WE LIP Success Story | June 2024
On June 5th 2024, the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership collaborated with Dr. Riham Al-Saadi at the University of Windsor to host the event “Embracing Anti-Racism Approaches in Integration Processes of Immigrants and Refugees in Windsor-Essex. This event, held at the River Room Restaurant, brought together professional and community partners committed to making the integration process for immigrants and refugees equitable and inclusive. This event was another significant step towards promoting equity, diversity and inclusion within Windsor-Essex’s settlement and newcomer services.
Here are the Highlights of the Event:
- Dr. Riham Al-Saadi, Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work, University of Windsor, extended a warm welcome to all attendees. Her opening remarks set the tone for a day dedicated to self-reflection, evaluation, and collaborative learning. Dr. Al-Saadi emphasized the importance of integrating anti-racism approaches in social work practices to better serve the diverse immigrant and refugee population in Windsor-Essex.
- The event began with a land acknowledgement, honouring the Indigenous heritage of the region and underscoring the commitment to inclusivity. Subsequently, participants engaged in an innovative icebreaker activity known as the Power & Privilege Exercise. Each participant was provided with a bag and directed to collect marbles from various tables, each representing a set of different hypothetical scenarios. This exercise served as a profound metaphor for comprehending privilege in both personal and professional contexts.
- Participants then engaged in reflective discussions on current knowledge and organizational approaches to anti-racism in serving immigrant and refugee populations. These table discussions facilitated the exchange of ideas and best practices among professionals from various sectors.
- After a refreshing break, Dr. Al-Saadi led a session on “Antiracism Approaches to Diverse Social Work Roles: Serving Diverse Communities.” She provided valuable insights into how social worker practices can be incorporated into anti-racism strategies to effectively support the newcomer population.
- One of the interactive segments of the day, “Think Outside the Box” encouraged participants to write a personal letter to a future social work student. This letter was to include advice on embracing anti-racism approaches, fostering a forward-think mindset for the next generation of social workers.
- The event concluded with closing remarks, summarizing the key takeaways and reinforcing the commitment to continuous learning and improvement in serving equity-deserving groups.
This event was made possible through the generous support of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, as well as, the Vice-President, People, Equity, and Inclusion’s Diversity, Indigeneity, and Anti-Racism Professional Development Fund.
Certificates of Attendance were provided to participants, recognizing their commitment to professional development in anti-racism practices.
This event showcased the collective efforts and dedicated of the Windsor-Essex community, driving forward the mission of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all members. The insights gained and connections made during this event will contribute to more effective and equitable integration processes for immigrants and refugees in the region.
Click here for more photos. Thank you to Justice Hargrove for photography of the event.
Click here for a highlight video of the event.
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