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Our Community Blogs share stories from across our work with equity-deserving communities, highlighting AHC programs, partnerships, and community-led initiatives in action. Through reflections, updates, and success stories, we showcase how culturally responsive programming and inclusive service delivery support individuals and groups to strengthen wellbeing and build capacity.
Alongside program insights, you’ll find community success stories and testimonials that reflect the impact of collaboration, participation, and grassroots leadership. Together, these blogs offer a practical and people-first look at how communities are advancing their own wellbeing and prosperity, with AHC walking alongside them as a partner.
We at Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) believe that the next generation of leaders is now.
That’s why our AHC Youth team’s Empowering Leadership in Youth Through Community (ELYCA) program helps passionate youth create youth-led projects that impact our Edmonton communities. Making a societal difference requires awareness, passion, and determination for change. Last year, we had 15 groups who will be completing their project at the end of this month. While we had numerous successful youth-led projects, The Creatives Collective from our second cohort of the ELYCA program is showing it’s stylish to be environmentally friendly.
Clothing waste is a significant contributor to environmental challenges, with millions of tons of discarded garments ending up in landfills every year.
In fact, according to a 2023 study by the University of Waterloo, Canadians alone dispose of nearly 500 million kilograms of fabric each year which includes clothing, household linens, and other fabric-based products. This waste not only consumes valuable resources but also releases harmful greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change.
Last year the Creatives Collective was founded by a diverse team of youth who are passionate about addressing the growing global issue of clothing waste while helping people discover their personal style. For the Creatives Collective group, promoting sustainable fashion practices is a critical step toward building a more sustainable and equitable future.
Throughout 2024, The Creatives Collective made a lasting impact by hosting a series of creative, hands-on workshops. These included:
By equipping participants with practical skills and raising awareness about the environmental cost of fast fashion, the group empowered individuals and youth to make more conscious fashion choices and embrace sustainable practices. Their efforts highlight how innovative, youth-led initiatives can tackle global challenges and inspire meaningful change in local communities.
Our ELYCA program has not only created initiatives that impact the community but has helped empower youth leaders to reach their full potential. That’s not to say there haven’t been some fair share of obstacles as well. We sat and spoke with team members Raiyana and Muskaan to get their new-found perspective on leadership and the challenges they faced.
You said that you had to get out of your comfort zone for this project, what did you mean by that?
Raiyana Being a leader and managing people under you and doing it in a way that’s collaborative, decision-making, and teamwork was something that I learned which, I don’t think I was comfortable doing before this project.
You engaged a lot of participants using Instagram. How was that for you?
Muskaan: At first, we were scared to bring out ideas onto social media because not everyone understands the vision and we really tried to work hard to engage an audience that’s not open, especially in Edmonton. A lot of Edmontonians are not used to having creative outlets and are scared to come forward and engage, so we were hard-pressed in finding ideas to bring out this audience. It is really hard to attract people who are not actively engaged in creative communities.
Raiyana: To add on to that, it is our first time doing something like this and we are not established so it was hard. A lot of people do not usually care about environmental initiatives because they don’t think it impacts them directly.
Creatives Collective staying engage with their social media. Follow them at on Instagram the.creatives.collectiveeMuskaan: Many people want to keep shopping regularly because things like thrifting take time and it’s not easy. People are usually not engaged in sustainable fashion efforts and that was our hardest challenge. Also when you are starting an initiative you have to sit with that bitter feeling that you are not getting engagement , and sometimes it can be disheartening. When we started, we did not have a lot of people engaging and it took us a while to even get to about 200 followers to our account.
What is something that you are reflecting on right now as a positive outcome of your project?
Raiyana: I am proud of our initiative because what we are doing is very new to the City and after our event focused on clothing swaps, we saw many groups who we know starting to start their own swapping events which told us that they took inspiration from us!
Muskaan: Being able to put yourself forward and problem solve and put your ideas to life and put it into something physical is something that is hard to do. I am a very idealistic person and I was never, ever able to put it into action, and having these workshops and events was a representation of our ideas coming to life. The confidence that comes with putting yourself out there is a big thing especially coming out of your comfort zone, doing presentations, and putting yourself out there which we had to do a lot when promoting our project.
