Multisolving Roundtable: Newcomer Experiences

As Waterloo Region grows from 650,000 people to over a million in the next few decades, we need a vision of the future that is inclusive, resilient, and abundant. Non-profits and community groups already know what strengths we can nurture and what limitations we need to overcome to build a future where everyone thrives.

One Million Neighbours is a series of multisolving roundtables taking place throughout Waterloo Region, including in urban, suburban, and rural areas. We are convening non-profits and community groups working in the areas of health, arts & culture, addictions, housing, agriculture, food, youth services, Indigenous services, climate action, transit, labour, refugee settlement, disability, gender-based violence, 2SLGBTQ+ services, neighbourhood associations, and more.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, these roundtables will start with reports and publications that have already been created by organizations in our community. By identifying common goals and policy priorities, we will build future scenarios together.

As community organizers, we believe that this project is necessary to counter the burnout that comes from constantly responding to crises. Reminding ourselves of the big picture and building solidarity is a powerful way to re-calibrate our energies. We hope to illustrate how different priorities can complement each other to achieve a common goal, and build political will for solutions that will bring about the most good for the most people.

Host or Publisher One Million Neighbours Waterloo Region