In the Field Newsletter Volume 44

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Volume 44
Message from the Executive Director

Debbie DouglasOntario's anti-racism directorate is a promising start

(Opinion Editorial published by the Toronto Star on February 19, 2016)

By: Avvy Go Debbie Douglas Mohamed Boudjenane Shalini Konanur Neethan Shan Anthony Morgan Published on Fri Feb 19 2016

Premier Kathleen Wynne has begun to make good on her promise to bring a “race equity” lens to her government's policy making, and she is doing so by establishing an Anti-Racism Directorate within the Ontario government. This is good news for First Peoples and peoples of colour across the province who have long been calling on the government to develop an integrated and comprehensive strategy to combat systemic racism and to address the growing racial inequities in Ontario.

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OCASI Member Feature

Centre for Organizational Resilience (CORE)

CORE website screenshotThe Centre for Organizational Resilience (CORE) at For Youth Initiative (FYI) strives to build the capacity of youth-led initiatives and youth serving organizations. CORE supports organizational staff and leadership to develop the skills, knowledge, and networks required to build organizational effectiveness and leadership capacity. CORE's end goal is to support youth-led initiatives and young leaders to make positive impact and lasting change in their communities so they can have a stronger voice in the broader civic arena, and become life-long leaders in the non-profit sector.

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OCASI Happenings

Media Release: Let's Welcome Syrian Refugees With Open Arms

As Ontario welcomes refugees from Syria, OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is launching a province-wide public education campaign for the prevention of xenophobia, islamophobia, and racism.

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Media Release: Community Groups Welcome Anti-Racism Directorate

Community organizations working to advance racial equity and racial justice in Ontario welcome the announcement made by Premier Kathleen Wynne on her plan to establish an Anti-racism Directorate to combat racism in Ontario.

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OCASI 2016 Pre-Budget Submission

OCASI made ten recommendations to the Ontario government in the Council's 2016 Pre-Budget Submission, focusing on priorities for immigrant and refugees and Ontario's immigrant and refugee-serving sector.

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OCASI Submission on Gender Wage Gap Strategy

OCASI responded to the Gender Wage Gap Strategy Consultation undertaken by the Government of Ontario by highlighting the exclusion experienced by racialized immigrant and refugee women, and making six recommendations for systemic change.

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Sector Happenings

CCR Working Group meetings 26 + 27 February in Toronto

Participate in the Canadian Council for Refugees Winter Working Group meetings. Join participants from across Canada to develop strategies, collaboration, information on protecting refugees and vulnerable migrants. Open to all (closed to media and government)|No cost |No advance registration.

9:30 am to 5:00 pm @ Salvation Army, 160 Jarvis St. Toronto.

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New report – On the Mend

On the Mend report coverOn the Mend: Putting the Spark Back in the Government-Charitable Sector Relationship released by Mowat Centre reveals systemic problems in the relationship between the government and sector asserting, that mending the sector-government relationship will require transformational shifts that go beyond legislative changes and CRA rules.

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Recorded Webinar – After Bill S-7: Women and New Laws Affecting Marriage

In this Webinar recorded on January 29, 2016, METRAC Legal Director Tamar Witelson and guest lawyer Silmi Abdullah look at Bill S-7, the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act and how it may raise safety concerns for women, including immigration effects for women in polygamous relationships.

Access the recorded webinar


Funding Opportunity: Laidlaw Foundation Youth-Led Community Change Grant

Laid Law Foundation logoThrough the Youth-led Community Change Program, Laidlaw provides support to youth-led groups and organizations to identify and address issues affecting their communities in meaningful new ways. Applicants may request a minimum of $5000 and to a maximum of $25,000 in funding. Applications due March 18th 2016 at 5pm.

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Statistics Canada is hiring for the 2016 Census team

Statistics Canada conducts a census every five years. The next Census of Population will take place in May 2016. Statistics Canada is currently seeking individuals to join the census team in cities across Canada

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CCR Youth Network refugee photo project: Ready, set, launch!

As part of a joint CCR-Amnesty International refugee awareness campaign, the CCR Youth Network is officially launching the national youth project to highlight the faces and voices of former refugees. Read more here. To sign up to participate contact Jihane El Atifi, Refugee Awareness Campaign Coordinator at jelatifi@ccrweb.ca.


Know Your Rights factsheets

Migrant Workers Aliance for Change logoThe Migrant Workers Alliance for Change has released four new factsheets on labour and immigration rights that you can share with migrant workers in Ontario.

  1. Live-In Caregivers and Caregivers
    WEB PDF | PRINT VERSION
  2. Migrant Agricultural workers
    WEB PDF | PRINT VERSION
  3. Temporary Foreign Workers
    WEB PDF | PRINT VERSION
  4. 4 and 4 Factsheet for Workers

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