Creating Inclusive Workplaces and

Communities

Practicing intercultural dialogue

1

Celebrating Diversity in

New Brunswick

Célébrer la diversité au

Nouveau-Brunswick

Skills Launch

2 0 1 9 AT L A N T I C Y O U T H B E S T P R A C T I C E S W O R K S H O P

Immigrant Youth Pathways to Employment & Education Program

• Founded 1983, NBMC has been the provincial voice on diversity, multiculturalism, immigration and settlement for 36 years.

22

17 Member Organizations

YAG-NB October 3-5, 2019

CCR Youth Action Gathering

EnviroContext in New Brunswickscan (2016 in NB)

Over the past 10 years NB

has welcomed roughly ─

24k newcomers

Over the next 10 years NB

could welcome up to ─

75k newcomers

5

With a 50%

retention rate?

Why Skills Launch?

Newcomers settlement steps - Mental Health challenge

Newcomer Youth

Trauma

Shifts in Family power

dynamics

Culture shock

Identify formation &

cultural expectations

Pressures inside and

outside school/work

Anti-immigrant sentiments

Post-migration trauma

Employment and Mental Health

• The challenge of finding work is the critical post-

migration mental health stressor for newcomers

• Employment allows people to afford basic necessities,

such as appropriate housing, food and clothing — all of

which are essential for good health.

It also provides a sense of identity and purpose, social

contacts and opportunities for personal growth

Approximately 450 immigrant youth are between the ages of 18-30

- have not obtained a valid Canadian high school diploma

- their high school diploma is not recognized in Canada

- they are aging-out of the school system or not engaged

• 54% are female

• 19% require child care assistance while attending the program

• numbers are higher due to the Atlantic Immigration program

The need – Newcomers Youth in NB al scan

(2016 in NB)

LEARN. EXPLORE. SUCCEED.

Tell me and I forget.Teach me and I remember.

Involve me and I learn.

Benjamin Franklin

The program is based on Experiential learning model

which is the process of learning through experience

and through reflection on doing

Agenda

13

Part 1 – Core Cultural Concepts

Context in NB

Definition of Cultural concepts

Challenges

Solutions

Part 2 – Cultural differences Communication

Verbal and non-verbal differences

Intent versus Impact

Solutions

Part 3 – Inclusive Community

Department-specific challenges and

solutions

How to be inclusive in your work and

community

Part 4 – Summary

Who should adapt to whom

What we have learned today

Resources

•To assist immigrant youth between 18 and 30 years old, to overcome multiple barriers to employment, and to help them develop a broad range of skills and knowledge in order to participate in the current and future labour market;

•To promote education and skills as being key to labour market participation

•To develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a successful transition to the labour market or return to school

•To increase immigrant youth confidence in their skills and abilities

•To help immigrant youth explore their career options, gain local work experience and understand the Canadian work environment

•To empower individuals Immigrant and refugee youth who have been unable to receive a high school diploma in Canada or whose high school completion is not recognised

Program Objectives

Project Partners

Skills Launch 3 years pilot stats

81 Participants, 52% female, 25 Countries represented:

Syria, Philippines, Poland, Uganda, China, Nepal, Liberia, Bhutan, Iraq, Ukraine, Kenya, Jordan, Sudan, Iran,

Congo, Bangladesh, Burundi, Gambia, Somalia, Brazil, Thailand, Eritrea, Turkey, Palestine and Egypt.

3 Delivery Sites ; 60+ Employers ; 15 Instructors (WES, EAL, NBCC, Wellness) ; 3 site coordinators

3 Strategic Sectors:

o Health and Human Services (including senior care, personal care and child care)

o Constructions and Trades

o Hospitality and Food Service Industries

Program stats

10 Months Experiential Learning Program

Recruiting, Screening, Assets

& Needs Assessment

Program OrientationSelf-awareness; Career orientation; Strengths

mapping; Labour Market info; Canadian

workplace culture/expectations;

Job search; Workplace language

Occupational & Sector Orientation

Career Exploration

at NBCC

Volunteering and Networking

WES

Workplace Essential Skills

Reading, Document Use, Numeracy, Presentation &

Communication, Working with Others, Thinking skills, Digital

Technology

Safety Training

First Aid & CPR, WHMIS, Fire Safety,

Food Safety

Work Experience individualized work

placements, job coaching, evaluation

and follow-up

Graduation

Referrals

4 WEEKS2 WEEKS

3 WEEKS

10 WEEKS

1 WEEK26 + 2 WEEKS

12 WEEKS Follow-Up

Career Decision Making Tools

ills Launch 3 years pilot stats

Pre-migration

Culturally appropriate, Family Business, Traditional occupation

Post-migration

Opportunities, New pathways for personal development, Groups of interest

Sector Orientation (College Experience)

Vision Board, Personality test

P.A.T.H – Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope - goals setting and how do I get there?

Job maintenance and Job coaching

Supportive Environment/Mental Health = Empowerment

• Essential Skills & Language development

• Welcoming community - policy changes, educate instructors, employers, co-workers…

• Necessities: Housing, Dependent care, Paid program, Transportation, Clothing

• Safety (workplace safety culturally adapted, terminology prep.)

