March 2018 Success Story

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WE LIP Annual forum

February 23, 2018

 

On February 23, 2018, the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP) held its Annual Community Forum at Heritage Park Alliance Church. To start off the morning, the 80 plus attendees were treated to a traditional Tai Chi and Chinese dance performance, followed by a showcase of WE LIP Council member achievements.

  

Agenda items for the event included:

  • Reflections on Our Community
  • WE LIP Year in Review
  • Regional Children’s Centre Triple P Trillium Funding Announcement
  • Newcomer Youth Planning Committee
  • Express Entry Events
  • Newcomers: Your Skilled Workforce
  • Francophone Immigration Week
  • The Municipal Lens
  • SPICE Committee
  • OPP Committed Officer Patrol Strategy (C.O.P.S.)
  • Retrospective of the Jean Foster Award
  • WE Belong & WE LIP 10 Year Anniversary

On Friday, February 23, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare’s (HDGH) Regional Children’s Centre (RCC) officially announced their Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® has received a Trillium Grow Grant to gear the service to our newcomer community.

An additional $139,000 over 24 months will allow the cultural adaptation of the program for the Arab newcomer community recognizing the need to support their mental health and wellbeing. It has also allowed the program to welcome Dr. Nesreen ElKord, who will aid with the adaptation and help test this Triple P specialty program in Windsor/Essex.

“Transitioning to a new country can be very challenging, we hope by providing this support we can aid newcomer families as they adjust to their life in Canada. Triple P programs promote positive parenting strategies, which lead to well-adjusted children who have the skills and confidence they need to be successful,” explained Tammy Drazilov, Community Practice Coordinator with RCC. “This Trillium Grow Grant will not only allow for the program to be translated into their native language but will also meet the cultural needs of this specific population.”

The announcement was delivered during the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership’s (WE LIP) Annual General meeting, where partners discussed initiatives and plans to make Windsor-Essex a more welcoming and inclusive community.

 

The Regional Children’s Centre was grateful for the efforts made by WE LIP staff in promoting the project and connecting RCC with local newcomer service organizations, resulting in collaborations that provided Triple P facilitator training to newcomer agency staff members. The following WE LIP member organizations are certified to offer Triple P sessions in Arabic:

  • Collège Boréal
  • Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County
  • South Essex Community Council
  • The Windsor Women Working with Immigrant Women
  • Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc.
  • Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc.
  • YMCA of Western Ontario

An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is one of Canada’s largest granting foundations. With a budget of over $136 million, OTF awards grants to some 1,000 projects every year to build healthy and vibrant Ontario communities.

 


Launch of WE LIP’s WE Belong Campaign

March 2018

Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership is proud to announce the launch of the #WEbelong | #noussommesWE campaign.

WE Belong is a public awareness campaign designed to encourage citizens to take a proactive step towards making Windsor and Essex County truly welcoming for all.

WE Belong works to promote a unified community, standing together in collective action against prejudice, racism and discrimination.

WE Belong is a simple way that each of us can help make Windsor-Essex a more welcoming place.

 

How to Get Involved:

When: The Campaign Runs Between March and November 2018

Who: Everyone! The campaign is open to anyone living, working or visiting in Essex County. Individuals, groups, organizations, workplaces and businesses are welcome!

How: You can participate in a few different ways:

  1. Pick up your pledge card at any WE LIP Council Meeting during the year, or find them on line at: www/workforcewindsor.ca/welip
  2. Fill out your pledge card and take a picture of yourself or your group. Share on Social Media!
  3. Take a short video (maximum 30 seconds). Describe the action you are taking to challenge racism and promote welcoming. You can also discuss the value of diversity and how diversity makes our community stronger!
  4. Get Educated! Learn more about how to build and community and ways you can take safe and purposeful action against all forms of discrimination.
  5. Some characteristics of a welcoming municipality can be found on our website: workforcewindsor.ca/welip
  6. Encourage friends, family members, colleagues and community leaders to join movement. There is strength in numbers! Together we can create a more welcoming and inclusive community.
  7. Follow the conversation on Twitter at: @WindsorEssexLIP

 

Hashtags: #WEbelong    #noussommesWE       Twitter: @WindsorEssexLIP

Web: www.workforcewindsoressex.com/welip

On the blank portion of the card, fill in your commitment. What action will you take? Acceptance, Inclusivity, Equity, Understanding, Learning, etc. How can you make a difference? Afterwards you can display the cards and make them visible!

 

Together we can ensure that #WEbelong | #noussommesWE applies to everyone!

Thank you for taking part in the #WEbelong | #noussommesWE Campaign. As the campaign continues to grow and evolve, please note that shared photos and videos may be used for the purposes of promotion or documentation. For information or inquiries please contact: Michelle Suchiu, WE LIP Community Connector: msuchiu@workforcewindsor.ca


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