Enter: A formidable force of creative prowess, industrious genius, and just some all around awesome folks who substantially contribute to the distinct vibrancy of our city.  That’s right, Edmonton’s fashion industry wants to hang out with YOU, you fashionable cat, you. Edmonton’s NextGen presents: DIYalogue Talks Fashion, the next of the 15 minute speed-mentoring sessions that connect you with your community.

Join us on Tuesday, June 25th from 7:00-9:00pm at the ATB Financial Arts Barns (formerly known as the TransAlta Arts Barns), and connect with some of Edmonton’s leading players in our local fashion community. We’ve got a great line up of mentors, so check ‘em out below:

• Kendall Barber – Co-Founder of Poppy Barley Footwear | www.poppybarley.com
• Caroline Gault – Alberta Editor for FASHION Magazine | www.fashionmagazine.com
• Laurie Callsen – Vintage Fashion Blogger | http://www.retro-reporter.com/
• Alisha Schick – Designer, Suka Clothing | http://sukaclothing.tumblr.com
• Julie Morrison – Designer, Majesty Inc. | www.majestyindustries.com
• Kathleen Todoruk – Owner & Designer, Todoruk Designs (Couture Clothing Design) | www.todoruk.com
• Sandra Fernandez – Founder, Western Canadian Fashion Week | http://www.westerncanadafashionweek.com/#/HOME
• Michelle Houle – Model, Phabrik Model + Artist Management | PHABRIK Model + Artist Management
• Michael Meneghetti – Agency Director, Mode Models Edmonton | www.modemodels.com/edmonton
• Maggie Walt – Retailer/Designer, Maggie Walt Design | www.maggiewalt.com
• Kyla Kazeil & Anastasia Boruk – Owners, The Bamboo Ballroom | www.bambooballroom.ca
• Jessica Halabi – Designer, Jessica Halabi Fashion | www.jessicahalabi.com
• Janis Galloway – Founder, Dress Me Dearly | http://www.dressmedearly.com/
• Kalie Johnston – Designer
• Andrea Wong, Heather Speers & Robyn Currie – Master Recyclers

We’re pretty sure that amazing line up is the only reason you’ll need to grab some tickets and head down with your friends to connect with some of our best and brightest fashionistas, models and local talent. What’s more, is that by attending our events, you’re also supporting local talent and you know how much we love local talent over here at Edmonton’s NextGen. (hint: A LOT!)

Don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook for mentor updates and some other cool surprises that we might throw your way closer to the event, and as always – The Twitter! – @EdmNextGen.

Can’t wait to see you guys on June 25th for a night of couture, Go-See-crets, glamour and FUN!

“Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your community but didn’t know where to start? You are not alone,” says Sherman Tsang, Ignite Co-Chair. “Ideas for Edmonton is a local social incubator, a tool to help turn thoughts into actions. Any city resident, looking to make Edmonton a better place to live, can submit a single idea that could be turned into reality!”

Ideasforedmonton.com is an easy-to-use on-line portal where the public can register ideas, search out interesting projects, discuss opportunities and cast votes.

Voting is tallied in three ways:

• A single vote is counted when an individual comments on an idea (a single vote per user, not per comment);
• A single vote is counted when an individual clicks on the +1 Give Vote link on an idea page;
• Two votes are counted when an individual clicks on the +2 Give Time link on an idea page.
•  Individuals that click this option will be contacted by NextGen following the competition to connect with fellow voters for potential volunteer opportunities to make a specific project move forward.

Idea submissions and Round 1 votes are accepted until April 21^st.  The top 10 ideas, as calculated by total votes, will go on to Round 2 where a panel of judges will select one or two ideas to receive funding, volunteer support (as sourced through the +2 Give Time voters) and additional mentoring from established makers in the community. Edmonton’s NextGen is proud to foster the success of a variety of community projects and lend its planning expertise to the winning projects. Final winners will be announced in early May, 2013.

Timeline

Round 1: Voting

• March 21st, 2013: Launch, Submissions open for ideasforEdmonton.com
• March 22nd, 2013 (Noon): Winners for the Blue Plate Diner gift certificates + New Balance Acupuncture treatment are drawn
• March 24th, 2013 (11:59PM): Top Voted Idea by this point is automatically selected as 1 of 10 Top Voted Ideas going into Round 2
• April 21st, 2013 (11:59 PM): Voting Stops, end of Round #1

Round 2: Judging

• April 23rd, 2013: Top 10 Voted Ideas Announced, Round 2 Forms provided
• Round 2 Forms to be provided to Top 10 by Ignite. These forms serve as your application for funding and support from Edmonton’s NextGen Ignite. Completed forms must be completed by deadline to qualify for consideration.
• April 28th, 2013 (11:59 PM): Deadline for filling in Round 2 Forms/Documents
• May 2nd, 2013: Winner(s) Announced!

