Saying What We Do:

The experience of the Mennonite New Life Centre

Using communication effectively for strengthening

community presence and promoting leadership among

newcomers

OCASI PDC. June 13th 2012

The Mennonite New Life Centre

Since 1983 supporting recent immigrants from diverse cultural communities. Special priority: low-income newcomers (asylum seekers and refugees).

In 2007, a community consultation and visioning process led the New Life Centre to identify community organizing and advocacy work as a priority for the future.

The Mennonite New Life Centre envisions a society in which all people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds participate fully in all aspects of Canadian life.

The Mennonite New Life Centre’s mission is to facilitate newcomer settlement and integration through holistic services and community engagement, carried out within a gender justice and anti-oppression framework.

The Mennonite New Life Centre

We are modeling an approach that brings together community engagement and community services, working together with newcomers to reduce

insecurity and reach integration, strengthen voices and increase social equality.

A related priority involved addressing newcomer concerns with issues of access to employment and civic participation.

Newcomer Skills at Work: Refusing to Settle for Less Project (2008- Metcalf Foundation)

To respond to the needs and concerns of newcomers in relation to:

Access to fair paid and meaningful employment Promotion of leadership and civic engagement

while engaging them in collective analysis and advocacy to propose policy change.

Nurturing newcomer leadership through

analysis and action to address root causes of

newcomer concerns

Building connections and solidarity among

low-income newcomers, working people and the social

movement

Strengthening our organizational

capacity to advocate with low-income newcomers for

systemic change

Strategies

Communication: strengthening newcomer voices and promoting newcomer leadership

Public Speaking

Community Forums

Video& New Voices

Newcomer Advocacy

Committee (PAR, monthly

meetings, leadership trainings)

“Safe Space” to critically reflect on their immigration experience and

to advocate together for fair employment and inclusive civic

participation.

Creating several community spaces, sharing their

community organizing experience, concerns and

recommendations for change.

Newcomer Speakers Bureau

(Participation)

Conceptualizing the process: •Breaking the isolation•Verbalizing sense of exclusion•Re-valuing assets•Re-encountering with dreams and expectations•Sharing systemic and structural analysis

From the INDIVIDUAL to the

COLLECTIVE •Having the first-hand experience, valuable analysis•Valuing the analysis, proposing changes•Voicing priorities, shaping their environment•Creating concrete products (videos, presentations , etc)•Sharing PAR findings (reflections)•Leading community-based coalitions

From the CRITICAL REFLECTION to the

ACTION

•Understanding Canadian political (decision-making)•Informing and using formal spaces for engagement (voting, deputations, consultations process, etc)•Training on key aspects•Realizing immigrant success not only job outcomes

From the LACK OF KNOWLEDGE to the

AWARENESS

Winter 2009/2010 Employer Incentives and Legislative Change: Newcomer Internships and Employment Equity

Summer 2010Civic and Political Participation of New Immigrates: community experiences

Winter 2010/ 2011 Equity in Canada: refugee policy, employment equity, women’s rights and freedom of expression.

Summer 2011Contributions of new Canadians: invigorating our democratic debate, building bridges between cultures, giving back to local communities, and stimulating the economy through creative entrepreneurship.

Fall 2011:Bright Ideas for a Better Ontario: increasing academic success rates for immigrant youth, ensuring newcomers enjoy health and wellness , improving access to employment opportunities

Summer 2012: Canadian Experience

OUR LEARNINGS

Knowledge is

power…

Collective

empowerment

means collective

critical awareness!

Effective actions for social change require putting newcomer skills at work!

“My” concerns,

priorities and

needs are shared

by “others”, by

“many others”…