About the Author
CAREER OVERVIEW
Brenda Herchmer is committed to empowering collective capacity for local social, environmental, and economic well-being. Her work focuses on strengthening whole-community sector-connector approaches that result in collaborative cultures, informed decision-making, future-readiness, and innovation.
She is the founder and CEO of a social enterprise called Campus for Communities of the Future and Co-Chair of Catalyst 2030 Canada. A speaker, trainer, coach, and strategist across Canada, she is a former Professor and Director at Niagara College, Director of ACE Communities (Alberta) and worked for the City of Niagara…
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Posted on 06-13-24
No Wrapping Paper Required
Today, I received yet another request for a donation to a good cause from a well-respected charitable organization. I’m embarrassed to admit that my initial response was one of annoyance. In my defence, how can one person help make the world a better place when they feel like a superhero without a cape?
Empathy prevailed as I quickly gave myself a shake and thought about how stressful it must be for these organizations. They work tirelessly to ensure funding is in place so they can continue making their vital contributions to our communities.…
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Posted on 12-06-24
An Entertaining Use of AI
There are many of us at the grassroots of our community struggling to convey the need for a greater balance between economic interests and social and environmental well-being. In other words, a balance that ensures business interests aren’t prioritized above all else.
It recently occurred to me that perhaps our messaging could be improved if it was less doom and gloom and more entertaining and user-friendly.
As shared in a previous post, I’m also…
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Posted on 11-21-24
Whlpped Cream and the Value of Fun
I’ve only just completed an introductory course to stand-up comedy and have one live show under my belt, so undoubtedly, I’m a tad short of the 10,000 hours of practice research suggests is needed to be considered an expert. Regardless, given the state of our mixed-up, messed-up world, I’m feeling some pressure to try to provide a diversion in the form of laughter.
Sadly, I just don’t have it in me today. But the good news is that I have an extensive archive. The post below was written years ago, but it remains a reminder…
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Posted on 11-11-24
Finding My Funny
The older I get, the better I’ve become at listening to my intuition, even when it seems a tad wacky and I can’t explain why I decide to do something. It’s a strategy that has worked reasonably well, so I’ve learned to listen when those spidey senses start tingling.
It’s why when I recently read about our local up-and-coming comedy club offering an Introduction to Stand-Up Comedy, I decided to sign up even though I wasn’t sure why it seemed important.
It’s not as if I…
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Posted on 10-28-24
Can Community Innovation Be Simplifed?
My dominant right-brained self understands very little of Albert Einstein’s work. However, I do know he once said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
I often wonder if he imagined how much more challenging that would be in today’s complex, hyperconnected, and increasingly uncertain world.
The speed, unpredictability, and interconnectedness of today’s complex issues have made it extraordinarily difficult to predict and plan for the future of our communities. It’s made even more challenging by knowing it is imperative that we also implement local action to…
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Posted on 10-17-24
Impactful Ways to Decide and Do
A circus performer, an engineer, a non-profit employee, a tattoo artist, and a consultant walked into a coffee shop. While it may sound like a punchline to a bad joke, it wasn’t.
Despite the diverse backgrounds, each owns a business or works in our city’s downtown core and is a volunteer member of what we’ve named the POP committee. POP is an acronym for Partnerships, Opportunities and Proposals.
While we all have demanding jobs, we carved out time to meet to discuss our shared focus on revitalizing our downtown. It was a caffeine-fueled, noisy,…
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Posted on 10-04-24
Learnings About Complexity from the Grassroots
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN COMMUNITIES WORK TOGETHER TO TACKLE COMPLEXITY: LEARNINGS FROM THE GRASSROOTS
• Together is Better
Most would agree that no organization or sector – government, business, or social purpose - can resolve today’s complex issues and opportunities independently. However, when they come together as a whole or complete community to develop a shared vision and values; their social, economic, and community well-being is enhanced with collaborative, informed decision-making and action.
• Business Interests Too Often…
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Posted on 09-20-24
Unhappy With Your Job? You’re Not Alone
If you are an unhappy employee or know those who are, you’re not alone.
A growing percentage of Canadian employees are unhappy with their jobs. According to a recent survey by Hays Canada, almost half (47%) of Canadian professionals are unhappy in their current jobs.
The survey also indicated that many employees prioritize salary over workplace fit, which contributes to low morale and high turnover rates. A majority of respondents (86%) believe that a good fit with their company is crucial for job satisfaction, yet many compromise…
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Posted on 09-03-24
Change Your Corner of the World
I’ve never forgotten the advice I received years ago from former Niagara College vice-president Beth Weldon, sadly now deceased, taken far too young as the result of pancreatic cancer.
She was rare in empathizing with my frustration, which I now better understand was partly because I was a right-brained, system thinker in a setting ruled largely by left-brained linear decision-makers.
Beth told me, ‘Brenda, maybe you can’t change the world, but you can change your corner of the world.
That’s how we all need to think…
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Posted on 08-30-24
Scissors or Glue?
As presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her team repeatedly reinforced during this week’s exciting US National Democratic Convention, it is a crucial moment in history for hope, optimism, and change.
Harris is committed to economic issues such as safeguarding Social Security and Medicare, affordable housing, lowering living costs, and corporate tax increases.
However, she also highlighted her commitment to social issues such as women’s rights, gun safety, and environmental protection.
Threaded throughout her speech were references to the kind of caring neighbourhood she grew up in, the importance…
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Posted on 08-24-24
Same Work, Different Names?
A number of years ago, my futurist colleagues introduced me to the concept and importance of ‘edge’ or ‘early’ signals.
Unlike a trend, an early or edge signal is more likely to be weak, speculative, and experimental; as such, it offers a glimpse of an emerging possibility that could lead to significant changes in the future.
Edge signals are identified in various ways, including paying attention to the media, training sessions, blogs, interviews, casual observations, and conversations – especially with…
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Posted on 08-20-24
Bob Rae: Not Retired and Still Going Strong
If you’re not based in Ontario or, for that matter, old enough to remember him, you may not be aware of Bob Rae. However, having met him, I can share that he is deeply respected for his authentic, pragmatic, and engaging approaches to complex issues.
Robert Keith Rae, commonly known as Bob Rae, is a prominent Canadian diplomat and former politician. He began his political journey as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), serving as a federal Member of Parliament and then transitioned to provincial politics, becoming the leader…
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Posted on 08-14-24
Burned by a Blame Thrower
Maybe it’s because I’m a Libra, but my mother always said one of the first sentences out of my mouth as a two-year-old was: ‘It’s not fair.’ Unfortunately, several years ago, that inner two-year-old surfaced, and I found myself not only using that exact phrase but also whining and stomping my feet.
It was a reaction to the pain of being burned by a blame-thrower who attacked my credibility with blatantly untrue comments. It was challenging because those comments were made when I wasn’t present…
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Posted on 08-09-24
What Were They Thinking?
What were they thinking? The Canadian Women’s Olympic Soccer team coaches got caught using a drone to spy on the New Zealand Team. Apparently, they were never taught the ‘Trending on Social Media’ test; also known as the ‘Front Page of the Newspaper’ test.
Most Canadians would agree that ethical behaviour is simple — do the right thing even when no one is looking.
If you’re unsure what the right thing is, apply the Trending on Social Media test.
In other words, ask yourself if…
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Posted on 07-29-24
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