The Creatives Collective had 12 workshops they presented throughout the year, and because they gradually gained momentum after each activity, more participants were waiting to hear when they would host another event. At their final event on Friday, January 17th, they hosted a tote bag-making workshop focused on highlighting sustainable bloc printing South Asian practices.
The tote bag-making workshop had over 30 participants in attendance, and the group made connections with local Edmonton groups focused on sustainability, including Waste Free Edmonton. They also collaborated with other youth-led groups in the ELYCA program, like LEED (Linking Education in Edmonton).
As ELYCA is a one-time seed grant, the Creatives Collective is not able to apply for it again, but their mission is far from over. Before all groups complete their project, they attend a sustainable workshop where they are informed of other ways that they can continue sustaining their activities.
The Creatives Collective plan on continuing with their activities by partnering with other local groups and applying for funding from organizations such as Volunteer Alberta via the ASCEL grant and the Sprout Fellowship, which only accept participants who have led a Canada Service Corps-funded project in the past. You can follow the group on their Instagram account @thecreativescollective or contact them via email at thecreativescollectivee@gmail.com
For more information on the ELYCA program, please visit the ELYCA page on our website or follow us on Instagram at ahc_youth
The March 15, 2025, Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) review meeting was a successful forum for Community Initiative Groups to present their impactful ideas for community well-being. Initiatives ranged from promoting physical and mental wellness to fostering connection through language, culture, and traditions.
Representatives presented to four CDAC members, who offered valuable feedback to ensure measurable outcomes. We are delighted to announce that 9 applications were approved for Seed Grants between $1,700 and $2,000. These grants will be distributed in April after the groups finalize their agreements.
Over the past months, CDU has been working closely with several community groups, engaging in thoughtful dialogue and helping to mobilize ideas that will have a lasting impact. We are proud to share that 10 groups have qualified for the Seed Grant Application process, each of which has been mentored and carefully prepared to present their proposals to the CDAC.
The following communities and their initiatives include:
CDU team will continue to work with the group whose application was returned with feedback and recommendations for improvement. As we move forward, the team will be working closely with them in the coming months, providing guidance and support as they refine their initiative and activity plans. We are confident that with this additional work, they will be ready to reapply in the next CDAC review and take the next step toward making a positive impact.
As we move forward, CDU remains committed to supporting community-driven projects, empowering groups to make meaningful contributions, and helping create a more inclusive and vibrant Edmonton for all.
On March 7, 2025, Action for Healthy Communities organized and hosted an enriching Entrepreneurship Grant Writing Bootcamp, which was specifically aimed at equipping participants with the essential knowledge and practical tools they need to successfully secure financial grants for their businesses.
“I attended private grant workshops before, but this one far surpassed anything I learned before," said one boot camp participant.
This informative session, led by Dr. Lars Hallstrom, placed a strong emphasis on the importance of understanding and applying the LogFrame, also known as the Logic Model. Many attendees expressed their appreciation for the facilitator’s clear communication and engaging teaching style, which made complex concepts much easier to grasp. Participants found value in learning how this logical framework could be effectively adapted to various writing contexts, especially in relation to grant and Request for Proposal (RFP) applications.
“ xcellent workshop by the right facilitator, and planned and supervised by excellent people — Tulin, Lida — and the rest of their team at AHC,” said another boot camp participant.
Workshop led by Dr. Lars Hallstrom, PhD.Throughout the duration of the workshop, entrepreneurs not only explored numerous funding opportunities available to them but also engaged in lively discussions regarding eligibility requirements for different grants. Furthermore, they learned practical and effective strategies for writing compelling and persuasive grant proposals that would capture the attention of potential funders.
Importantly, the workshop also provided participants with a valuable opportunity to network with each other, exchanging ideas and building connections that could benefit their businesses in the future. In addition, they had the unique chance to receive personalized, one-on-one feedback from the workshop professor. This expert generously offered to review grant applications at no cost, provided that they were submitted in advance, ensuring that participants could refine their proposals further and increase their chances of success in securing funding.
