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: [email protected]
Phone: (506) 453-1091 Ext. 227
http://www.nb-mc.ca/skillslaunch/
Abby DavidManager, Employment Initiatives
New Brunswick Multicultural
Council