Biography
A founding member of EMBERS, Marcia Nozick has been CEO of EMBERS, a community economic development charity for 14 years. Driven by a passion for building sustainable communities. Under her vision and leadership, EMBERS has grown and achieved significant success. Starting as a small and innovative idea and growing to be a sustainable and viable member of Vancouver’s ongoing economic community, EMBERS has received many awards and accolades for its work in helping people create productive futures for themselves. Prior to joining EMBERS, Marcia was the coordinator of Healthy Communities in Winnipeg, associate editor and publisher of City Magazine, taught Community Economic Development at Simon Fraser University for eight years and was an accomplished concert pianist. She holds a Master’s Degree in City Planning, has run her own small business and is the author of a Canadian bestselling book, No Place Like Home: Building Sustainable Communities (1992) that David Suzuki called “a bright beacon for a dark time, points to a healthy community as the goal of society, and provides a blueprint to achieve it. This is must reading.”
How can your experience or your business help fellow conference attendees?
I am hoping my knowledge and experience in community building and developing social enterprises will be a value to the members of the conference. The social enterprise model is relatively new in the Canadian business field, yet it holds so much possibility for lasting, positive change. Having run a successful social enterprise for several years, I know how you can build a successful business with a double bottom line – both economic and social.
What do you hope to take away from the conference?
I am hoping to learn from the experiences of other entrepreneurs how they have balanced their business priorities with their social goals. Every new social enterprise has a different structure and business model that works for them. It is always good to hear from others how their businesses evolved and changed to maximize their social impact and economic growth.
What do you think is our greatest social problem today? Any suggestions to solve it?
The greatest social problem today is the fact that the global economy takes precedence over people, local culture and history, and leads to the destruction of community.
The only way to solve this issue is by encouraging local businesses that are based on building and maintaining sustainable communities. Communities all have their own unique personalities, and need to be protected and encouraged in order to thrive.
What is the most inspiring book you have read?
“The Wisdom of No Escape and the Path of Loving-Kindness” by Pema Chodron.
It speaks to the fundamentals of living fully in the moment, even in difficult times, and using your reality and present circumstances to broaden your awareness and compassion for others.
Connect on Twitter @EMBERSVancouver and at http://www.embersvancouver.com/ and on facebook
Marcia Nozick is attending the #SocialforGood Conference
About the #SocialforGood Conference
If you are a socially conscious individual, entrepreneur, corporation or non-profit organization you can’t afford to miss this conference! Please join us for two days that will evoke conversation, initiate ideas and inspire creative solutions to spread social good in your community and workplace.
#SocialforGood will have you dive deeper then you ever have before and will address:
- What a #socialforgood movement is and why it even matters
- Can a business really make a profit while doing something that makes a difference? Yes! Learn how!
- Ideas and beliefs by change makers and sought after experts.
- We will explore why investing in women is the world best social strategy
- Creative solutions to inspire change in your life, workplace and business
- How to Bring Authenticity and Integrity to Your Business
- How Creating your Business Creates a Whole New You
- How to raise money for your social business or cause
- The best ways to spread your message: Video, podcasts, public speaking, social media and more
