In Search of Rainbows or Fix the Goddamn Systems Already!
I have spent the last month or so looking for the ‘blessings’ or ‘silver linings’ of this pandemic as the Council and the Sector shift-shaped ourselves into this new normal - a term that is quickly becoming contested (What is normal? For whom? Who defines?) as progressives dream and plan and organize for a near future that will be responsive to those who are marginalized and made most vulnerable by our economic and social systems.
Cultural Understanding and Empowering Women in IT (#cueWIT) project by Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre supports and empowers internationally educated newcomer women to overcome personal and professional barriers through civic engagement and employment support in Canadian society.
Join us at May 2020 OCASI Virtual Town Hall Meetings for frontline staff at OCASI member agencies, organized in response to popular demand. Have your questions about income support and immigration answered live. Hosted by OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas and featuring Shalini Konanur, Executive Director of SALCO (May 12) and Avvy Go, Clinic Director of CSALC (May 15).
PET provides financial assistance to IRCC funded organizations to deliver facilitated training topics, and to individual staff to take courses at institutions of their choice.
NOTE: During the COVID 19 pandemic, PET will provide the opportunity for organizations to host a series of virtual training using various live platforms such as Zoom, Highfive, GotoWebinar, WebEx or others.
If you work on the frontlines at an OCASI member agency receive updates directly via the frontline email list. You can receive training and professional development information and resources, connect with other people on the frontlines at OCASI member agencies, share information and ask and answer questions. Questions? Contact policyevents@ocasi.org
OCMS user tells us, “Thanks for a great product. Using OCMS has helped us track and understand our client and service needs across 3 regions, report results easily and consistently, make better informed decisions around resources and make impactful business case arguments for support and funding... great communication, timely responses…”
Join SettleNet.org / Réseau-Etab.org to learn, share, connect, and collaborate with people in your field. Our members are encouraged to engage in ongoing professional development opportunities on the platform. Visit the site to enrol in webinars, access conference materials, read or submit articles, and connect with your peers across Canada.
OCASI Board Update
The OCASI Board of Directors is getting ready to develop a new strategic plan. Members, funders and allies will have a role to play. Stay tuned for updates on the strategic plan and other messages from the OCASI Board.
SECTOR HAPPENINGS
CCR Spring Virtual Consultation
Canadian Council for Refugees is holding a virtual consultation 19 May to 26 June, 2020. The virtual consultation will explore current issues affecting refugee protection and newcomer settlement. It will feature a series of webinars and on-line meetings, with views from all Canadian provinces and with experts in diverse fields. Registration required. View the schedule.
Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange (SHARE)
The Human Rights Legal Support Centre launches the SHARE (Sexual Harassment and Assault Resource Exchange) Project to offer workers experiencing sexual harassment access to community resource referrals, education and legal information/advice.
SHARE services are FREE and confidential regardless of immigration status and income. Contact SHARE at 1-866-625-5179 or SHARE@HRLSC.on.ca
SHARE is funded by the Department of Justice Canada.
Échange de ressources pour le Harcèlement et l’Agression Sexuelle (ERHAS)
Le Centre d'assistance juridique en matière de droits de la personne lance le Projet ÉRHAS (Échange de ressources pour le Harcèlement et l’Agression Sexuelle) pour offrir aux travailleurs de ressource communautaire, l'éducation et l'assistance juridique.
Des services ÉRHAS sont gratuits et confidentiels quels que soient statut d’immigration. Contact-nous a 1-866-625-5179 ou SHARE@HRLSC.on.ca
Le Projet ÉRHAS est fondé par le ministère de la Justice du Canada.
Free Tax Clinics
The tax filing season is extended from April 30 to June 1, 2020. Canada Revenue Agency hopes this will give community organizations that have had to cancel their clinics the opportunity to reschedule before the June 1 filing deadline. Through the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, community organizations host free tax clinics where volunteers file tax returns for eligible people.
Ontario Nonprofit Network and Imagine Canada are pleased to present a series of free webinars to support nonprofits and charities. Join these free webinars to get informed, hear examples, and get your questions answered by the industry experts.
CLEO has new, interactive, free, tools called Guided Pathways for Powers of Attorney (POAs) that people can use to make or cancel (revoke) a POA for property or personal care. Users answer a series of questions, then use the answers to automatically create a POA. Users get clear legal information and instructions to have the POA signed and witnessed.
Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion moved their Anti-Racism Conference online. The first session held on April 29 featured a stimulating conversation with Desmond Cole and MPP Laura Mae Lindo on the impact of COVID-19 on racialized communities and systemic racism in Canada. Watch the recording on Facebook, Twitter, & Youtube. Future sessions will be held every two weeks.
Racism, in all its forms, hurts! Sometimes, we see ourselves as victims of racism without taking into consideration our personal biases, which could be racist to others. Saskatoon-based Truly Alive Youth and Family Foundation Inc has launched an Anti-racism Resource Video. It is a powerful tool for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector on how to counter racism, specifically anti-Indigenous racism.
