Dan Vandebelt Email & Phone Number

Kitchener, On, Ca

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

This is a role that is shared between two local community collaboratives. I'm providing leadership for all data, research, and evaluation activities for both groups - working with research advisory committees and many community partners on a range of ongoing and emerging projects:-- The Immigration Partnership work includes an annual partner survey, biannual survey of immigrants/refugees, clarifying our theory of change and key performance indicators, and analysis and sharing of Census and other data-- The Children and Youth Planning Table work also includes an annual survey of partners, biannual Youth Impact Survey, and a range of other data sources, further developing a theory of change and indicators, and building the research capacity of community organization partners

Waterloo Region, Ontario

-- Facilitated the development and implementation of community collective actions to improve the settlement and inclusion of immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region-- Provided leadership and support for capacity building activities through community and organizational development, partnership building, strategic planning, policy and program development, and pro-active dissemination of evidence-based practices in immigration and refugee issues.-- Developed and maintained Immigration Partnership print and social media communication tools (www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca website, @immigrationWR Twitter presence, newsletters and print materials). Developed Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly communication tool and grew subscribers from 30 to 300 individuals across 100 different groups as a central source of community information on immigrant/refugee issues-- Lead research, evaluation and data analysis activities, including annual Partner Survey, bi-annual Community Survey of immigrants/refugees, and other regular research activities as part of a Performance Measurement Framework

Waterloo Region, Ontario

-- Planned and implemented peer-based programming in partnership with 17 community organizations, including training for peer workers in the areas of nutrition, child health, and health of New Canadians.-- Led a team of program and administrative staff, students and external consultants to establish efficient processes and achieve program outcomes.-- Managed program administration and tracking, budgeting and financial accounting, annual external contracts with all community partners and consultants. Secured a 280% increase in sustainable funding.-- Collaborated with an external steering committee of stakeholders to guide the program and provide strategic direction. Built the capacity of the steering committee to transition from an advisory to a steering role.-- Identified and implemented program changes to increase program resilience and sustainability and respond to community partner needs; this included mentoring and effective connections among peer workers, flexibility in funding and reporting, and increasing site engagement and participation.

Waterloo Region, Ontario

-- Collaborated with the Waterloo Region Local Immigration Partnership Council (LIPC) and community partners to research and author Immigrants in Waterloo Region - a widely-used series of fact sheets to highlight immigrant and refugee issues. As project lead, provided overall direction to an internal staff team. As part of the 2003 fact sheet series, gathered a community advisory committee to ground the research and ensure products were relevant and effective for planning and advocacy across the community. The 2009 series was a project of and partnership with the LIPC and working groups. -- Managed community consultation and drafting easy-to-read content about local services for the Newcomers Waterloo Region web portal for immigrants (www.newwr.ca). As content lead, managed internal staff and community volunteers to gather community and stakeholder input, develop website specifications, negotiate partnerships, and integrate feedback from regular focus groups and website testing with recent immigrants – all on time and according to community requirements. As community liaison, worked with the Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network as an advisory committee.-- Consulted on various projects such as advising Child and Family Health division staff in the ONE-Stop project to explore options for planning services for young children and families through multi-use community sites.-- Designed evaluation tools and program databases to support the cross-departmental workplace wellness initiative (Project Health). Partnered with an advisory committee on a workplace needs assessment survey. Developed survey scope, methodology and work plan, supervised students, and managed partnerships.-- Exhibited strong communication and presentation skills in diverse settings, including presentations to Regional Council, chairing and presenting at community events, and chairing project team meetings.

Waterloo Region

I managed a staff team and led the Immigration Partnership community collaboration to transition from a planning process to implementation. The Immigration Partnership is a community-wide initiative focused on all sectors working collectively to figure out how settlement of immigrants and refugees can be done better together. I excelled at being brought in at a time of transition for the partnership, listening to the needs of all stakeholders, building trust, and forging a collective vision within a partnership structure that allows for all partners to contribute. This included facilitating a merger of two community partnerships – the Local Immigration Partnership and Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network – to create the current Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership.The Project Manager role entailed supervising and leading a staff team and several committees, working with consultants, and negotiating and coordinating with the federal government funder.

Cambridge, Ontario

-- Supported collaborative community processes and coordinated community projects such as the Community Access Program (CAP) at ten public Internet access and computer training sites including managing program and network logistics, developing policies, and financial accounting.-- Supervised students in community research and organizational development projects.-- Designed and managed information databases including data from Statistics Canada, governments and local agencies to analyze and report on community trends and emerging issues.-- Developed numeric databases and Geographic Information Systems technology (ArcGIS) both locally and part of a team for the Social Planning Network of Ontario (SPNO).

Waterloo Region, Ontario

-- Conducted and authored a literature review on citizen involvement and neighbourhood group roles in municipal decision-making (for Region of Waterloo Public Health).-- Initiated, researched and co-authored Understanding Homelessness in Waterloo Region report (with the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo).

Belfast, Northern Ireland

During my 8 months with Habitat for Humanity in Belfast I coordinated work trips for international volunteers to work on local inter-community, house building. I also coordinated outreach to university students and a student work trip to Budapest, Hungary.

Ongoing, Leadership & Management, Research

Activities and Societies: Power BI, 2023; Critical Appraisal of Research Evidence Workshop, 2015; Research Ethics, 2015; Developmental.

Management And Leadership Certificate, Social Work

Courses included: Fundamentals of Management; Resource Management and Development; Human Resource Management; Program Development.

Bes, Environment & Resource Studies, Peace & Conflict Studies, Community Development