Ideas for Edmonton is proud to be a Make Something Edmonton project! #makesomethingyeg = a show & tell of cool projects #ideas4yeg = funding & resources to help make cool projects reality.  Visit our project page at www.makesomethingedmonton.ca.

It’s MEÆT time!  Edmonton’s NextGen and the Ignite Working Group present MEÆT 3.5: The Amphitheatre at 5:30 pm on December 10, 2012 at the Citadel’s Tucker Amphitheatre, 9828 101A Ave.  In addition to the awesome project/idea/cause pitches, food will be provided by Normand’s Bistro (88% on Urbanspoon!), tunes will be spun by DJ Polyesterday, and we will enjoy performances by our hosts, Rapid Fire Theatre!  Tickets are expected to go fast, so RSVP on Eventbrite!

This is your chance to:

Share a meal.
Connect.
Enjoy performances.
Cast your vote.
Make a difference now.
Become a philanthropist.

There are 2 ways you can enjoy a MEÆTing:

You can (1) apply to have a project funded and come enjoy dinner, and present your project or (2) come enjoy dinner, experience the presentations, vote for your favourite, and donate $10 to fund something awesome.

The best presentation (as determined by the votes) receives the night’s funding.

MEÆT is an event designed to bring us together for a meal and together fund home-grown projects. By getting together and pooling our wealth we can avoid bureaucracy, get right down to the meat of an idea and make it happen.

Visit www.meaet.com for more information and to submit proposals!

more and more people are discovering the intrinsic value in spending their money somewhere besides the major chains.

When talking about the environment, it’s easy to get caught up on green initiatives. While these are certainly important, now more than ever, we wanted to focus on the urban environment, the city we live in, and ways in which we can develop and improve it.
 

Locally owned businesses are the lifeblood of a vibrant community.

These businesses provide the character to a neighborhood and to the city that set it apart from the rest. They are often the first to give back to the community as well: offering time, money and know-how when called on.

Cash Mobbing is simple – it’s a movement of people motivated to respond to their community’s businesses and economic state.

People spend money, they vote with their dollars, we choose what we want to see with the ‘paper’ we exchange.

It’s our goal to help ‘shape’ our communities into strong, stable and rewarding places to be by reminding people of the influence they have on the local economic scene.

Cash Mob Edmonton is the effort in which this ‘shaping’ becomes a reality, and a group reality at that. It all started about a month ago, when an article was brought to our attention of a different way to approach shopping local – making it a concentrated group effort. It didn’t take long, an hour, to get the ball rolling, and soon thereafter we began working, along with our friend Cassandra Harper.

We then took in nominations via Facebook from friends who liked the initiative. We got the nominations; had the businesses and watering hole chosen; and three weeks later, 30 people showed up to Carbon Environmental Boutique, Dauphine’s Bakery and Lit Wine Bar. Success. Over $1,000 spent in under an hour, and extensive free marketing for these businesses as media and social networking sites went abuzz.

Now we look ahead.

Our next event is on April 25th,

and already we have swelling numbers of interested people. We want to grow, simply and succinctly, into a group that reminds people of the ‘good’ in this city. Being in Edmonton presents many opportunities for growth, wealth, development and play . We have the opportunity to start a movement that actually encourages more people to become involved with local businesses, and perhaps become entrepreneurs themselves – if the demand exists, then make it.

Cash Mob Edmonton Facebook Page

Bio:
Monika Czuprynski

Monika was born and raised in Edmonton, she works as a RMT and is a member of Rotaract Club of Edmonton Centre. Throughout the year she produces several local live-entertainment and charitable events, while volunteering for local, regional and international initiatives. Being familiar with running a local business, Monika advocates shopping local to influence the communities we wish to surround ourselves with – she looks forward to what the future holds and encourages people to look to themselves for the change they seek.

Tommy Kalita

Tommy has been a proud Edmontonian his entire life and currently works as a banker helping families with financial planning and real estate lending. As a director with Rotaract Club of Edmonton Centre, he helps organize local, regional and international initiatives including after school programs for inner-city children and a leadership conference for local high schools. He is excited for the future of Edmonton and looks forward to helping any way he can.