Communications & Digital Strategy Consulting for Immigrant and Refugee-serving Organizations
Tech in Settlement Services
I’m curious about your ideas, questions, frustrations, aspirations about using technology in social services. Check out my podcast, share some research, learn about the Nonprofit Service Canvas!
Knowledge Mobilization for Settlement
Articles, webinar recordings, thoughts, research summaries, and good ideas in settlement and inclusion. Making information more accessible for you to use in your work.
Training
Social media 101 to pro. Introducing technology as a service channel. Let’s talk about how I can orient and train your management and staff.
Writing | Editing | Research
Need some web content? Looking for someone to interview and profile an influencer in your network? I can help with that.
My name is Marco. I'm a Communications & Digital Strategist for Immigrant and Refugee-serving organizations in Canada. I focus on digital strategy and online service development. I've worked in a variety of nonprofit sectors, including employment services, Information and Referral, and on various community-based technology projects.Over the past almost 30 years I have worked in some form of newcomer-serving sector communications and digital services, from front-line client service to the first Settlement.Org Content Coordinator. I created and managed the Settlement AtWork site, launching OCASI’s Learn AtWork online learning site for sector workers, and have participated in a number of efforts to enhance sector knowledge mobilization. I led digital/social media strategy work at Maytree, and currently work as a freelance consultant helping agencies harness technology in client service delivery. My current focus is on digital transformation, digital inclusion/equity, demystifying technology in social services/social change, immigration, diversity & inclusion in Toronto. I think technology and social media are a means to an end. You probably care about the end. This is reasonable. :-)
Thoughts from people I've worked with.
Thoughts and articles
TiHS Episode 44: Lucia Harrison – getting hybrid services and work right is a whole organization effort
Welcome to episode 44 of the Technology in Human Services podcast. In this episode I chat with Lucia Harrison, CEO of the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre about her experiences transitioning to hybrid services and a hybrid workplace that includes a 4-day work week. The effort, and it took a great effort, resulted in a 95% satisfaction rate from staff, particularly when it came to improved work-life balance. All organizations are going through this change, trying to figure it out, trying to find the right mix. Lucia has many lessons to share. Lessons you can implement in your organization.
TiHS Episode 43: Sampada Kukade – what can digital transformation look like if you have support
Welcome to Episode 43 of the technology and human services podcast. In this episode, I’m speaking with Sampada Kukade from Skills for Change, a Toronto based settlement and employment organization that is no stranger to technology innovation. Even organizations who are large and growing such as Skills for Change still need support in their digital transformation. Learn about their participation in the Charity Growth Academy.
TiHS Episode 42: Lisa DeGara – a much needed Newcomer rural perspective on digital inclusion
Welcome to episode 42 of the Technology in Human Services podcast. In this episode, I chat with Lisa DeGara, Manager, Small Centres at Action for Healthy Communities in Alberta. The work she and her colleagues are doing in rural communities and how our sector’s shift to hybrid services is important for us to discuss and ensure is taken into account in digital inclusion work in our sector.
TiHS Episode 41: David Phipps – on Knowledge Mobilization
Welcome to episode 41 of the Technology in Human Services podcast. In this episode, I speak about Knowledge Mobilization with David Phipps, Assistant Vice President of Research Strategy & Impact at York University and director of Research Impact Canada (RIC).
The need to better understand the sector’s shift to hybrid services
Today I’m going back to an earlier post to look at and expand on two of the 11 things I want and need to know more about in my work.
Three things that happened this week
In this week’s Weeknote, I went with this template: 3 things that happened this week. Describe what happened and why it was important.
You can make your online sessions better, here’s how
It takes time and resources to create a seamless, engaging, and effective online workshop. But it can be done. Last week I took a deep dive and learned one approach. It worked for me. It can work for you. But it also means taking time and resources to learn to become better at this.
11 things I want and need to know more about in my work
In this post I outline things I think I want and need to know more about in order to do my work well and support the sector in my knowledge mobilization aspirations.
3 things I learnt at work last year
In today’s weeknote, I’m being a bit more reflective. Thinking out loud about my work and place in the sector. A bit of stream of consciousness I wrote early this morning. Slightly edited. Definitely not polished. I hope that’s OK.
TiHS Episode 40: Agnes Thomas – focus on the humanity behind digital transformation
Welcome to episode 40 of the Technology in Human Services podcast. In this episode, I speak with Agnes Thomas, Executive Director of Catholic Crosscultural Services. Agnes has led Catholic Crosscultural through a digital transformation that started before, but certainly accelerated during the pandemic.