"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

our approach
We are guided by three core ideas that we believe will lead to new ways of collaborating and designing innovative solutions and outcomes to our challenges today.

By building a credible evidence base, convening and collaborating, and using a strategic design approach to problem-solving, CCSD will help build and fortify the needed collaborator circles to address the real world issues that plague us today, and build a stronger, more resilient society for all of us.

building a stronger evidence base

I believe in innovation and that the way you get innovation is you fund research and you learn the basic facts. - Bill Gates

Billions of dollars are invested in our social sector annually, but communities do not have access to the high quality research and date available in the private and public sectors. Rigorous information on social issues can be challenging to access, not yet written, or available but written to represent one perspective only. CCSD conducts independent research on key social, economic, labour market and demographic issues, as well as provides statistical and analytical research services to our partners and clients. Many of our research reports are available online.

convening & collaborating

If you want to walk fast, walk alone.
If you want to walk far, walk together.
- West African proverb

CCSD brings together people from all sectors and the public to engage and share perspectives. By drawing on our strategic design expertise, we create safe spaces that permit and encourage, not sublimate opposing views and differences, ensuring all sides are heard and better understood.

designing stronger communities

Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. But of course, if you dig deeper, it's really how it works. - Steve Jobs

Social innovation may start with one person or organization or community but it takes a network to make true and lasting change happen. All sectors must work together and with the public to achieve the solutions and outcomes sought to address our challenges today. These collaborators are both domestic and international, and can be physical and virtual. All three sectors and the public working together to achieve systemic social impact require a shared understanding of the problem space and this demands a shared terminology as well as holistic evidence base about the social issue being addressed and the populations being served.