LEADERSHIP   ROUNDTABLE

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• Definition

• Membership

• Role description

• Broad strategic direction

• Igniting community action

• Current Members

The Leadership Roundtable (LRT) of Opportunities Waterloo Region is a community-based, multi-sector body that sets broad strategic direction for the activities of the organization.

The composition and leadership of the LRT has changed somewhat over recent years, but continues to be comprised of people who share a vision for Waterloo Region as a prosperous as well as generous society, and who are willing to dig into complex issues together to create change.

The LRT is an integral component of Opportunties’ model and is a strong positive factor supporting and driving the work of Opportunities forward. 

It remains focused on the key goal of poverty prevention and reduction, igniting community action and being real leaders in the community in pursuit of the Opportunities Mission.

Membership:

People of the community who bring insight and experience from various sectors of the community, namely: 

• government, non-profit, low-income and business sectors,

• labour, faith, education, research and health sectors, and

• representatives from the organizations that support Opportunities financially

• Opportunities’ staff

The LRT generally meets monthly.  Two co-chairs head up the Leadership Roundtable.

The LRT is the voice of the community that asks:  “What needs are not being met?”

The LRT’s role is to set broad strategic direction, provide management of the network, and take on an advocacy role.  In addition, LRT members take an active role in project initiatives wherever possible. 

BROAD STRATEGIC DIRECTION

• Establishes a strategy to allow the network to accomplish Opportunities Waterloo Region’s mission.

• Determines strategic areas of focus: sustainable livelihoods, youth, working poor, etc.

IGNITING COMMUNITY ACTION

• Focus on facilitating the work that needs to be done

• Actively work on initiatives to reduce and prevent poverty

• Collaborate with and recruit people from many sectors of the community to work on reducing and preventing poverty

• Advocate for change that will reduce and prevent poverty in the community

• Builds and sustains relationships with stakeholders in the community

• Share our learnings and experiences in the community, nationally, and internationally

• Enhance the organization’s public image

• Advocate for the organization with funders

• Recruit new members

• Recruit members to take part in Tamarack’s tele-learning sessions

Current Members

Ron Dowhaniuk, Chair

United Way of Cambridge & North Dumfries

Frank Mowatt

Community Representative

Greg DeGroot-Maggetti

Mennonite Central Committee Ontario

Heather Montgomery

United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and Area

Jane Breithaupt

Community Representative

Joe Mancini

The Working Centre

Len Carter

Waterloo Regional Labour Council

Linda Terry

Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries

Mary Joe Freire

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

Mike Schuster

Regional Municipality of Waterloo

Rosemary Smith

K-W Community Foundation

Wendi Campbell

The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

Opportunities Waterloo Region

235 King Street East,

    Kitchener, ON N2G 4N5

    Tel: (519) 883-2353

    Fax: (519) 568-8587

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Last modified: 2009 08 10