“Very grateful to have this workshop. Thank you very much, Action for Healthy Communities, for organizing this.”
On March 25, 2025, Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) hosted its highly anticipated semi-annual Career Fair at the Signature Sandman Hotel in Downtown Edmonton. The event brought together 23 prominent Employer Partners from diverse industries and over 350 participants, creating a vibrant atmosphere of opportunity and networking. This career fair is crucial to AHC's ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between newcomers, permanent residents, and potential employers in the Edmonton job market.
"It is important for AHC to help newcomers adjust to their new homes and bring home an income," said AHC's Employer Engagement Liaison Colin Pon. "For us at AHC, it's encouraging to see so many newcomers who want to find jobs and contribute back to the local economy."
The event showcased a wide array of industries, featuring employers such as Sandman Hotel, GardaWorld, Dexterra, and Canadian Road Builders, among others. This diverse representation ensured that clients from various backgrounds and skill sets could find relevant opportunities. The fair's success was immediately evident, with two participating employers reporting promising outcomes: one shortlisted 30 individuals for interviews, while another identified 10 potential candidates.
Garda World representative Richard meeting with out AHC clients."This gives us a really great opportunity to really source and find a really amazing canidiates," said GardaWorld representative Richard. " provides us all well seasoned candidates that know already the background of our industry."
For newcomers and permanent residents, the career fair offered a unique opportunity to interact directly with HR representatives from leading companies. This face-to-face interaction not only allowed clients to present their skills and experiences but also helped them understand the Canadian labor market better. Many participants appreciated the chance to meet with our preferred Employer Partners.
The success of this career fair underscores the importance of such events in fostering economic integration and community development. As Alberta continues to welcome newcomers and address labor market needs, initiatives like AHC's Career Fair play a crucial role in connecting talent with opportunity.
"Now there's a general myth that you can't get certain jobs without Canadian experience," said RBC representative Folake Okusanya, "I'm happy to debunk that myth because...very kind of experience is relevant, whether from Canada or not."
Looking ahead, AHC plans to build on this success by organizing more targeted industry-specific events and expanding its employer network. The organization remains committed to supporting its clients and contributing to the vibrant, diverse workforce that drives Alberta's and Edmonton's economies forward.
"We're are thankful for all our clients and recruiters who joined us and making this career fair a success," said Pon.
They say life is sweeter with chocolates. But what's even sweeter is making a living by making chocolates.
Yereni Ramirez is the heart and hands behind Chocolate Don Marín, an exceptional business deeply rooted in rich tradition, boundless creativity, and unyielding passion. Yereni has been a dedicated participant in our AHC Entrepreneurship Support Programs, diligently completing every course that we have offered over the years. She has not only applied the invaluable knowledge she gained to enhance her own business but has also stepped into the role of a mentor and a source of inspiration within our vibrant community
Her active participation in various markets throughout the city has been noteworthy, with a special emphasis on her strong connections with Strathcona Market. She seizes every opportunity presented by our organization, always arriving with a contagious enthusiasm, remarkable professionalism, and a generous spirit that uplifts those around her.
"I loved being part of these events! Thank you, AHC, so much for the opportunity to participate," said Ramirez.
Yereni was prominently featured as an entrepreneur at the prestigious International Research Salon Expo, where she had the honor of representing her beloved business, Chocolate Don Marín. Her participation in this significant event showcased her growing influence and unwavering dedication to building meaningful connections across diverse cultures and communities.
In addition to her achievements as a successful business owner, Yereni is a recognized community leader and mentor. She is frequently invited to share her expertise and inspire others within the food industry, demonstrating her collaborative nature and steadfast commitment to uplifting those around her. This has firmly established her as a key figure within Edmonton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
"It is very entertaining and full of meaningful content. I’m also interested in connecting with other entrepreneurs," she said.
