Racisim – March 21

RACISM – STOP IT! National Video Competition

 Youth between 12 and 20 years of age, are eligible to enter the Racism. Stop It! National Video Competition. They can create a video 45 to 60 seconds long sharing their thoughts on eliminating racism. They can work in a team of up to five people. Their video can feature as many people as they want—include their whole school or members of their community if they have something to say about stopping racism.

 For more information on the National Video Competition please visit

 http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/multiculturalism/march21/contest.asp

 Hard copies of this information have already been sent to schools and libraries and you should have received it directly from CIC. However, if you need more packages, please let me know and I can arrange for them to be mailed out to you. Details are also available on the CIC website at http://www.cic.gc.ca

 As well, I am available to come and speak to your students, teachers, assemblies, youth or groups interested in these projects.

Raheel Raza

www.raheelraza.com  

416-505-6052

Promoting Interfaith and Intercultural diversity

Communications Team: 2010 Interfaith Leaders Conference in the G8 Nations Summit

Contributing Editor: Interfaith Unity

MATHIEU DA COSTA CHALLENGE

The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge is an annual writing and artwork contest that is open to youth between the ages of 9 and 18. The Challenge encourages young Canadians to embark on their own personal voyage of discovery by learning about the contributions that Canadians of different backgrounds have made in building our country

 How Does It Work?

 Participants submit an original piece of writing or artwork that illustrates how specific individuals from Canada’s Aboriginal, African and other backgrounds have contributed to the development of Canada. Winning entries are selected from three age groups (9–12, 13–15 and 16–18).

 Parks Canada Prize!

 This year, we have partnered once again with the Parks Canada Agency to create the Mathieu Da Costa Parks Canada Award. Submit an original piece of artwork or writing in English or French celebrating the contribution made by a National Historic Person of Aboriginal, African or other background to the building of Canada. National Historic Persons are those who made an outstanding and lasting contribution to Canadian History – as designated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

 Prizes!

 Each winner will receive:

 • an all-expenses paid trip to Ottawa in April 2010;

• VIP seating at the Mathieu Da Costa Awards Ceremony in Ottawa, Ontario;

• a certificate of achievement; and

• other prizes.

 For more information and full contest details, please visit our Web site or call the toll free number:

 www.mathieudacosta.gc.ca

1-888-77MULTI / 1-888-776-8584

VIDEO ABOUT HOMELESS PEEL

The realities of being homeless in Peel Region are the subject of a new video — Spaces and Places: Uncovering Homelessness in the Region of Peel.

The 15-minute video originated with Peel Poverty Action Group (PPAG) and was produced with a $75,000 grant from The Trillium Foundation and the help of the Social Planning Council of Peel, a filming and research team from York University, local social service provider Regeneration, and others. It was shown publicly for the first time on Thursday (10 December, 2009) at the Rose Theatre, Brampton.

The stars are people from Brampton and Mississauga who have experienced homelessness. They revisit scenes of sleeping rough in wooded areas, “where you can’t get comfortable with an arthritic hip.” They talk about the total loneliness of not having a permanent place; how women can be hooked on cocaine, then forced to work the streets to finance a drug habit. “I wish I had never left home,” says one young person, “ wish…I wish…I wish.” Another sings the praises of Knights’ Table, Brampton’s soup kitchen on Kennedy Road, where she survives because of its daily free meals. A man sleeps in a truck at night, so he can continue his job even without a permanent place to stay.

The video will be available to the public in the New Year. PPAG plans, with the help of instructors from Canadian Auto Workers, to enhance the public speaking skills of volunteers who have experienced homelessness and who can accompany the video at presentations to politicians and to organizations such as churches, service clubs, business groups, social service providers, unions, schools.

E-mail to book a showing

Girls Circle Facilitator Training

Promoting Resiliency in Adolescent Girls

Girls Circle Association is a Project of the Tides Center

Learn Skills to Lead Engaging Support Groups for Girls!

A workshop for service providers, educators, therapists, probation officers, social workers, mental health workers, & others who support girls’ growth and development.

Girls Circle training has been applied across all systems of care: schools, mental health, juvenile justice, community-based organizations and child welfare agencies.

Rated a Promising Approach by the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention

What can you do to encourage adolescent girls to…

Enhance judgment and critical thinking skills? • Stay true to themselves and value their perceptions?

• Make wise and healthy choices/decisions? • Counter trends towards self-doubt?

• Respect themselves and others? • Voice their ideas and opinions in a safe environment?

Girls Circle Facilitator Training is a workshop that provides adults with a solid, progressive framework of skills to facilitate gender-responsive programs for girls.

April 28-29, 2010

Brampton, Ontario

8:00am-4:30pm

Hosted by:

Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton

Location:

Sheridan College- Davis Campus

(Room Number TBD)

7899 McLaughlin Road

Brampton, Ontario Canada L6Y-5H9

Register online at: www.girlscircle.com or Call 1-707-794-9477

Registration fee includes 2-day training, facilitator manual, and continental breakfast

Free Math and English Tutoring

ISAP YOUTH – Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program Presents…

FREE OF CHARGE HOMEWORK CLUB!

 §       MATH & ESL tutoring is provided to all newcomer youth between the ages of 13-20!

§       Duration: Every Wednesday @ 4:30pm – STARTING: DECEMBER 2^nd, 2009

§       Location: Palestine House Educational and Cultural Centre

3195 Erindale Station Road, Mississauga ON L5C 1Y5

 For more information or to RSVP, call us at 905-270-3622 ext. 232 or email isap@palestinehouse.org

Certificate Training for Frontline Settlement Workers

Certificate Training for Front Line Settlement Workers – Peel/ Halton:

• Have you been a settlement counselor for a minimum of one year?
  • Are you interested in enhancing your knowledge base & access to resources?
  • Are you interested in enhancing your capacity and ensure the highest level of quality service to newcomers in your community?
  • Are you interested in acquiring training certification?