• Employers support (Cultural sensitivity training, site visits, job coaching & job maintenance,

bridge with PETL incentives)

• Self of belonging (social media groups, networking, give back to the community)

Story of empowerment

Additional Components

•Computer skills (Job search, PSW online, Pre-GED, Typing, Presentation skills)

•Wellness (acquiring healthy life style), Bumping places, Connections

•Exploring NB (nature, historical sites, culture & tourism)

•Volunteering (experiential, networking, give back to the community)

•Evaluation and continues collaborative learning (debrief, coordinators, instructors)

NBCC – Career Exploration

Volunteering & Exploring

Reflection: Safety, Wellness, Language

Participants Feedback

Employer Evaluation

Hasta was offered a full time permanent position during volunteer placement

In charge of her own group, curriculum development, parents

communications, programming

Employer signed her for online ECE course & support

Work placements – Cohort 1 (2017-18)

Atlantic MazdaMAGMACanadian TireYMCA KitchenYMCA MembershipDown East Café Bakery

Fredericton Food BankEarly Learning CentreRadio 97.9FMParadise VillaMCAFPharmaSavePine Grove

NB PowerRyan Duffy’s restaurantLoch Lomond VillaUNBSobeys PharmacyFreedom TravelYMCA Day care

Work placements – Cohort 2 (2018-19)

MAGMA - Admin SupportSoccer NB Moka Spa & Salon YMCA CaféBoys & Girls ClubGlad Tidings After SchoolInspire Collections Boutique

The Hospice Shoppe

YWCA

Sobey’s PharmacyEarly Learning CentreGirls PCDelta HotelBirds Stairs ElectricalFredericton Garden-InnKinderland Day CareSpring Roots Day care

Travelodge and SuitesCentenary SchoolFundy HondaShoppers Drug MartYMCA Day careNaKai Spa

Work placements – Cohort 3 (2019-20)

MAGMA – Marketing Ideal Alterations Gusto Italian Restaurant Wee College Spray Moncton Petitcodiac Watershed

Resurgo Museum

Sephora

Paradise VillaEastern CollegeDimitris restaurantShoppers pharmacyNorthside Day CarePre-school in the park

Delta HotelCredit Counselling servicesCQS Care CentreHair StudioCity of Saint JohnResearch – Dalhousie Medicine Back to schoolGED Blend & B.E.S.T

WES and Final Graduation eventsGraduate and Celebrate!

Environmental scan (2016 in NB)

54 youth graduated with more than 85 % working and/or returning to school (Samson)

- 50% studying for their GED (Sarah)

- GED private tutoring, GED for Newcomers – blended (WES+GED)

- 13% Started College and Apprenticeship (Jamal&Idris)

- 5% Started their own Entrepreneurship (Yussuf)

- 15% Having new babies, Married or engaged, Citizenship (Shaki)

The Fruit – Restore Hope

Story of empowerment

Success stor ies

Yussef arrived from Syria

Didn’t know any English/French

Wrote and read a full speech at graduation

Mayor invited to public speak at the City Hall

Ruqia arrived in SJ from Somalia by

herself

Speaks 5 languages

Works in Hospitality

Volunteers as Interpreter @ YMCA

Found her missing family of 10

Impact on local economy

April's Experience at MAGMA clientele

Targeted interpreted services (community flu shots)

Firas' Experience at PC Girls Computer Services ale related consultation

Medications understanding

Idris & Jamal's Experience at Canadian Tire

Firas' Experience at PC Girls Computer Services

Asia's Experience at Bowman's Pharmasave

April's Experience at MAGMA

Samson's Experience at Hilton Garden Inn

Yusuf's Experience at MCAF

Sarah's Experience at Boys and Girls Club

Reem's Experience at Glad Tidings

“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new

ideas as escaping old ones.”

– John Maynard Keynes, Author, The General Theory of

Employment, Interest, and Money

Challenges and Opportunities

Program’s challenges or obstacles?

1) Engaging employers (paper work, incentives, GED), child care and transpiration

2) Limited seats and Impact - over 250 applications, Canada and Overseas, Over 30 yrs

How did we overcome these challenges?

Storytelling, building relationships, working with the funders, Case conference approach, Provincial Advisory Committee

81 youth approved, promoting open monthly sessions to all youth, community ambassadors

Changing programs and policies:

GED for Newcomers (assessments, exams, teaching methods, content, hours, incentives, tracking)

Barbers association exemption – under 23 yrs, Competencies assessment

YEF – 18-30 inclusive – funders alignment

SSNB – Cultural Sensitivity training, Develop materials, language – terminology, interpretation & cultural context

Why do we believe in this program? 10 months allows time to explore, time to engage, volunteer and develop capacity, wages = financial stability

What opportunities currently exist for your program? a huge impact on access to education (private and public PSEs), Guidance centers

Accreditation for college with EECD Skills Pathways, promoting 2 yrs college then university (cost effective), information to parents

Thank You!

Email: abby.david@nb-mc.ca

Phone: (506) 453-1091 Ext. 227

http://www.nb-mc.ca/skillslaunch/

Abby DavidManager, Employment Initiatives

New Brunswick Multicultural

Council