A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR L ARCHE TORONTO SEPTEMBER 2017 SEPTEMBER 2021 1
Greetings Friends, We are so pleased to share with you L Arche Toronto s Strategic Plan for 2017 2021. This plan was developed in the fall of 2017 through a community-wide consultation process. With excitement and anticipation, L Arche Toronto is embarking upon a new phase of growth in response to the needs that surround us. We recognize that this strategic plan was developed at a time the Developmental Service Sector (DSO) faces significant financial and capacity challenges in supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities in our city. Our strategic plan is a response to these significant challenges and we are committed to address them in partnership with our sister agencies within the DSO and in conjunction with the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS). We are grateful to the many men and women who so generously shared their wisdom and talents throughout our strategic planning process. Thank you to our Core Members (Persons with intellectual disabilities), Sol Express participants, Assistants (staff), Senior Leadership Team, Volunteers, Board of Directors, the Regional Leadership Team of L Arche Ontario, and L Arche Canada. Our strategic plan is stronger and more vibrant because of your contributions. We ask that, over the next four years, you continue to offer L Arche Toronto your passionate support, thoughts and prayers as we implement this ambitious plan. Sincerely, Raphael Arens Executive Director Amanda Hudson Board President We are excited to be launching this four year plan focusing on three core priorities: To build a culture of learning in our organization (Servant Leadership) To renew our outreach capacity to ensure that L Arche Toronto is more visible in our neighbourhoods and throughout the city of Toronto. (Outreach) To serve more people and enhance support to our current core members (Growth)
CORE VALUES L Arche is a mission-driven organization that is rich in values and traditions. At the very heart of our identity and mission are our core values: the beliefs, convictions, and principles that guide our relationships with one another and with the world. As a framework for incarnating our core values in day-to-day life, we have chosen a specifi c model of community life that is based on the philosophy of Servant Leadership. The following integral components of the Servant Leadership model are touchstones that ground us in our identity and mission, guide our day-to-day decisions and actions, and serve to facilitate unity. EMBRACE OUR IDENTITY AND MISSION We are inspired to live the L Arche mission every day. FOSTER A VIBRANT COMMUNITY We share an extraordinary life in community. CELEBRATE THE VALUE OF EACH PERSON We appreciate the uniqueness of each person. BE OPEN TO RELATIONSHIPS OF MUTUALITY We develop meaningful, life-changing friendships. JOURNEY TOGETHER WITH RESPECT We care about how our actions aff ect others. NURTURE OUR GIFTS AND GROWTH We support each other to grow and share our gifts. FULFILL OUR ROLE IN COMMUNITY We understand our roles and live them well. Trust in God We believe that there is spiritual depth in day-to-day life. Live in joy We are grateful for our life together and share our joy. STAND ON HUMBLE GROUND We earn trust and acceptance when we come as we are. SHAPE A MORE HUMAN SOCIETY We share the vision and spirit of L Arche with the world. 6 7
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Strategic planning is about prayerfully discerning the future that we will build and share together. We take time to reflect on where we have been, where we are going, and how we want to get there. Our strategic plan was developed using a multi-phase process that included a thorough community review and consultation with all bodies within the community. The priorities that we identified are consistent with the mandates of L Arche Canada and the International Federation of L Arche. STAGE 1: WE ARE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION. In 2013, members of L Arche Canada gathered in Vancouver for the National Assembly, where the L Arche Canada Mandate (2013 2018) was affirmed. This mandate flows directly from the L Arche International Mandate and reflects three priorities in the Canadian context: 1) Servant Leadership Adopting a philosophy of community life that ensures that we are rooted in our mission, guided by our core values, and engaged in developing current and future leaders 2) Outreach Becoming more known in society, increasing our visibility, and developing partnerships 3) Mission and Growth Supporting new models of living the core values of L Arche and strengthening financial supports and resources Representatives from all L Arche Ontario communities were present at this meeting and continue to support the National Mandate priorities in their home communities. We are part of the International Federation of L Arche. STAGE 2: WE ARE COMMITTED TO A PROCESS OF INTERNAL EVALUATION. As part of our regular internal evaluation, we undertook a thorough community review in February 2017, led by our L Arche Ontario Regional Leader, to evaluate our adherence to the Key Elements of a L Arche Communtiy and our rootedness in the Mission of L Arche. We identified strengths to build on and challenges to face. These strengths and challenges became the foundation on which we focused our reflection and designed this Strategic Plan. We launch our new strategic plan. We are committed to a formal plan of action. We are committed to a process of internal review. We welcome external support to help us see more clearly. STAGE 3: WE WELCOME EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO HELP US SEE MORE CLEARLY. At present, there are a number of projects (e.g.: Sol Express expansion, residential planning) that will continue to evolve as we move through the next four years. External support from professional consultants has been and will continue to be needed in order for us to effectively build on these initiatives and enter into progressive stages of implementation and evaluation. L Arche Toronto remains committed to inviting this critical feedback and assistance to ensure the success of these ventures. STAGE 4: WE ARE COMMITTED TO A FORMAL PLAN OF ACTION. In September 2017, our L Arche Ontario Regional Leader, in conjunction with a Strategic Plan Writing Committee, gathered the members of L Arche Toronto and invited them to name their hopes and dreams for the community in the four years ahead. Focused on the priorities that L Arche Canada has called us to, we have aligned our strengths and challenges with the reality of our current risks and opportunities and have begun to name specific actions that will support our movement forward. STAGE 5: WE ARE NOW READY TO LAUNCH OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. We are proud to share with you the L Arche Toronto Strategic Plan, approved by our board of directors on October 24th, 2017. We are confident that the diligent work of consultation and review in preparation for this plan has brought us to a hopeful and inspiring place. We are confident, too, in the commitment of all our members to work together to implement this vision and look forward to a fruitful, sustainable future. 8 9
OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2017 TO 2021 In the coming years, L Arche Toronto will build, nourish, and strengthen our community by focusing on three strategic priorities: Servant Leadership We will provide opportunities for members to develop and share their gifts and skills as leaders, shaped by the core values of L Arche. Outreach We will boldly engage with society to share our vision, reveal the value of people with intellectual disabilities, and ensure that L Arche is more visible in our neighbourhoods and throughout the city of Toronto. Mission and Growth Rooted in our mission and committed to sharing it, we will grow to serve more people and enhance support to our current core members. Our priorities are rooted in the voice of all our members and consistent with the vision of L Arche Canada and the International Federation of L Arche. These priorities call us to build on our traditions and foundation, and anticipate the changes, challenges, and joys of our journey ahead. As we build L Arche Toronto, we look forward to deepening in our mission to help create a more compassionate world where everyone belongs. Mission and Growth Servant Leadership L Arche Toronto Outreach PRIORITY: SERVANT LEADERSHIP Our commitment to the core values of L Arche calls us to use our Servant Leadership model to further develop a learning culture for everyone engaged in our community. Recognizing that each of us has gifts and skills to share and develop, we will focus on leadership training and formation in our core values. We will continue to work together to integrate this culture of learning into all aspects of our daily life. Goal We will provide opportunities for members to develop and share their gifts and skills as leaders shaped by the core values of L Arche. Strategies 1. Integrate Servant Leadership practices and tools into all aspects of our community life. 2. Identify opportunities within and outside L Arche that will enhance members leadership skills and foster their personal growth and development. 3. Strengthen all current training, formation, and reflective practices within the community. Our Impact We know that the core values of L Arche are key to forming compassionate, competent leaders and to building a more just and inclusive society. By 2021, L Arche Toronto will have embraced a culture of continuous learning where members, including individuals with an intellectual disability, are able to develop as leaders, shaped by our core values, through the spirit and practices of our Servant Leadership model. All members will be able to confidently name their gifts and challenges, and be engaged in working toward their goals. We are a mission-driven organization, and we recognize that a more intentional integration of the practices and tools of our Servant Leadership model will ground us more fully in our mission and enable us to develop organizational leadership from within. To this end, we will design and implement a plan to ensure that each person in our community has access to a dynamic orientation/ formation program, that our life together is enriched through the organic integration of our core values, and that a culture of constructive feedback and genuine appreciation is embodied in all aspects of our daily life. We will thrive as new assistants and volunteers are attracted by our values and learning culture, as we encourage our board members to champion L Arche with a clear understanding of our mission, and as Servant Leadership practices are woven into all that we live as L Arche Toronto. 10 11
PRIORITY: OUTREACH At its core, outreach is about intentional relationship-building. Relationships are central to L Arche they are at the foundation of who we are and what we do. This priority calls us to engage with our neighbours and city, and to reach out ever more confidently to reveal the value of people with intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion and acceptance of all. Goal We will boldly engage with society to share our vision, reveal the value of people with intellectual disabilities, and ensure that L Arche is more visible in our neighbourhoods and throughout the city of Toronto. Strategies 1. Enhance the visibility and impact of Sol Express 2. Develop and implement a strategic outreach plan 3. Identify, pursue, and secure stable funding Our Impact Outreach is central to L Arche Toronto, and Sol Express is central to our outreach efforts. As a dynamic, creative, and impactful arts program, it showcases the creative ability of people with an intellectual disability and has established itself as a vibrant testament to the core values of L Arche. During the next four years, we will build on the successes of Sol Express, giving more people the opportunity to discover the gifts of the artists, and greatly enhance the visibility of L Arche Toronto. L Arche will be more known in Toronto and valued as a vital partner in creating a culture of inclusion. Through a planned approach, we will share our stories and announce our values in order to increase our visibility and bear witness to our mission. We will continue to speak to audiences in churches and schools, and we will build on existing and new partnerships to boldly engage with our city. Supporters will be attracted by our passion, our vision, and our witness to the gift of mutual relationships. Through an organized and strategic approach to outreach, we will develop our presentation skills, resources, and gifts of welcome, enhance our media presence, strengthen our professional fundraising capacity, focus our efforts on recruitment as needed, and open up new opportunities for our current and future core members. We will reach out intentionally to our neighbours and city, raise our profile, and provide more opportunities for others to contribute to and share in our mission. ROOTED IN OUR MISSION AND COMMITTED TO SHARING IT... 12 13