Group photo from the very first meeting of the partners. There are approximately 55 people standing and sitting.
How does the partnership work?
The SPECTRUM Partnership brings together community organizations, government, and academic institutions to collaboratively evaluate and strengthen social policy in Manitoba. Through shared leadership and a commitment to equity, SPECTRUM supports research that is co-developed with partners, grounded in lived experience, and designed to inform real-world change. Partners contribute their expertise, shape research priorities, and work together to mobilize findings for impact.
​​​​​A Core Team comprised of members from all three pillars has regular meetings to plan workshops, communications, and evaluation including partnership reflection.
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Partners work together through workshops, meetings, one-on-one discussions, emails etc., to develop research project ideas and to complete the projects.​​
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​Student researchers (SPECTRUM fellows) work on projects that evaluate programs and policies delivered by government partners and community organizations, and the reasons why some programs and policies are not reaching all the people who need them.
Meet our members
How is the partnership funded?
Researchers, government staff and leaders of community organizations came together with an idea to work together, and collaborated on the development of an application for a Partnership Development Grant to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). This application was funded for 3 years (to 2021). In 2024, the partnership was awarded a SSHRC Partnership Grant from SSHRC that will support 7 additional years of work. The Winnipeg Foundation has also generously supported SPECTRUM since 2023.
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The funding supports the development of the partnership, which means the building of working relationships between the partners named in the grants, as well as growth to bring in new partners who can contribute to the goals of SPECTRUM.
