Innovations of the Movement ...
Father Jimmy got people to talk about their situation and explore possible solutions.
Instead of "telling" he used a question asking process so that the people came up with solutions to their problems.
Leadership courses were established.
Original Leaders brought different skills and valued the other's contributions.
Leadership used a cooperative sharing of roles and responsibilities.
Leadership brought in others with skills that were needed.
Study clubs were innovations in Adult Education.
Cooperative efforts made them owners of the capital and equity instead of passive customers.
Credit unions and Cooperators Insurance flourished in this environment and do today.
Participation in all parts of the Antigonish movement was voluntary and equitable.
This voluntary non-political nature of the program was a new concept to a downtrodden people.
The Antigonish Movement was one gigantic effort to bring people together in one coordinated movement to improve life in the Maritimes.
Lead to the creation of the Coady Institute with radical Community Development projects around the globe and an Adult Education centre focused on training new radical community leaders