We envision a world where our socio- economic systems benefit everyone.
We work to transform the systems governing our lives by creating resources with and for equity-denied communities, guiding institutional decision-making, and spotlighting stories that need amplification.
RADIUS SFU operates on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Qayqayt, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen peoples on whose unceded traditional territories the three Simon Fraser University campuses reside.
We recognize that colonialism is a powerful system interlocking with white supremacy, capitalism, misogyny, classism, and other forms of harm that systemically oppress, alienate, divide, and invisibilize racialized and Indigenous communities.
From our position within an academic institution, we acknowledge that we continue to benefit from oppressive systems. We desire to use the power we hold to challenge the status quo. We don’t have all the answers, but believe a transformed economy will be built by community-led solutions and the redistribution of leadership, which centres those who have been historically and persistently marginalized.
We live in a world where humans hold many identities: race, gender, language, immigration status, visible and invisible disabilities, amongst many others.
We live in a world where the very systems that affect our lives (e.g., healthcare, banking, etc.) have been, and continue to be designed, by colonialism and white supremacy ideologies. That is elevating the livelihood of certain identities, and not others. This design makes it that many humans are marginalized, exploited, and expropriated of their agency and autonomy.
And we live in a world that is increasingly divided, where to be in dialogue is hard, and where working on addressing root causes of systemic inequities is even harder.
So systems don’t change, inequities stay, and many people remain under-resourced. This looks like limited access to capital for initiatives; lack of support when facing harmful workplace experiences; scarcity in coaching and mentorship opportunities, etc. This under-resourcing is harming many, hurting organization’s ability to serve their mandates and communities, and hindering society’s ability to intelligently respond to and problem-solve our collective challenges.
RADIUS is made of humans with many intersecting identities. We live with and for grassroots movements and communities who fight to eliminate inequities. And we also live within the institutions that consciously or not keep those inequities alive. Instead of letting that positionality unravel us, we put it to work by bringing all voices and experiences to create systemic change.
To get there, we start with our principles.
RADIUS Principles
Centre equity in our design, strategy, and daily work.
Value knowledge, experiences, and histories in the margins of any given system.
Engage in reciprocal relationship building.
Be open and continue learning to improve our practice.
Know future systems will draw on the new and the old.
Balance ambitious work with honouring our limits.
2024 Short Documentary
Designing for Equity:
Inside Our Transformative Journey at RADIUS
What does it mean to be a “social innovator?” At RADIUS, we’ve spent years trying to answer that question. Our short documentary chronicles the growth we’ve undertaken to better align our work with the needs of the communities we serve.
Communities we serve
Students & Young Professionals
Students & Young Professionals
We facilitate experiential learning programs for SFU students that work within the community to address tough challenges - Change Lab and support young professionals across the nation to develop skills to lead at all levels through the RADIUS Fellowship.
Communities
Communities
Tackling societal challenges RADIUS convenes communities most impacted. Current programs work alongside migrant and newcomer communities and health-equity seeking community members.
Organizations
Organizations
We support organizations of all sizes, for-profit to not-for-profit, and across Canada to engage in internal reflection on Justice, Equity, Diversity and inclusion and assist in hosting community-led processes to address challenges.
RADIUS is a founding regional node for the Social Innovation Canada network, connecting British Columbia’s vibrant social innovation community to other nodes and regions and helping build a robust national ecosystem.
Our Team
Meet the Team
Places We Call Home
The Charles Chang Innovation Centre
The Charles Chang Innovation Centre
RADIUS is based out of the Charles Chang Innovation Centre, at the corner of W. Hastings & Hamilton (2nd floor, entrance on Hamilton Street). We rent some of our desks out to social innovators and mission-aligned professionals.
Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business
Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business
RADIUS is an initiative of Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business. But we’re not your average business school, or university. Now committed to being Canada’s most engaged university, the book on SFU’s history is called “The Radical Campus”. RADIUS draws on the roots of an institution founded with its gaze firmly on the future, bold questions at the ready, and new ways of thinking welcome.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Our office in Vancouver is on the unceded Coast Salish Lands including the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Tsleil-Waututh (səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ) and Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) Nations.