In this Issue:
1. CASSA Project Updates
2. Upcoming Events
3. Special Announcements
5.
Membership
Message from the Executive Director
Dear Colleagues:
Hope this e-update finds you well. On Dec
10th, 2010, CASSA will be launching a 100 day anti-racism campaign to
educate and engage Ontarians towards building a racism free province. We are
looking for individuals and organizations to join our effort from all parts of
the Province. This campaign will start on International Day for Human Rights (December
10th, 2010) and end on International Day for Elimination of Racial
Discrimination (Marc 21st, 2011).
CASSA also wishes to inform you that it will continue to
focus on the following priorities for the next three years: a) advocating for
poverty reduction and addressing racialization of poverty b) working for health
equity across various dimensions of health c) increasing youth engagement in
civic and social justice activities d) improving income security for seniors e)
creating welcoming and inclusive municipalities across the province f) establishing
more anti-racism and anti-oppression training and education opportunities
If you or your organization would like to work with us on
any of the six priorities in the next three years (2011-2013), please contact
us. We look forward to your continued support, participation and guidance.
In Solidarity,
Neethan Shan
Executive Director - CASSA
CASSA
PROJECT UPDATES:
Community
Forum on Bill C-49: CASSA and Ontario Council of Agencies Serving
Immigrants (OCASI) jointly organized this Forum on Bill C-49 on
Nov. 29th at the Council Chambers of Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive. Bill C-49 is
titled “Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada’s Immigration
System Act”. Despite the title, most of the provisions in
the bill punish refugees, not smugglers. The purpose of the
forum was to get informed and help inform others who are not aware of the implications
if this bill is passed. The forum was well attended by organizations and
community members. Panel discussion took place followed by a Questions and
Answers Session.
Amplifying Voices – CASSA’s initiative with South Asian LGBTQ+: CASSA has
taken up the initiative called “Amplifying Voices” as the beginning step to
serve LGBTQ+ South Asians. We conducted two dialogues: one with LGBTQ+ South
Asians and the other with Service providers. The main objective of the first
dialogue with the South Asian LGBTQ+ community was to recognize the barriers
they face while accessing services and the latter to explore what challenges
service providers face while serving this section of our community. Both
sessions were very interactive, engaging, and informative. The attendees heard
from one another on various issues as well as potential solutions.
NATT
Project – Participants needed: CASSA is currently seeking participants
for its Newcomer Access to Trades project. If you are an internationally
trained tradesperson (ITT), an employer who has ITTs on staff or have worked with
ITTs, trade union worker or a government worker in the regulating ITTs; and
would like to participate in this research project, please contact Pari
Rajagopalan at: pari@cassa.on.ca or call 416-932-1359 ext. 16.
UPCOMING EVENTS OF CASSA
Amplifying Voices: Reaching out to LGBTQ+* South Asians- Dec. 13th: CASSA is inviting
community members, service providers and activists for a great Infotainment
night on Dec. 13th from 6:30pm – 9:00pm at Thomas Lounge, Oakham
House (Ryerson Student’s Centre), 63 Gould Street. Free Dinner will be
provided! TTC Tokens will be reimbursed for community members. Join
us for a fun and exciting evening! There will be a panel of engaging speakers
and discussion on history of South Asian LGBTQ+ organizing in Toronto
for the past 20+ years, how to better serve LGBTQ+ South Asians and current
realities of South Asian LGBTQ+
We will also have live performances by LGBTQ+
South Asians, Tasty South Asian food and the launch of our resource
booklet!
For questions and RSVP (by Dec 9th), please
contact Keerthy: keerthy@cassa.on.ca ;
416-932-1359 x 11. Find us (Friends of CASSA) on Facebook and share the event
with your friends! :http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170505019639293
CASSA Community Engagement and Best Practices Forum "Building from Bottoms Up" – January 22nd:
This one day forum will take place on Saturday, January 22nd
at the University of Guelph Arboretum from 9 -5 pm. More details about the event will be released soon. Save the date in your calendars!!!
SPT Forum: Can we talk? The relationship
between the nonprofit sector and the Ontario government – Dec. 9th: This
forum is organized by Social Planning Toronto to discuss current opportunities
and challenges for the non profit sector in its relationship with the
provincial government. The speakers are Lynn Eakin Lynn Eakin and
Associates and Ontario Nonprofit Network, Margaret
Hancock Family Service Toronto, Ontario Nonprofit Network Steering Committee,
and the Community Social Services Campaign, Kathy Johnson, CUPE and the
Community Social Services Campaign. All are welcome. As
space is limited, registration is required. Register online at www.socialplanningtoronto.org or call Mary Micallef at (416) 351-0095 x251.
Workshop on “Mindfulness
and Dual Diagnosis: Implications for Service Delivery”– Dec. 9th: The Humber Institute
of Technology & Advanced Learning and Developmental Services Worker
Programs are organizing this workshop on Mindfulness and Dual Diagnosis –
Implications for Service Delivery on Thursday, December 9th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00
p.m. at Lakeshore Campus West, Room A170 (Blue Room). The workshop presenter is
Jo Anne Nugent, Ed.D., M.A., B.A., S.S.W. For more information, please contact
Cheryl Evans at Cheryl.Evans@humber.ca
Or 416.253.1918, ext. 3484. Click here
to view the flyer.
Markham Arts Council AGM – Dec. 15th: The Markham Arts Council will be holding its Annual General
Meeting on Wednesday, December 15th from
7-9pm at the Varley Art Gallery, 216 Main Street, Unionville. Everyone is
invited to hear about what the Arts Council has accomplished in 2010 and what’s
planned for next year. This is open to members and the general public. Please
pre-register by calling 905-947-9054.
AYCE December Events Calendar: Click here to view the December 2010 calendar.
The Criminal Law Response to Violence against Women: Jan. 17 – Feb. 20: Springtide Resources
is launching an online learning course titled “The Criminal Law Response to
Violence against Women: An introduction”. This course is
designed to introduce VAW (violence against women) front-line workers to the
most critical criminal law issues for women who have experienced or are
experiencing violence. For more information on registration, click here.
SPECIAL
ANNOUCEMENTS:
TDSB hosts Equity in Education Community
Forum – Dec. 11th: The TDSB Equity Policy Advisory Committee is
holding an Equity Community Forum on
Saturday, December 11th at North
view Heights Secondary School, 550 Finch Avenue West (at Bathurst Street) from 9:30 to 3:30 pm. The objective of the forum
is to improve TDSB’s current practices in building equitable and inclusive
schools through the sharing of ideas and strategies. Parents,
community members, staff and secondary students who wish to contribute to the
TDSB's progress in this area are invited to attend. For more information,
click here.
YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH CASSA
If you are interested in volunteering,
partnering or becoming a member, please email Farhat at farhat@cassa.on.ca. Click here for more information about volunteering with CASSA.
Click here to fill out a volunteer application form
CASSA
MEMBERSHIP
You
or your organization can become a member of CASSA, if you wish to support our
mission/mandate. Please visit our website www.cassa.on.ca for details on our mission, vision, values
and strategic priorities. The members will receive a regular update
on various happenings in the social services/social justice field in Ontario's South Asian
communities.
Annual Membership fee is only $10 for individuals and
$20 for organizations. Joining as a member will also keep you informed of
opportunities about jobs, volunteering and community events. Click here for more information about becoming a member of CASSA
and its benefits.
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Be
sure to visit us on the web at www.cassa.on.ca
for updated information on CASSA weekly activities.
Thank you
for your support and for sharing this information with others!
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