For 20 years, PolicyWise for Children & Families has been at the forefront of meaningful social policy change in Alberta. It has been a privilege to inform, identify, and promote effective social policy and practice to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities.

We have always looked at the current needs and circumstances of Albertans to inform and advocate for social policy innovation by generating and sharing knowledge. Through our many collaborations and community connections, this knowledge has strengthened Alberta’s social sector, and supported wise decision making.

As PolicyWise celebrates its twentieth anniversary this month, I am so happy we had the opportunity to talk with one of our previous project partners, Dr. Bukola Oladunni Salami. In the section below, she describes her experience and how the resulting work has impacted Black youth in Alberta.

I am also excited about our current projects and collaborations, three of which we describe in the last section of this newsletter.

Finally, I would like to thank PolicyWise’s past and present partners and collaborators for ensuring we reached this significant milestone. I hope they will continue working with us for years to come so we can continue bringing innovative social policy solutions that improve the well-being of children and families.

Stay well,

Robyn Blackadar, President and CEO

Celebrating our 20th anniversary at the Matrix Hotel in Edmonton, Alberta on March 24, 2023.
(Left to right: James Grattan, Board Director; Dr. Jackie Sieppert, Board Chair; Robyn Blackadar, President and CEO; Stacey Gellatly, Board Director; Dr. Robbie Babins-Wagner, Board Director)
Event photography sponsored by Mawer Investment Management.

In this story we chatted with Dr. Bukola Oladunni Salami, reminiscing about her journey leading three projects funded by PolicyWise since 2014. We focused on her 2020 report, Participatory Action Research Project to Promote the Mental Health of African, Black, and Caribbean Youth in Alberta and its impacts.

Dr. Salami is a Professor at the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we are grateful for the over 25 projects we are working on with our many collaborators and partners.

In this story, we highlight why three current projects matter and what difference they will make to policies, practices, and the lives of children, youth, families, and communities.