Currently, Yereni is enthusiastically planning to organize her very own holistic market. This exciting venture will beautifully combine her deep love for food, wellness, and community building—serving as a perfect reflection of her core values and vision for an inclusive community. Through this initiative, she aims to foster connections, support local producers, and create spaces where individuals can come together to celebrate the intersection of health and culinary delight.
We at Action for Healthy Communities are deeply saddened by the tragic incident during Lapu-Lapu Day in Vancouver earlier this week.
We extend our condolences to the victims, their families, the Filipino community across Canada, and all others in the City of Vancouver who were affected by this tragedy.
The Edmonton Chinese Writing Club launched a Creative Writing Boot Camp titled "Sharing Wisdom Across Cultures through Stories." This four-week program took place on Mondays and wrapped on December 9, 2024. The sessions were facilitated by Kate Boorman, Write in Resident of EPL (2023) . It features a group of women who are passionate about storytelling and cultural heritage.
This exciting initiative brought together women from diverse backgrounds to share and preserve Edmonton’s rich cultural heritage through storytelling in English. The registered participants were expected to attend at least 75% of the activities under this initiative. The sessions included creative writing workshops led by award-winning author Kate Boorman, public storytelling events at the Edmonton Public Library, and an opportunity to be published for free in a collection of non-fiction stories
The Creative Writing Boot Camp is a world wisdom book project that tells stories about Edmonton’s cultural landscape, natural history, built history, objects, and language. This project will ultimately create an important collection that details and preserves the heritage of Edmonton.
ECWC is a vibrant and inclusive community group who has successfully secured AHC Seed Grant twice in 2023 and 2024 consecutively. The group is dedicated to fostering creativity and intercultural communication through writing in both Chinese and English languages.
On November 2nd, the Children and Youth program at Action for Healthy Communities hosted its third Collective Action Forum at the Mill Woods Seniors Association. The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including sports and community organizations, representatives from different levels of government, scholars, researchers, and youth involved in sports. It provided a unique and valuable opportunity for stakeholders to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another.
Keynote speaker Shauna Booka, the CEO and President of Inclusion in Canadian Sport Network from Toronto, provided attendees with her expertise and regarding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) related matters within the Canadian amateur sports industry.
CAF also invited a group of panelists to share their thoughts on sports inclusion. The panelists included Free Play Founder & CEO Tim Adams, Executive Director for Alberta Snowboarding Association Mo Walker, Director of Performance Development for Edmonton Track and Field Council Robyn Webster, CEO of Sport Edmonton Reed Clarke, Community Development and Social Impact for Sport Edmonton Ashley Prasad, and Executive Director for InMotion Network Lindsay Wright.
The forum facilitated insightful discussions on fostering more inclusive sports participation and addressing the barriers for underserved communities through a panel discussion, breakout sessions, a keynote speech, and roundtable conversations. Many participants expressed, both during and after the event, a desire for more opportunities like this to connect each other.
Young Learns, a South Sudanese community group, led the initiative Empowering Youths by Reading Club and Aboriginal Awareness, which was awarded a Seed Grant. The community-led initiative focuses on educating and providing resources to South Sundanese youth ages 10 - 17 years on Canada's indigenous history, people, tradition, values, and culture through reading. The group provided books that inspire individuals, provide guidance, and offer insights into the lives and challenges of Canada's Indigenous community.
One of the themes of the reading session was Stories of Two Different Cultures, where participants read South Sudanese and Indigenous stories, taking the opportunity to learn about similarities between the two different cultural values and heritage. Young Learns provided children with a reading session called Giving Back to the Land, where they learn how they can protect and respect the land they live on.
The initiative started in June and will continue until September 2024. AHC is proud to have been a part of this community-driven initiative in making a positive difference.
A Community of Practice (CoP) was held at the Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) Community Hall, attracting 20 community members from various Community Initiatives (CIs). The event featured introductions, group discussions, presentations on Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), and an overview of the CI implementation process post-Seed Grant allocation.
The event had two main objectives: fostering a collaborative environment for exchanging experiences and best practices and building connections between different community groups. The ultimate goal was to cultivate a culture of mutual learning and active engagement.
