Giving Compass' Take:

• Exeko, a Canadian-based organization, is fighting social exclusion by promoting engagement and innovation between citizens, even the marginalized ones, to become active social change agents. 

• What are the challenges with trying to include and elevate certain populations that have been considered "outcasts" by the rest of the public? How can this organization work to change those perspectives and deeply held narratives of "othering"? 

• Read about what the world's most engaged cities have in common. 

At -20° Fahrenheit, it’s a frigid winter evening in Montreal. Understandably, James doesn’t feel like being outside, but he and Kevin are on duty with the van. They are a common sight as they crisscross downtown in search of solitary souls. Unfortunately, homelessness doesn’t take a break, even when it’s bitterly cold. Tonight, many have gone “underground” and taken refuge in metro stations, so the two park and follow them there on foot.

At 7:50 p.m., they find George at the Bonaventure Metro Station. They talk with him, and George says, “I remember when I was at school, 15 years ago, and a teacher gave me a book but I never finished it. I’m still mad at myself for that today. The author was Ily something.” Kevin takes a book out of his trunk and says, “Elie Wiesel? Was it this book, perhaps?”

At that moment, everything changes. An open, straightforward, real, and tangible exchange has become possible. A childhood memory, the joy of reading and discovery, and the pleasure of an unexpected connection are all linked. The world has changed for the better in one small way.

Welcome to Exeko’s world, where social innovation is paired not only with inclusion and participation but also with poetry and philosophy. Exeko seeks to trigger such encounters, encouraging people to take the time to listen and create a space where we can discover who we are and seek answers together about what we know and don’t know about the world.

To build a resilient, inclusive, and innovative society, Canada will need to ensure that all of its citizens have opportunities to develop key skills, places where they can be heard, and the tools and spaces needed for social transformation.

Yet the reasons for exclusion in all its forms (social, cultural, and intellectual), and the best ways to combat it, are not clearly understood. That’s why, since 2006, our organization, Exeko, has been pursuing two objectives—social inclusion and intellectual emancipation—to promote full citizenship, respect for human dignity, and diversity.

Read the full article about homelessness and social exclusion by Nadia Duguay & Agnès Lorgueilleux at Stanford Social Innovation Review.