The Road to V20 Brazil: Martin Itzkow Represents Manitoba & Canada
Long before airplanes existed, and the drive to immigrate to other countries was still limited, the philosopher, Socrates, saw what the future held. When he was asked if he was a citizen of Athens or of Greece, he responded: “We are not citizens of just our hometowns or nations, but of the world.”
Today, we are indeed global citizens. We travel more to learn and have different experiences. We move for safety and better opportunities. Decisions made in one country reverberate thousands of miles away. The increased movement and connectivity of people including through technology. comes with complexities that countries are currently working to solve.
Questions such as “How do we weave diversity and inclusivity into the foundations and fabric of our communities?” and “What values are now important in our society?” have become central to discussions of immigration, economies, climate change, infrastructure, peace and justice among others. This is the basis for the upcoming V20 Brazil summit.
I recently sat with Martin Itzkow, Founding CEO of the Coalition of Manitoba Cultural Communities for Families Inc. (CMCCF) who will be attending the V20 Brazil in a couple of weeks to get his perspective on this summit and role that CMCCF has in presenting on the work being done here in Manitoba.
What is the V20 Brazil Summit?
The Values 20 Conference is a meeting of experts, leaders and practitioners in valuation from around the world to share ideas and pragmatic examples of various communities along their journey in finding answers to the above questions. The purpose in gathering in Rio de Janiero, Brazil is to foster collaboration and innovation in building inclusive economic progression in the context of a global society; as well as to engage with G20 leaders in informing and shaping decisions that impact us all 1.
Itzkow is one of a number of people invited to present at this summit from North America on the inclusive leadership work of CMCCF. Itzkow’s impressive diverse background in working in the human service sector, government and as a private executive coach and organizational development consultant locally, nationally and internationally has contributed to this opportunity. However, it is his work on diversity, inclusion, justice, peace and values with CMCCF that brought this invitation.
Why CMCCF is Presenting at the V20 Summit:
The journey to presenting at the V20 Brazil summit stemmed from work that started in 2020 through the Wisdom of Hardship Circle where Itzkow based in Canada brought in some colleagues from the UK and Hong Kong. While taking a number of professional development courses in the UK in terms of his field of facilitation and coaching, he became involved in the first ever World Values Day, in London. It was here that he first met Charles Fowler, the ED od the UK Values Alliance, who introduced me to the V20.
Much later on Martin met the V20 Brazil Chair, Inês Medeiros, who later became involved in the Wisdom of Hardship Circle, a CMCCF program. Ines and Martin talked about V20 which he had heard about three years prior. Fast forward a few more years to a year ago, Medeiros invited Itzkow to submit a paper on the work CMCCF was engaged in as it fit the key areas of focus of the V20. His paper focused on the V20 theme of inclusive leadership, which he augmented with another important theme of authentic engagement between the state and community.
For better understanding, the V20 or Values 20 is very much a focused international group which shadows the G20 (forum for governments and central bankers that focuses on trade and global issues) and it advocates for the integration of core human values in global decision-making processes. It’s made up of people primarily from twenty countries, who have come together through their networks to talk about how to band together. It was formed so it could be available to communicate with the G20 prior to the G20 meeting and provide them with a communique with various ideas about how they could increase their core human values.
When Itzkow received the invitation to this forum, his first question was, “Why me?” Medeiros response was that the work Itzkow was doing in Manitoba with CMCCF was unique in its focus on cultural communities and the V20 was quite interested in this work. When Medeiros became the chair of the committee that was forming the V20 activity in Brazil, she asked Itzkow to write a paper to be included in a communique to the G20 on the areas of CMCCF’s focus based on the V20 values.
The main value that stood out for this year was inclusive leadership. In his own words, Itzkow sees “The work we’re doing is focusing on inclusive leadership and looking at the voices of cultural communities. Collaborating with cultural communities and allies, the focus is to strengthen and amplify their voices in their engagement with government that determines the services and the way that government sees cultural communities, and how resources must be fairly distributed and placed in the hands of community to better their lives, their way.”
Why Representation from Manitoba at this summit is crucial?
“There are seven things that will destroy us: Wealth without work; Pleasure without conscience; Knowledge without character; Religion without sacrifice; Politics without principle; Science without humanity; Business without ethics.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi’s quote denotes the need for shared values for building peace, diversity and inclusion in local and global communities, which is the basis for V20 Brazil.
Inês Medeiros, V20 Brazil Chair, CEO and Founder Values Move Organizer V20 Brazil 2024, saw the importance of the work being done in Manitoba and the need for it to be shared in the international arena. Medeiros notes, “We found the work being done is more than inclusive leadership, it is highly connected with other task forces bringing with it a key component of values work – collaboration.”
Collaboration leads to learning and impactful solutions, something that begins at a grassroots level. This is something that Itzkow is looking forward to experiencing on November 14 when he attends the summit in Rio over three days.