The event was highly successful, demonstrated by the robust engagement during discussions, brainstorming sessions, and networking activities. Participants expressed enthusiasm for future CoP engagements and a willingness to take on leadership roles. Several groups suggested topics for the next mini CoP, indicating continued active involvement.
Additionally, CDU hosted a CoP at AHC, where various community leaders shared productive discussions, resulting in several key takeaways for future activities and initiatives:
Next Steps: CDU proposed that community leaders take the lead in creating the next CoP event, with CDU providing support and logistics. Regular check-ins and follow-up meetings are scheduled weekly to prepare community leaders for the second community-led CoP meeting in August.
The quarterly, community-led Community of Practice (CoP) convened on August 17, 2024, at Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) Community Hall, gathering 16 community members from various grassroots groups and organizations. This vibrant event, which was entirely planned, implemented, and facilitated by community leaders, featured four interconnected sessions aimed at fostering collaboration, learning, and strategic planning.
The event began with a warm welcome from Naz Aitkulova, a community leader from the Kyrgyz Canada Association. Naz led an engaging introduction session, setting a collaborative tone and encouraging participants to connect and share their experiences.
In the second segment, Manita from the WMEN - Nepalese Women Group presented the purpose and benefits of the Community of Practice in community development. Her interactive session sparked lively discussions, with participants actively engaging in dialogue, asking questions, and gaining a deeper understanding of how CoP can drive positive change in their communities.
The third segment, facilitated by Lal Jan from CIRCLE International, involved guiding the participants through a SWOT analysis of their community initiatives. This strategic exercise allowed the group to collectively identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to their ongoing and future projects, providing valuable insights to enhance their impact.
The final segment included refreshments and networking, which allowed participants to build new connections and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
The CoP proved invaluable for community members to share knowledge, build relationships, and collaboratively explore strategies for advancing their work. The event concluded with a shared commitment to continue fostering a supportive and resourceful network that empowers grassroots initiatives.
Action for Healthy Communities (AHC) capped off another successful year with our 29th Annual General Meeting and Open House on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, in our Edmonton downtown office and AHC Event Centre. Our Open House gave onlookers a comprehensive and informative look at our programs, supports, and teams. For AHC members, the AGM was an opportunity to vote on key issues that impact the future of our organization.
We also unveiled our 2023-2024 annual report, giving our members a glimpse of how we served and engaged our participants and the communities. During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, we are proud to have accomplished the following:
Our 2023-2024 annual report can be accessed through our Publication and Resource page.
During our AGM, we also welcomed three new members - Charles OlumuyiwaMoyela, Mohamed Negm, and Navneet Sekhon - to our AHC Board.
OlumuyiwaMoyela is a former business reporter, writer, and cross-functional team leader with a track record of leading communications and external relations teams in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East over the last 15 years. OlumuyiwaMoyela has a passion for youth education, leadership training, community, and entrepreneurship development, and brings his wealth of strategic communications experience, intercultural and non-profit sector knowledge, and perspectives to the AHC Board.
Also new to the board is Mohamed Negm. He is the President of Negmax Industrial Innovations, a leading company in robotics automation and industrial innovations. With over 15 years of experience, Mohamed has established himself as a serial entrepreneur, founding and successfully running several hardware automation companies. His extensive expertise in entrepreneurship and engineering has been instrumental in driving innovation and efficiency in the industrial sector.
Finally, AHC welcomes Navneet Sekhon to the board. She is a strategic, innovative, results-driven chartered human resource professional with extensive employee relations experience in a full range of functions, as well as success in simultaneously managing multiple projects. Navneet brings to AHC a wealth of knowledge in human resources and employee relations and is a certified Chartered Professional for Human Resources, SHRM Certified Professional, and a Registered Professional Recruiter.
We look forward to having our new board of directors join AHC. We are thankful for our ongoing relationships and continued support from our funders, partners, members, and stakeholders. Together we can continue to create stronger, healthier communities.
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