Sometimes symmetry is what you don’t want to happen, even when it benefits one’s cause. This is the situation we find ourselves in as we launch the first phase of the Council’s campaign against racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia. In our very many discussions and debates about the content, analysis, tone and messaging of the campaign we talked about competing isms, about intersectionalities, about social construction of identities and about the very real soul destroying experiences of individuals and communities who are marginalized, excluded and ‘othered’ within our society.
Scadding Court Community Centre: Urban Agriculture Program
Scadding Court Community Centre in Toronto has launched a new crate garden that will see 250 square feet of food being grown. Installed by the Bowery Project and local volunteers, the Urban Agriculture Program includes community garden plots, a community greenhouse and community composting. The gardens are organic with no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers used.
Save the Date - OCASI Executive Director’s Forum 2016!
OCASI is pleased to announce the 2016 Executive Director’s Forum - November 9 & 10, 2016 at the Westin Prince Hotel, Toronto. More information to follow.
Trauma and Refugee Mental Health Training
In partnership with Hong Fook and the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT), OCASI is pleased to report that the Council has been providing training for front-line workers in OCASI member agencies, on war trauma and refugee mental health.
OCASI has issued a request for proposal for data analysis (need assessment) and curriculum development for a Level 2 version of the training, “Understanding and Responding to Sexual Violence in Immigrant and Refugee Communities” as well as update content for Level 1. The training is offered in self-directed and facilitated online learning format.
City of Toronto and OCASI Campaign to address xenophobia, Islamaphobia
The City of Toronto and OCASI-the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants are launching a Toronto public education campaign to address xenophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiments.
OCASI is accepting applications for In-House Group Training under the Professional Education and Training Project (PET) The OCASI PET project provides financial support to settlement service providers to assist with organizational capacity building.
Article Series on Self-Care for the Immigrant and Refugee Serving Sector by Aina-Nia Ayo'dele
According to the dictionary, stress is defined as a specific response by the body to a stimulus, such as pain or fear, that disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism. The World Health Organization is calling stress "the health epidemic of the 21st century" and this interference or disturbance to our natural way of being is becoming a new "norm" in the workplace.
Over 200,000 people in Ontario are denied health coverage due to their immigration status. Many children, women and men have delayed seeking care, been denied care, asked for thousands of dollars upfront, or received massive bills. In some cases, people have died as a result. Join us on June 28th and rally for OHIP for ALL!.
CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Connect, Create, Communicate 2016 Conference
LawConnect Ontario and The Action Group on Access to Justice invite workshops proposals for Connect, Create, Communicate, a conference on public legal education and information (PLEI) and access to justice set for Oct 20-21 in Toronto. Participation from interested legal professionals, community workers, students, and other people working in access to justice and doing PLEI is welcomed.
ONN: Exclusive Group Insurance Program for the Nonprofit Sector
Nonprofits are focused on fulfilling their missions, but also want to strengthen their organization’s governance, reduce costs and protect their organization, staff and volunteers. ONN offers an exclusive insurance program designed specifically for registered not-for-profit corporations operating in Ontario. Nonprofits have different insurance needs than for-profit businesses. ONN has done all the homework for you.
Lived Experiences and Ideas for Change by Young People with Disabilities
The Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth has released a new report, “We Have Something to Say: Young people and their families speak out about special needs and change”. It captures the experiences of young people with disabilities in Ontario, their families and the barriers they face because society often associates them with their special need.
SAVE THE DATE: SheSpeaks 3: Women, Power and Change Conference - Saturday, July 16, 2016
A conference for newcomer women, girls and trans people to meet each other and hear from inspirational leaders around creating social change and working towards economic justice for all newcomer and racialized people.
For the approximately 600,000 migrants currently working in Canada, changes made to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2014 have left them more vulnerable to exploitation and have further narrowed their access to permanent residence. These are the findings ofCanada’s Choice: Decent Work or Entrenched Exploitation for Canada’s Migrant Workers?, the latest report from human rights lawyer Fay Faraday.
The media is invited to take part in World Refugee Day activities at an event co-hosted by more than 20 Canadian humanitarian aid organizations. When: June 20, 2016 from 11 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Where: Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square
