Strategies for a Caring Society

This paper is the keynote address for the “Strategies for a Caring Society: Investing in the Whole Community” conference organized by The Trillium Foundation on October 15-16, 1998. The international thinking on sustainable development forms the conceptual framework for building community capacity and for a caring society. The concept of sustainable development promotes the intrinsic links among economic, social and environmental well-being. Sustainable development also emphasizes the need to consider the impact of current decisions upon future generations and stresses the importance of the underlying value of care. The paper identifies and describes seven key strategies for community investing: poverty reduction, a broadened concept of investment, civic engagement, community-based problem-solving, partnership, leadership development and celebration.

ISBN – 1-894159-23-3