Grow Your Good is all about bringing attention to people who are doing good things. While there could only be two winners this year, the runners up – below – are also doing amazing and inspiring work:

Conscious Home

What we like:

The owner of Conscious Home is passionate about inspiring environmental change at the individual level, coaching and facilitating workshops to inspire change.

Our applicant says:

“I began working with households as an ‘eco-coach’- synthesizing mountains of  information on sustainable living into reasonable actions and providing a strategic plan of how to build steps undertaken in the home consultations. For instance, in the consultation, I would change showerheads and tap aerators, but then also give ideas on how to pair the new water-saving infrastructure with behavioral actions like shower timing and using the rain barrel properly.

Along with Stephanie Jackman at REAP, we created the ‘Green Living Series’- workshops that we offer to community groups and corporations as lunch and learns. I have also self-published a book on recipes for homemade cleaners, of which I’ve sold over 1000 copies to date.”

Website: www.conscioushome.ca

The Doorway

What we like:

The Doorway addresses the big issues of poverty and homelessness with youth, helping young people receive the tools they need to get off the street.

Our applicant says:

“Over the years we have maintained a very simple model that uses cash incentives and goal setting to facilitate young people’s choices to leave street life. We have been very effective at increasing young people’s independence, self-determination, dignity and respect – all key components of long-term and sustainable change. We have also paid special attention to listening to the voices of young people, encouraging their self empowerment at creating positive change in their lives.”

Website: www.thedoorway.ca

Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary (PASC)

What we like:

This organization focuses on the idea of a whole community, helping those with disabilities make good lives for themselves. PASC was also one of first signatories to Calgary’s living wage campaign.

Our applicant says:

“Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary (PASC) has assisted persons with developmental disabilities one at a time to make good lives for themselves through work, career and membership in typical community life. We have helped people to complete career education training, secure jobs and build careers in oil and gas, web design, retail and much more. PASC was created as an alternative to institutional care with the belief that the people with disabilities we support should have all the assistance they need to create and maintain the good life we all desire, fits us each as unique individuals and cements us in community life as respected citizens and neighbours.”

Website: www.pasc-calgary.org

YYCShows

What we like:

YYCShows has the potential to grow and create community and vibrancy around music in Calgary.

Our applicant says:

“The project aims to be a comprehensive Calgary concert listings website. I want to make it as easy as possible to find out about and attend concerts, especially local acts. When I moved back to the city, I used shows as a way to get out into my community, learn about the city and meet new people. Unfortunately, I found information about shows diffused and hidden. There are great Calgary music resources but nothing that brings together music listings, links to bands and tickets, a concert calendar, info on venues and links to other music community resources. So: I decided to solve the problem myself.”

Website: www.yycshows.com