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Chapter 9: All Hands on Deck

Everyone has a role to play in reducing poverty. We are calling on our business community to play a role in poverty reduction. One way to do that is by offering employment experience to people living in poverty. We need our businesses to hire youth at risk, people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and immigrants seeking the opportunity to put their skills to work. Some employers have done exactly this because they realize that the business potential that exists in these groups is untapped.

We are also asking businesses and other non-government organizations to engage in their communities – to sit at the table and to help develop local solutions.

We need all Ontarians playing their part in realizing the vision of this strategy. Of creating a place where every person has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential and contribute to and participate in a prosperous healthy and just Ontario.

We are asking you to play your part. The possibilities are endless. If you can read, you can teach someone else to read. If you are a caring adult, you can mentor a child. If you are involved in an organization, think about how you might open it up to people in poverty.

Over the past year, we have heard many heart-warming stories about how individuals are doing their part to reduce poverty. We have heard from children who are asking their friends to bring a present for a child living in poverty to their birthday party instead of bringing a present for the birthday girl or boy. We have heard from parents who make sure that every student in their child’s classroom has the chance to participate in special events. These people serve as an inspiration to all of us.

Everyone has a valuable role to play, and that includes you. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter where you start. If we all do our part, we will achieve our goal.

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