Funder: Community-College Social Innovation Fund, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Researchers at NorQuest College along with their partners at the Edmonton Public Library and over 40 community collaborators are engaged in a three-year research project, funded by the federal Community-College Social Innovation Fund, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This project utilizes a community-built methodology that was developed in collaboration with over 40 agencies in the Edmonton area that serve the marginalized. It is a study that looks at social capital including the barriers people face and the strengths they use to transcend marginalization as they work to ‘Build a Better Life’.
The Better Life project came to a close on June 30, 2019. The final report, appendices, and all other project products* are available for download below.
The project had two objectives of connection and insight.
The final report includes:
Project products include:
It is our hope that this report provides encouragement to individuals in their personal journeys as well as practical information for the community. Please use and share this report and data products for your work in the community whether it be displaying a life map in a public space, creating a research methodology, or utilizing the findings to support your work.
Thank you to the everyone who worked with us to make this project possible. It was an honour to conduct this research with the community.
If reading this report generates questions you would like help answering please feel free to contact us. We are open to present data, to discuss next steps, or to develop further research ideas.
Edmonton Public Library
Marlene Mulder, Principal Investigator Research Analyst NorQuest College Research Office marlenejmulder@gmail.com
Bob Marvin, Principal Investigator Emeritus NorQuest College bobmarvin@shaw.ca
Colette Cornejo colettecornejo@gmail.com
BetterLife@NorQuest.ca
This project would not have been possible without the community. As researchers, our role was to facilitate and carry out the research, but it was the members of the community who brought their knowledge, experience, and expertise together to design, implement, and offer their insights to understanding the data. Community organizations opened their homes and hearts to this project, and in doing so gave voice to people they serve, who participated in interviews and focus groups. Our community collaborators and participants are the most important people in this project.
Those in bold hosted data collection, and the number in parentheses indicates how many data collection events they hosted.
Data analysis and initial reporting to the community is underway. For an overview of the project including initial discoveries, download the Better Life Progress Overview (300KB pdf). A community showcase to share findings and celebrate the project will be held in December 2018.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive more information as it becomes available, contact us.
Data collection is now complete and over 600 interviews were completed. A big thank you to our community collaborators for their support. Researchers are now working on analyzing the data and preparing the findings for presentation to the community starting Summer 2018. If you would like to receive information regarding the research findings as they become available, contact us.
“In general terms, social capital represents social connections and all the benefits they generate. The benefits for people having these social connections can occur either at an individual level (for example, through family support) or at a wider collective level (for example, through volunteering). Social capital is also associated with values such as tolerance, solidarity or trust. These are beneficial to society and are important for people to be able to cooperate.” (Veronique Siegler, 2014)
“Few data exist that could be used to evaluate the contribution of social capital to specific public policy issues.” (Franke, 2005)
The purpose of this research is to raise awareness and understanding of social capital’s impact on well-being. We believe that increased awareness and understanding will result in changes to public policies and services so that social capital is increased, the value of belonging is recognized, and community well-being is strengthened.
This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.