here - Tamarack CCI

Business Community Anti-Poverty Initiative (BCAPI)
http://www.bcapi.ca/
The Business Community A nti-Poverty Initiative (BC API) was established in 1997 as the
business community’s response to the critical issue of poverty in Saint John. The Initiative’s
founder, Bill Gale, a retired vice president of the Royal Bank, was inspired to act after a
panhandler seeking spare change in the uptown area told him how he descended into poverty.
BC API is a coalition of senior business and professional community leaders working together
with people living in poverty, government and community, to address root causes. BC API has
adopted the role of “catalyst” and in doing so brings leadership, new thinking, business
expertise, influence, assistance to community organizations in accessing resources and financial
support, and facilitation / coordination to the cause of poverty reduction in Saint John.
BC API has contributed significantly by generating collective power through which real,
sustainable change is happening. The earliest activities of BC API were focused on listening
intently to the voices of people living in poverty (the true experts) and subsequently addressing
the concerns they identified as being most critical to their circumstances: childcare, education,
employment, housing, youth, and government disincentives.
BC API’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. Its
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 selfsufficiency,
and feel valued as contributing members of a vibrant community. BC API’s goals for
2007 to 2010 are to:
Help children who live in poverty to succeed in school.
Enhance programs for teens that prevent pregnancy, improve well-being, and enable
high school completion and work readiness.
Help young adults who are not in school or employed to become employable.
Put the right supports in place for young moms to achieve education and income.
Involve others who can help reduce poverty and achieve true growth in Saint John.
Foster BC API growth.
With its partners, BC API has completed initiatives related to:
A PA LS (Partners Assisting Local Schools) program – implemented in seven local
schools
The creation of a new facility and expanded programs for a Teen Resource Centre
A “First Steps” housing, education centre, daycare and outreach program
100 new affordable housing units per year
Initiatives currently underway include:
The development of Early Learning Centres for vulnerable neighbourhoods
Collaborating with Business for Social Transformation
- 38 -