Institut du Nouveau Monde is a not for profit and non partisan organization
whose mission is to promote citizen participation and the renewal of ideas in Québec.
that is a reference about citizen participation
that promotes social innovation
that uses original animation methods
that mobilises youth
that serves as a source of information
INM works for justice and social inclusion, respecting democratic values, open-mindedness and innovation. Through its actions, INM promotes active citizenship, increased civic duty, enhanced social cohesion and individual empowerment, and the development of democratic institutions.
INM was established on the 22nd of April 2004 in Montréal with the participation of 300 citizens.
Increasingly, citizen participation is seen as the best way to revitalize democracy, improve public policy and services, and create conditions that allow for social innovation, develop individuals’ capacities, reinforce social fabric, and re-instate a sense of civil responsibility. To make this possible, INM forges new methods, builds transferable expertise, and creates models for dialogue and participation.
INM has founded: :
- a network for research on citizen participation
- a citizens’ laboratory on participation
- the Caravanes citoyennes program, which fosters participation in public spaces
- the Pont interculturel program, which facilitates the participation of minorities
- the Santé, science et démocratie program, which serves as a meeting point for science and society
INM can: :
- organize citizen forums on major contemporary issues
- lead think-tanks
- give workshops on citizen participation
- offer film debates, forum theatre, citizen lunch-and-learn
INM has 1,500 members!
The Strategic Meetings
Through open and informed debates between experts and citizens, INM’s Strategic Meetings aim to reveal a vision of the Quebec we aspire to live in 20 years from now. The method is three fold: to inform the participants about the issue, to debate about it and, finally, to adopt proposals or call for action. The first one, held in the spring of 2005, focused on the subject of health and led to the publication “100 idées citoyennes pour un Québec en santé”. This book was used by decision makers working in the health sector and by the World Health Organisation. The last Strategic Meeting, on the subject of culture, was held in 2007 with 1500 participants and the ideas formulated during the event were published in the book “La culture, notre avenir!
The Summer School
INM’s Summer School is an event which gathers every year more than 800 young Quebecers between the ages of 15 and 35, as well as a few dozen international participants. Set in a festive atmosphere, this civic event combines educational, deliberative, recreational and artistic activities. The Summer School encourages dialogue between the participants and society’s decision makers. It also helps develop participants’ judgment and their ability to voice their concerns about issues important to them. The Summer School allows youth to express their views on society and the world in which they want to live. In 2004, participants drafted 50 recommendations for Quebec’s future, in 2005, they developed 38 projects for concrete civic action, in 2006, they published 19 manifestos and they adopted the Great Declaration in 2007. The 5thth to the 16th, 2008, in Quebec City as a part of the city’s 400th anniversary celebrations.
The Great Declaration
A group of young people from Québec and around the world are sending out a call for commitment. The Great Declaration proclaims the principles and values they wish to promote on a global scale. Its aim is to instil the desire for change and to stimulate involvement among citizens. Although originally drafted by young people aged 15 to 35, its message is addressed to all generations. Original in its content, the Great Declaration invites each signatory to personally commit to a concrete action that will contribute to building a more just and open world, founded on solidarity.
The Great Declaration will officially be proclaimed on August 12, 2008, during the United Nations’ International Youth Day, to be held in Quebec City, as a part of its 400th anniversary celebrations.
À go, on change le monde!
À go, on change le monde! is a program that encourages tangible involvement among young people aged 15 to 35 by supporting social entrepreneurship. It provides financial help, information, advice and access to social and business networks. It currently supports over 60 young social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurs identify social needs, emphasize pragmatic and innovative solutions and use entrepreneurship to develop and manage projects that have a positive impact on society, while also involving the community. Their goal? Contribute to change and social innovation! The program publishes A Go, a magazine for social entrepreneurship.
Every year, INM produces a reference work published by Éditions Fides. Intended for the public, this book is a collection of new articles from Québec’s most reputed experts: original studies, literature studies or reviews, statistical data on every dimension of contemporary Québec, and analyses of broad social phenomena. INM has also launched the Suppléments de L’Annuaire du Québec, a new collection of general thematic works. This collection has four titles: 100 idées citoyennes pour un Québec en santé, Jeunes et engagés, La culture, notre avenir and Oser la solidarité.
