Strategies to Change Systems Toward an Inclusive Economy

Poverty is a complex issue that requires systemic and collaborative responses. This article examines the systems change strategies implemented by the Inclusive Economy Team at EndPovertyEdmonton (EPE) to address poverty through inclusive economic development. Using community-based participatory and strategic learning approaches, data were drawn from internal documents, learning debriefs, and 26 interviews with EPE staff and network members. Five strategies emerged: building networks, advocating for policy change, advancing economic reconciliation, testing approaches to shift economic systems, and fostering learning in inclusive procurement and workforce development. The Inclusive Economy Team functioned as a convenor and “fourth space” actor, bridging nonprofit, government, and business sectors. These findings illustrate how nonprofit actors can support social innovation and influence policy through collaborative, equity-oriented systems change.