Aspire Calgary

Aspire Calgary is a citywide initiative of over 30 organizations working together to implement Financial Empowerment in Calgary. Through evidence-based and complementary strategies, Aspire creates measurable improvements for people living on a low-income by helping them reduce and manage debt, increase savings and build assets. The goal is to ensure every Calgarian has the income and assets needed to thrive as a part of the City’s Enough for All Strategy.

Aspire and its partners deliver financial empowerment programs in four areas:

• Taxation and government benefits
• Financial education and coaching
• Matched savings
• Education savings

Momentum is the backbone organization for Aspire, providing the supporting infrastructure to coordinate the work among Aspire’s partners and push forward the overall initiative.

Be Local

Be Local is a Calgary’s only network of community-focused businesses

Be Local businesses are locally-owned, operational, and maybe most importantly, community-focused. Community-focused means the business has integrated social and environmental impacts and prioritizes relationships with other local businesses and community. Be Local strives towards a local economy that is sustainable, resilient and works for everyone.

Support Be Local members by buying their products and services on the Be Local online store.

Be Local is powered by Momentum, to coordinate the work and push forward the overall initiative.

Enough for All: A Community Driven Strategy

Raise your hand to reduce poverty in Calgary.

Calgary is a city known for its sense of community, its commitment to volunteerism, a “can do” attitude, and a thriving business sector. Because of this, our city has an extensive network of organizations, programs and services to help people in times of stress, crisis, and change—we have the resources to end poverty in Calgary. The Calgary Poverty Reduction Strategy builds on strengths to make a real impact on poverty. Our community is our strength and our best approach to ending poverty. This idea was expressed succinctly in the words of a CPRI constellation participant who stated simply: “My neighbour’s strength is my strength” Enough for All Strategy (May 2013)

Momentum partners with other organizations including Vibrant Communities Calgary, The City of Calgary and United Way of Calgary and Area, to advance the Enough for All Strategy in our city. With our proven programs in community economic development and financial literacy, we specifically focus on ensuring that everyone in Calgary has the income and assets needed to thrive.

Gateway

Gateway is a collaboration among organizations to better serve and support newcomers who choose to make Alberta their new home. Born out of the desire to improve the lives of newcomers in Calgary, Gateway ensures immigrants and refugees are connected to the best-fit programs and services to thrive in their new homeland.

Momentum not only receives high-quality referrals to our programs through this partnership, but Gateway enables us to better refer people to organizations who may meet their needs at certain stages of their journeys.