For over 30 years Arusha has been busy informing, inspiring and supporting Calgarians in being active citizens who are building a better world!
Arusha supports activists and grassroots, community-based groups in a variety of ways.
Acting as a hub for community groups, we provide free meeting room space and support. We have several projects that engage and involve Calgarians.
Our projects include:
Calgary Dollars: Calgary Dollars is a complementary currency that involves hundreds of local businesses and individuals. Calgary Dollars helps people to help themselves. By printing local currency (called Calgary Dollars) and publishing a free bulletin which connects individuals and businesses who accept Calgary Dollars for their goods and services, we are stimulating our local economy. Local currency and bartering empower us all by increasing our purchasing power, improving our quality of life, and helping us to strengthen our communities. One Calgary Dollar is equivalent to $1 Canadian. Calgary Dollars is generously supported by the United Way of Calgary and Area and FCSS.
Greater Forest Lawn Community Carsharing: People all over North America and Europe like carsharing for lots of different reasons. Some like helping the environment; carsharing means fewer cars on the road so less pollution, less demand for non-renewable resources like gas and oil. Others like a healthy lifestyle and enjoy walking and riding their bike, but sometimes need a car to get to an appointment or take their team to the game. Some can’t afford to own a car and like the way that carsharing fits their budget. If you think carsharing is for you and you live / work / operate a not for profit business in Greater Forest Lawn area give us a call at 204-8280, extension #209 or visit www.gflcarsharing.org
Action Film Series: The Arusha Centre's Action Films Series was developed in order to provide the screening of timely and challenging films and to spread important and valuable information. The series mandate is to create a stimulating environment for people to come together to share and discuss the viewing experience. Action films showcases subject matter which can be linked to local issues and have the potential of inspiring viewers to take local action on issues of global concern.
The Hold Your Ground music compilation began in 2001 and since then has profiled 65 Alberta bands, sold 6,000 copies, and raised $40,000 for community organizations with contributions from the likes of James Keelaghan, Ian Tyson, and Tom Jackson. The project is centred on Alberta’s working musicians, each of whom contributes a catchy song with a social or environmental theme. Hold Your Ground is coordinated by Calgary’s Arusha Centre and is a powerful tool to promote Alberta’s musicians and the links to grassroots issues. Proceeds from sales have benefited environmental, social justice, labour, and cultural groups across the province.
