Growing Together Through Fruitful Partnerships

Growing Together Through Fruitful Partnerships

At its heart, Our Partners priority is about relationships — walking alongside churches, families, communities, and government to foster belonging for people with disabilities. It reflects how we build meaningful connections, strengthen shared efforts, and advocate together.

In this first year of our new strategic plan, we’re focused on deepening relationships with churches, families, communities, and government – belonging will increase as faith communities welcome people with disabilities, and as we welcome more people into services.

Growth takes shape within this priority by strengthening the relationships and systems that make it possible. Across Karis, this work is already underway through:

• Deepening engagement with churches and faith communities to foster belonging
• Strengthening partnerships with families and local communities
• Advancing a coordinated government relations approach including further investment in a dedicated government relations role to support advocacy for policy changes, increased funding and access to services, and fair wages for employees
• Advancing a housing and capital approach that positions Karis to unlock policy and community enablers for growth and strengthened future housing pathways

Through active church engagement, a growing government relations function, a shared advocacy agenda, stronger family engagement, and a housing and capital approach, our partnerships will foster belonging so that people experience welcome in all aspects of their community

We have made structural changes, and we are doing this work together through ongoing connection and engagement across communities. As relationships deepen, so do the opportunities to strengthen advocacy, expand access, and support more people in meaningful ways.

Together, our efforts create the conditions for growth through fruitful partnerships, allowing Karis to respond to the urgent need for services, support more people, and shape communities where everybody belongs while strengthening the systems that make inclusion possible.

Dwayne Milley, Vice President – Engagement and Partnerships