The Centre for Education & Training is pleased to announce…..
Through the support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will be providing free training opportunities for all organizations providing settlement services and their settlement workers throughout Peel & Halton from January to March 2010.

Your Opportunity to Learn more on:

-         NewComer Seniors Needs, Services, Resources & Access to Resources

-         Health Services, Resources & Access to Resources

When and Where?
Training duration is (Six half day workshops to take place January – March 2010)

To train 45 Frontline Settlement Workers throughout Peel & Halton Regions.

What topics will the training cover?

• Elder Abuse & Safety Issues
• Impact of Domestic Violence on Family Health
• Dementia / Alzheimer and its effects
• Pre & Post Natal Health & Early Childhood Care
• Seniors Housing Options and Care giving
• Programs & Services for Seniors offered by Community Organizations

 Keynote speakers & trainers are experts in the fields listed above

 What are the Benefits of the Training?

• Enhancement of the knowledge base on the topics listed above and relevant resources.
  • Opportunity to build & strengthen collaboration with colleagues from different organizations.
  • Opportunity to identify resources available in Peel /Halton.
  • Opportunity to identify future training needs.

 Certification:

 Upon Completion of the 6 workshops, trainees will receive a certificate signed by Citizenship & Immigration Canada at the Graduation Ceremony.

 The purpose of the project is:

• ·         To provide specialized, high quality information on Seniors & Health Services in Peel & Halton Regions.
  • To enhance the service delivery of settlement workers through expanding their access to resources.

 If you are interested in this training, please contact by Friday, December 11, 2009 to reserve your seat! Preference will be given to the first 45 persons who apply.

For More Information:

Ayesha Malik, Coordinator

Newcomer Resource Connections-Peel/Halton

Centre for Education & Training

Phone-(905)279-0024 ext 1251/ cell-416-523-6991

Email: amalik@tcet.com

UNCOVERING HOMELESS PEEL

Peel residents tell their stories of being homeless in the Region of Peel in a 14-minute video Spaces and Place: Uncovering Homelessness in Peel Region, showing publicly for the first time at the Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton, at 2 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2009.
Activist organization Peel Poverty Action Group (PPAG) obtained a grant from The Trillium Foundation to make the video, produced by a team from York University with the help of the Social Planning Council of Peel, Community Resource Connections of Toronto, Regeneration, Peel Region Human Services, and people experiencing homelessness in the Region.
This first screening will be followed by discussion with the producers and the Peel residents who star in the video.
PPAG plans to offer training in public speaking to people using shelters for the homeless or eating at local soup kitchens, to enable them to show the video and discuss it with church groups, business organizations, schools, social service organizations, etc.
The Rose Theatre event is free of charge and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please email André Lyn or phone 905 629-3044 before Dec. 5

DISABILITY DECLARATION

Peel Poverty Action Group endorses the Disability Declaration of the ODSP Action Coalition, a lobbying group based in Toronto but working toward becoming an umbrella for people with disabilities across Ontario.

PPAG brings together people on various kinds of income support, including Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works, etc. with social workers and community activists of various income levels. The organization is a sounding board for their concerns, complaints, and constructive ideas.

PPAG, drawing members from Mississauga, Brampton, and the Town of Caledon, makes presentations to federal, provincial, and municipal governments on various topics affected by low income, gathers petitions for presentation to the Ontario Legislature, interests local and ethnic media in poverty issues. A current interest is trying to persuade the Ontario Government to release more of the money budgeted for dental care, and to assign some of it to dental care for seniors. We also urge that all new housing, including private homes, be designed with accessibility in mind — wider doorways, possibiliity of ramps, and so on.

E-mail Peel Poverty Action Group

ISAP YOUTH @ Palestine House

ISAP YOUTH continually provide FREE OF CHARGE programs, information sessions, and much more to all newcomer youth!

 Absolute Self Defence Program – FREE OF CHARGE

• Learn self-defence tricks and tips from our self-defence master!
• Tae Kwon Do, Filipino and Chinese martial arts
• Build on your self-esteem and confidence!
• No experience necessary!
• Duration: On-going program! Every Saturday from 3-5pm and every Sunday from 5-7pm

 Homework Club – FREE OF CHARGE

• Math and ESL tutoring is provided to all newcomer youth!
• More information will be provided soon via email!
• Duration: On-going program! Will begin in November of 2009

 Volunteer Program

• WANT TO EARN YOUR 40 HOURS OF COMMUNITY WORK?
• WANT TO GAIN CANADIAN EXPERIENCE?
• Duration: On-going!

 For more information call 905-270-3622 ext. 232   or email akhalaf@palestinehouse.org

Volunteer MBC & Imagine Canada – Key Risks Workshop

Volunteer MBC and Imagine Canada is pleased to present a full-day workshop where you can learn about the ten key risks and how to manage these risks to protect your organization and people.

 Date:  Thursday, December 10, 2009 (rescheduled from October 28, 2009)

Time:  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Location:  Hilton Garden Inn ( Toronto International Airport ), 3311 Caroga Drive , Mississauga – New Location!

Registration Fee:  Volunteer MBC Member – $95; Non-Member – $120

 All participants will receive a comprehensive resource binder, lunch and breaks.

 Baani Kahai, Agent  •  905.456.6303  •  baani_kahai@cooperators.ca

David Agius, Agent  •  905.819.8111  •  david_agius@cooperators.ca

Jayanti Davda, Agent  •  905.507.6600  •  jayanti_davda@cooperators.ca

 Should you have any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Adriane Beaudry, Program Manager, at 905-238-2622 ext. 24 or at training@volunteermbc.org