Dara Parker is a visionary leader with an impressive track record of bringing Vancouver’s diverse communities together.  She joins us in the conversation lab and discusses her new role with the Vancouver Foundation. During this episode we talk about the Vancouver Foundation and the role of community foundations across Canada; a shift to a systems change focus and what that means to community organizations as well as the health of our City; the role of donors and engagement, the newest Vital Signs 2019 and a conversation about what’s changed since the first report in 2006.

The Plan Institute & Disability Alliance

The Conversation Lab is a monthly radio program at CFRO FM in Vancouver. It airs on the last Saturday every month at 9am and its available on community and campus radio stations across Canada as well as on your favorite podcasting platform.My focus is on giving community groups, non-profit organizations, and changemakers a voice to talk about those things that are most important to them. Learning how to build bridges into different communities seems critical as we explore the uneven development of colonialism and global capitalism in our community. I'm a veteran broadcaster and Ph.D. Candidate, at UBC's Social Justice Institute. My dissertation is about the cause and effect of polarization and how the words we use open up or shut down our conversations. I'm learning about the science, psychology, cultural, and emotional components of conversation and what they have in common to gain insight and improve on existing knowledge of how we engage with each other whether about climate, race, gender, culture, politics, or social justice issues to contribute to positive social change.CFRO FM (Co-op Radio) is located in Vancouver's downtown eastside on the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-waututh) Nations where we are grateful to be able to do this work.