MEDIA RELEASE – For immediate release
London, ON – June 23, 2022 – Empowering equity-deserving communities, fostering an understanding of equity, inclusion and anti-oppression, and reconciliation with the first peoples of this country are critical elements of community recovery. To support these goals, TD Bank Group (TD) and Pillar Nonprofit Network (Pillar) have partnered to launch the TD Zone at Innovation Works, Pillar’s thriving co-working space for social changemakers in London.
The project provides equity-deserving groups, and Indigenous Leaders with an enabling environment and learning opportunities that will activate community recovery. The TD Zone offers grassroots or volunteer-led organizations serving equity-deserving groups access to complimentary, flexible office space at Innovation Works, and a Pillar membership.
The TD Zone enables organizations experiencing barriers to convene and collaborate with a community of over 100 intersectoral Innovation Works co-tenants, with access to Pillar’s extended network of over 600 local impact sector organizations and initiatives. Local organizations including: Type Diabeat It, Young London, London Black History Coordinating Committee, Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia and Champions of Change have already benefited from the space.
This partnership also enables Pillar to continue to provide Indigenous-led and developed learning and development programming including the Local Indigenous Learning Series and the upcoming Treaty Series. These learning series provide opportunities for participants to hear the truth of Indigenous people living in Canada, learn about local treaties and their impacts, build relationships with Indigenous communities, and commit to change and genuine reconciliation.
“At Pillar we believe in the power of cross-sector collaboration to build an engaged, inclusive and vibrant community. We’re grateful to TD for their support and alignment on the need to support community recovery and build inclusive communities,” said Mojdeh Cox, Pillar’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through the TD Zone, and continuation of our Indigenous-led learning and development programs, we’re able to accelerate our progress on key areas of our strategic plan including building community capacity for equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression and fostering collaboration to drive transformational change.”
Demonstrating TD’s commitment to community recovery, London-based TD colleagues will have the opportunity to engage with community partners at Innovation Works and participate in individualized learning around Indigenous history, treaties and reconciliation delivered by Indigenous community leaders with the support of Pillar. These opportunities will facilitate engagement with local changemakers that will inform their community engagement approaches.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with Pillar to bring the TD Zone to Innovation Works,” says TD District Vice-President Keri Kowalski. “Innovation Works is a vitally important community resource in London and we are delighted to help make it and its programs more accessible to those who are working toward positive impact in our community.
Individuals who are interested in applying for access to the TD Zone can apply via email to Dharshi Lacey, Vice-President, Equity, Inclusion & Governance at Pillar Nonprofit Network. To learn more about Pillar’s Learning and Development Programming, including our upcoming Treaty Series, visit Pillar’s event page.
About TD:
Change is a fact of life. It can renew our perspective of the world or how we act within it. While change helps some of us get ahead, it can leave others behind. To help create the conditions so everyone has the chance to succeed in a changing world, TD is targeting C$1 billion by 2030 towards community giving in four areas that support change, nurture progress and contribute to making the world a better, more inclusive place.
Learn more at td.com/readycommitment.
About Pillar Nonprofit Network:
Pillar Nonprofit Network strengthens individuals, organizations and enterprises invested in positive community impact. We support nonprofits, social enterprises and social innovators by sharing resources, exchanging knowledge and creating meaningful connections across the three pillars of nonprofit, business and government. We believe that a connected network sparks collaboration and a willingness to lean on each other to help build an engaged, just, inclusive and vibrant community.
About Innovation Works:
Pillar Nonprofit Network owns and operates Innovation Works, a thriving co-working space for social innovators and changemakers located at 201 King Street. It is the only space in London that is intentionally designed to encourage collaboration and meaningful connections between individuals and organizations invested in positive community impact. All co-tenant members at Innovation Works are part of the Pillar membership base.
Media Contact:
Maria Luisa Contursi, Pillar Nonprofit Network
201 King St. London, ON N6A 1C9
M: 519-657-6018 E: mlcontursi@pillarnonprofit.ca