Action Lab

What’s happening in the Action Lab?

Our newsletter is where we share more of the stories, projects, and learning happening across our space and the broader Lab ecosystem.

In this issue, we’re introducing Teresa Bradley, our new Coordinator of Social Enterprise and Innovation, sharing updates from our Community Animation project, highlighting our new Peer-Led Evaluation Toolkit, and exploring the latest episode of Wicked Complex with Mark Cabaj.

If you’d like to stay connected and follow along with what’s unfolding in the Lab, you can join the mailing list here: https://www.actionlab.ca/ ��

[In the image, large navy text asks, “Are you on the mailing list?” with a dotted green divider beneath. A preview of the Action Lab newsletter is shown below with the heading “The Latest at Action Lab” and the Action Lab logo. The newsletter preview features a “Facilitator Spotlight” on Teresa Bradley, Coordinator of Social Enterpirse and Innovation at Skills Society, with her photo and a short description of her work at Action Lab. A vertical navy bar on the left reads “Action Lab Newsletter.”]

The third episode of Season 2 of Wicked Complex is out!

On this episode of Wicked Complex, Mark Cabaj joins us to talk about disruption, systems change, and why a little humour can go a long way when working with complex challenges. From frameworks and strategy to metaphors and uncertainty, Mark explores how we can make sense of what's unfolding around us without pretending we have all the answers.

You can find Wicked Complex on our website or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://www.actionlab.ca/podcast

[The image introduces Season 2 of the Wicked Complex podcast. The title “Wicked Complex” appears in large white text over a red square cutout, revealing a greyscale background image of people walking in circular formations. The text “Season 2” appears below, alongside the Action Lab logo and the season theme: “Absurdly Hopeful: How Play and Creativity Can Crack Open New Futures.”]

Sometimes the most important part of a workshop or planning session is having the space and structure to think through things together.

At Action Lab, we offer custom facilitation and workshops for organizations, teams, and communities working through complex questions, planning processes, strategy, engagement, systems change work, and more. We work alongside people to design facilitation that fits what they actually need, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

From strategic planning and community engagement to human-centred design and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® workshops, we support groups in making sense of challenges, generating ideas, and building alignment.

Learn more about our facilitation services and workshops here:�https://www.actionlab.ca/

[The image is a close-up photo of a facilitator writing “Belonging where do we want to be” on a purple sticky note attached to a whiteboard. In the background are colourful sticky notes and empathy map activity.]

What's happening at Action Lab…

We recently partnered with CMHA-Edmonton to design the Peer-Led Evaluation Toolkit, a practical resource created to support organizations involved in Edmonton's Strategy for Community Mental Health.

The toolkit explores peer-led approaches to evaluation and offers tools, activities, and reflection prompts to support organizations in identifying outcomes, gathering information, making sense of what they are learning, and communicating findings.

Action Lab led the design and development of the toolkit, drawing on developmental evaluation, systems thinking, and peer-led approaches. We're grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to this work and collaborate with CMHA-Edmonton and the many community practitioners who helped shape the resource.

Visit our website to learn more about our approach and explore examples of our work: https://www.actionlab.ca/our-work

[In the first image, an Action Lab graphic highlights the Peer-Led Evaluation Toolkit, developed in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton Region to support organizations using peer-led approaches to evaluation within Edmonton’s Strategy for Community Mental Health.

In the second image, a sample spread from the Peer-Led Evaluation Toolkit is shown alongside information about the toolkit’s practical tools, activities, reflection prompts, and participatory methods for gathering and making sense of learning.

In the third image, a sample reflection page from the Peer-Led Evaluation Toolkit is featured alongside information about the co-design process, Action Lab’s role in developing the resource, and a link to learn more about Action Lab’s work.]

A lot of what makes a space feel welcoming comes down to the small details.

At Action Lab, we try to set things up so people can settle in and use the space in ways that work for them. Snacks on the table, supplies within reach, access to the kitchen, fridge, and cupboards, all simple things, but things that can help a space feel more comfortable and shared.

[The image is a table setup inside the Action Lab space. A wooden tray holds snacks, sticky notes, markers, colourful coasters, and Action Lab materials, including a small sign about Treaty 6 territory and tatawâw. A shared kitchen and seating area can be seen in the background.]

We’re grateful for the ongoing support of Edmonton Community Foundation and the Social Enterprise Fund. Their investment gives us the space to explore and go deep on ideas that sit outside our usual scope. Right now, that means helping us explore the possibility of an innovative, inclusive approach to small-scale multi-family affordable housing.

Thank you, ECF.

[In this image, there is a teal gradient background that fades to white near the center. Large bold text reads “Donor Recognition: Edmonton Community Foundation,” aligned to the left. A vertical yellow bar sits along the left edge of the text. In the upper right corner, partial dark navy circular line graphics curve into the frame.]