The Edmonton Learning Community

Written By Ben Weinlick

The Edmonton Learning Community is a diverse collective of inspired people who are committed to improving the lives of people with developmental disabilities in Edmonton and area. Our approach is to develop a deeper understanding of innovative strategies that empower people to be in control of their own lives as valued members of community. If you share this vision, come learn with us.  From September to June we usually get together at the Capilano community hall (10810 54 St) on the 3rd Tuesday of every month from noon to about 4pm. Please see our calendar for exact times and dates because occasionally we meet at other venues.  We regularly host workshops with some of the most important thinkers from around the world who are empowering leaders in community disability services and related disciplines.

In addition to hosting important leaders in our sector we also strive to share knowledge together through engaging a vibrant community of practice.

  • In communities of practice a collective of people with diverse backgrounds, experience, and expertise come together around an area of interest that inspires them. As a result of sharing ideas, learning, inspiration and churning questions together; knowledge and improved practice begins to emerge.

  • Communities of practice engage with each other with a shared goal of learning how to do something better or different (Wenger, 2004, Wenger & Snyder, 2000).

  • Communities of Practice "share their experiences and knowledge in free-flowing, creative ways that foster new approaches to problems" (Wenger & Snyder, 2000, p. 140).

 

Ben Weinlick

Ben Weinlick is the founder of Think Jar Collective.

Currently Ben is also the Executive Director of Skills Society. Skills Society is one of largest and most innovative social service organizations in Canada. Stewarding an amazing collective of 500 employee, and a 25 million a year budget, Skills Society has a long and unique history related to social innovation and systems change around the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. Ben and colleagues of Skills are known internationally for quality human centered services and creating tangible social innovations. Before becoming Executive Director in 2019, Ben stewarded Social Innovation Research & Development through an innovation lab he helped launch in 2015 called the Action Lab. The Action Lab focuses on systems change and innovation around some of the most wicked and entangled problems that humans are facing today. He is also the co-founder of MyCompass Planning which is on a mission to humanize social service case management systems where people served are centered in shaping their support services.

As the founder of Think Jar Collective and his expertise in disciplined innovation culture and methods, he regularly is asked by Universities, Businesses, Governments, and Non-Profits to help grow capacity to problem solve better and in more holistic ways. He offers keynotes on human centered service design thinking, social innovation labs and the tools and culture of disciplined innovation. Along the way striving to nudge positive systems change over the last 20+ years, he has had stellar mentors and colleagues that he shares credit with for accomplishments and awards.

He is deeply driven by the desire to help people, organizations and community to get better at navigating complex challenges together.

https://www.thinkjarcollective.com
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