Itzkow feels honored that CMCCF has been identified as an organization that works within the community to be able to bring together community voices. Part of that amplification of voices is to be able to ensure that community leadership and their ways of engaging with government will be understood and accepted. He also intensely feels that the exchange of ideas, and the creation of innovative solutions to challenges being faced locally and globally at V20 will bring positive impact to Manitoba and Canada.
Seeing what else has been happening from the point of view of social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in other communities and bringing Manitoba’s voice forward, means the work being done here is respected. Manitoba’s profile as a trail blazer will increase its profile in the global community.
CMCCF believes in being able to address racism, hatred, discrimination through all of its process that are centered in inclusive leadership that it has been building the base for and are excited to share in Brazil while learning from others. Of interest is an organization in Brazil called the G20 Favela which is basically the block community that has gone further in many ways of engaging systems to look at race issues including key racism policies and practices. It looks at the lowest income communities in Brazil and how their voices are now being heard. They are being encouraged by the government to come forward, to engage and establish, not just their profile but also their leadership. Itzkow sees this as an exciting opportunity for learning to pay attention to as this brings different models that can be adopted elsewhere.
This is also important for Canadians to be aware that there is discussion about a Canada-Brazilian agreement on anti-racism, something Itzkow has also recently learned about through connecting with the V20 Conference. It would be interesting to see how this could in the future impact both Brazilians and Canadians.
CMCCF’s Work that is being Presented at V20 Brazil Summit
Over the last three years, CMCCF has brought together cultural communities to engage in value work. The collaborations span across ages, genders, and backgrounds. Its work is centered in inclusive leadership which, “…emphasizes the vital role cultural communities play in shaping equitable policies and fostering social change. There are many cultural community advocates for inclusive participation, cultural community engagement, balancing assimilation with multiculturalism, and authentic engagement,” Itzkow.
When Itzkow was asked what key messages he wanted to deliver at the summit, this was his response:
CMCCF plays a critical role as a bridge between cultural communities, service providers, and policymakers. Our mission is to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, ensuring they are integral to public policy discussions from the start. Authentic engagement transforms relationships, creating more equitable collaboration and setting the foundation for a more peaceful society. By truly listening to the voices of our communities, we make room for more inclusive, community-led perspectives.”
Our work is deeply rooted in social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. These principles are essential to CMCCF’s efforts and guide our approach to addressing systemic inequalities. By centering community-driven perspectives, we aim to shape public policy that truly reflects and serves our diverse society, fostering an environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and thrive.
We are committed to fostering intercultural and intergenerational dialogue through an inclusive lens that respects lived and felt experiences. By honoring the contributions of each community, we build mutual understanding and strengthen social cohesion. This approach allows us to bridge differences and support a collaborative future where diverse voices are valued and understood.
Expected Outcomes from the V20 Brazil Summit:
The summit presents an invaluable opportunity for CMCCF to explore the global impact of our local efforts. In our submission to the committee, the ‘Local to Global’ section encourages participants to reflect on the unique value this summit brings. While some may view Manitoba as a minor player on the international stage, CMCCF’s approach to public policy has positioned Manitoba as a leader in fostering inclusive, community-driven change across Canada. One core outcome we seek is validation of CMCCF’s impactful work and its potential as a model for broader social transformation.
Additionally, we anticipate powerful learning and collaboration, as the V20 communique highlights both longstanding challenges and collaborative solutions. This dialogue holds promising pathways for peacebuilding—a crucial element in addressing racism, hatred, and discrimination. To make meaningful global progress, we must first disrupt these issues within our own community in Manitoba, setting an example for others to follow.
What are you looking forward to the most in being in Brazil?
Itzkow eagerly anticipates connecting with international leaders and community members who bring rich expertise and compelling case studies. This summit promises to be a high-level forum for exchanging insights that can shape public policies for a more just and sustainable world.
Having previously only passed through São Paulo, Itzkow is particularly excited to immerse himself in the vibrant culture and people of Rio, the summit’s host city. He also hopes to visit and engage with local communities, including the favelas, to not only observe but actively participate in the work being done as part of the G20 favela movement. This experience offers a unique chance to witness first-hand the resilience and creativity of these communities and to celebrate the impactful initiatives they are leading.
In conclusion:
There is work being done in Manitoba to bring justice, peace, diversity and inclusivity as foundational pieces in the fabric of the province we love. The work is tough yet rewarding. It is hopeful and it is being supported by action. Although we live in local community, we are also global citizens in the diversity we see, but also in the decisions we make as a community to find our way to the Canadian way of life, and the richness that comes from the diversity of cultural communities.
To learn more about the V20 and the V2O Brazil Summit, visit: https://www.valuation20.org/v20brazil
To learn more about the work of Coalition of Manitoba Cultural Communities for Families and to follow along Martin Itzkow’s V20 Journey, visit: www.cmccfamilies.ca or follow us on social media.
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