
Chair: Tom Gribbons; Treasurer: Blair Northcott; Nancy Creamer-Ervin; Bill Gale; Gary Lawson; Sheri Somerville; John Wheatley; Bob Vincent
BCAPI Committees and Partnerships:
• Single Parent Family Working Group – Co-Chairs: Bob Vincent and John Wheatley
• Housing Working Group - Chair: Gregor Hope
• Education to Employment Working Group – Co-Chairs: John Adams and Mary Reeves
• Communications Committee – Chair: Sheri Somerville
• Fundraising Committee – Nancy Creamer-Ervin and Blair Northcott
• Fortis Charity Golf Tournament – Chair: Paulette Hicks
• BCAPI Annual Gathering: Dora Nicinski
• Early Learning Centre – Co-Chairs: Brice Belyea and Dr. Annie Murphy
• Vibrant Communities Saint John Leadership Roundtable – Chair: Regena Farnsworth

POVERTY REDUCTION PRIORITIES:

√ Early Learning Centres for low-income neighbourhoods
√ PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools) and Community Schools in priority neighbourhoods
√ Quality, accessible after school programs for children and youth
√ Improved Education & Employment pathways for ‘at risk’ teens and young adults
√ First Steps – a comprehensive program for young moms and their babies
√ Addition of 100 affordable housing units, annually
√ Revitalization of low income neighbourhoods
√ NB Economic and Social Inclusion Plan

BCAPI FUNDING PARTNERS (2010):

Bell Aliant
Brunswick Pipeline
Dowd Roofing
Fortis Properties
Horizon Health Network
J.D. Irving, Limited

THANK YOU TO ALL the businesses, government organizations, community groups and individuals who are making a difference in the lives of those who live in poverty in Saint John.

WE MUST REFUSE TO FAIL