www.ari-iar.org >About the ARI

The ARI's Mission and Vision

The Alfie Roberts Institute is an independent non-governmental organization based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, founded in 2001. The Alfie Roberts Institute is named after the late Alfonso (Alfie) Theodore Roberts, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a long time resident of Quebec who dedicated his life to the social development of people of African and Caribbean descent across the globe. He worked tirelessly for the eradication of all forms of inequality and oppression and towards making the world a more humane and inhabitable place. Alfie Roberts believed that social change was always possible, and that common, ordinary people had the capacity to change their own conditions and bring about the betterment of humankind as a whole.

The past decade or so has witnessed an alarming deterioration in the socio-economic conditions of the majority of people of African and Caribbean descent across the world. This situation has unfolded within the context of a worsening global climate in which poverty, alienation, and diverse forms of social malaise have unfortunately become a way of life.

It is the belief of The Alfie Roberts Institute that, though people work in various spheres of life and are part of numerous efforts to bring about positive changes in society, the fact that people are working for change constitutes a broad movement in and of itself. The challenge, then, is to make the actors in these various struggles conscious of the fact that there are others working towards the same ends and to work with these various individuals and groups wherever and whenever possible. Such work requires a vision and approach that not only recognizes the connection between various groups and movements, but one that is flexible enough to allow different groups to work together without surrendering those elements of their respective work that are fundamental to their existence.

We aim to serve as a conduit through which efforts to effect positive social change can be channeled and to provide a critical voice for change in our communities and society at large.

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The Alfie Roberts Institute fundamentally believes that:

- the solutions to the social problems that exist in this society are to be found within the context of the daily activity and work of people;

- people of African and Caribbean descent are, due to their unique history and experiences, well placed to inform a broad understanding of social change as a whole;

- the study of history and social movements immensely informs our understanding of social change as a whole;

- human beings are social animals and it is through human interaction, dialogue, and action that we draw inspiration and direction;

- our activities are connected to the local, national, and international communities in which we live;

- people have the capacity to deal with the challenges and obstacles that impede their development and serve as obstacles to positive social change. However, in order for people to grow and prosper they must have at their disposal the most basic of resources: healthy food, adequate shelter, sufficient clothing, a well-rounded education, etc., as well as a belief in their capacity to change their own lives;

- as individuals and as an organized body within a community, we have a responsibility to contribute the resources that lie at our disposal for the betterment of the communities in which we live and society as a whole;

- a well-organized group with dedicated individuals at its base and an organic attachment to the communities in which they are situated is far more effective than a group with tens, hundreds or even thousands of members but without a clear programme and approach to its work.

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Our Prime Objective

The prime objective of The Alfie Roberts Institute is to develop and foster the capacity of individuals and groups, particularly in communities of African and Caribbean descent, to positively and creatively shape the future of the community or communities in which they live and work.

In order to carry out its prime objective, the Institute uses the following methods, among others:

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Research and Publication

A research and documentation centre is maintained on the social development, culture, and history of people, primarily, though not exclusively, of African and Caribbean descent.

Studies and documentation on people of African and Caribbean descent are produced, published, and distributed from a multi-faceted perspective (social, historical, cultural, scientific, spiritual, and economic) and with a particular emphasis on social change.

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Popular Education

The Alfie Roberts Institute organizes regular study sessions - "groundings" or "reasoning sessions" - with the aid of books, journals, magazines, and audio and video material, in order to cultivate critical thinking while promoting social activity in keeping with the prime objective and the spirit of the Institute.

Conferences and expositions are organized, as well as workshops on the social development, culture, and history of people of African and Caribbean descent and on social change and community development prospects.

The Alfie Roberts Institute works with and, where possible, assists other organizations and individuals in their efforts to promote positive social change and improve the lives of their constituents, locally and internationally.

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Social and Cultural Exchange

The Alfie Roberts Institute organizes regular exchanges (local and international) through which people, particularly youth, learn and benefit from the experiences of people of other societies and, in turn, share those experiences within their own communities.

Links and partnerships are fostered and developed with individuals, groups, organizations, and institutions, both locally and internationally, for the purpose of exchanging information, sharing ideas, and actively supporting efforts to effect positive social change within their respective societies, particularly in those societies in which we find communities of African and Caribbean descent.

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