United Way is proud to share four inspiring stories of social sector innovation. The videos will be followed by a panel discussion on social sector innovation with local community leaders. Tickets are free or by donation.
Event takes place at Broadway Theatre, October 7th, 2025, from 7 pm to 9 pm. Popcorn and refreshments available from the concession.
Description
We live in challenging times. With basic needs, such as food and housing, becoming increasingly unaffordable for a growing number of people, the demand placed on social service organizations is increasing and funding hasn’t necessarily kept up with this growth. Meaning organizations serving our most vulnerable neighbours, often operating on extremely tight budgets already, are having to find ways to do more with the same or less.
This high stress environment is forcing innovation but there are almost certainly better ways to create conditions where innovation is fostered, developed, and scaled more strategically. These videos showcase a moment in time when funding, ideas, and opportunity came together with positive results, but communities can’t and probably shouldn’t rely on emergency situations to innovate and grow their social sector partners.
Panel Topic
How can we as community leaders, funders, and governments (and others) do a better job of fostering innovation in the social sector in a way that includes the interests and voices of those impacted, provides opportunities for experimentation (and failure), identifies successes, and scales (through funding and other resources) these successes quickly and effectively?
Topics : News
