Understanding the Impact and Role of Community-Based Advocacy on Access to Remedy Mechanisms in Alberta

The Stride Advocacy program of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights (JHC) is a community-rooted, volunteer-led model for advancing access to justice and supporting individuals who experience discrimination and human rights violations. Emerging in 2016 in response to a growing need for advocacy support among marginalized communities in Alberta, Stride has evolved through community collaboration, grassroots leadership, and systemic coalition building. This research seeks to assess the impact of the Stride Advocacy model on access to remedy, healing, and a sense of justice—while offering insights and recommendations for strengthening community-based advocacy.

The objectives of this research were to:

• Understand the experience and outcomes for individuals supported through Stride.

• Examine how Stride’s volunteer-based model has developed to meet community needs.

• Identify systemic issues and barriers faced by claimants.

• Explore how casework data and community insights can inform human rights policy, practice, and systemic change.

To achieve these goals, a mixed-methods approach was employed, including:

• Thematic analysis of case notes, intake records, and internal documentation from 2019 to 2024.

• Focus groups with volunteer advocates and case managers.

• In-depth interviews with current and former staff involved in the development of Stride.

This methodology was rooted in JHC’s organizational knowledge and experience stewarding Stride since its inception, and sought to reflect both the qualitative depth and systemic insights emerging from the program.