WE LIP Success Story | November 2021 – Part 1
Community Outreach
Welcome to the Consul of Mexico – Vanessa Calva Ruiz
On November 17th, the WE LIP Coordination Team had the pleasure of meeting with the new Consul of Mexico in Leamington, Vanessa Calva Ruiz. This meeting came together at the suggestion of Leamington Mayor, Hilda MacDonald, who recognized the value and opportunities that partnering with WE LIP can provide.
A career diplomat, Consul Calva arrived in July 2021 as the new Consul of Mexico responsible for Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton county.
While many of her duties revolve around the Mexican nationals who take part in the Seasonal Worker Agricultural Program in Ontario, it is essential to Consul Calva to engage with the extended Mexican population that live and work in Essex County, and to be an active partner.
Since her arrival, Consul Calva has visited farms and greenhouses to speak with Mexican workers about the different services the Consulate provides, like issuing passports and powers of attorney, as well as information sessions available on topics like financial literacy, and pension and health benefits.
To provide better assistance to the community, the Consulate is open one Saturday a month to process Mexican passports and to consult with the community to address any need they have while in Canada. The next Saturday session – or Jornada Sabatina – will be on December 4th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Consul Calva has also met and exchanged ideas with community partners, and service and community organizations to identify potential collaborative initiatives beyond the traditional consular services:
“We believe that to better serve our community we need to be part of the community, identify current issues in the region in which our participation as a consular representation con be of service and contributes to a better understanding of what we do as a Consulate and how we can link with different partners.”
As part of these extended engagements, the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre (weCHC) has offered free glucose exams in the Consulate on their working Saturdays, and provided preventive information about diabetes, nutrition and general health. On Saturday December 4th the Consulate will host a COVID-19 vaccination site open to the public in need of a first, second or third doses. This clinic is open to all public regardless of their immigration status or access to OHIP. Vaccines will be available from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
You can follow the Consulate and Consul Calva on social media, via Twitter (@vcalva and @consulmexlea), on Facebook and YouTube. If you have questions about consular services you can send a message to atencionpublicolea@sre.gob.mx
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Download a PDF copy of this Success Story here:
WE LIP Success Story | November 2021 – Part 2
Agricultural Community Wellness Clinic
On October 24th, 2021, WE LIP supported the Agricultural Workers Wellness Clinic held in Leamington. The event was in cooperation with the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO) to improve outreach and answer questions of Black, African, and Caribbean agricultural workers regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Volunteers from ten (10) different agencies and networks, and three (3) doctors from the Black Physicians Association of Ontario (BPAO) were on site to provide information and answer question. Over the course of the event 144 vaccines were administered. As well, the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre’s Mobile Unit was on site to offer primary care support. Giveaways included backpacks, sanitizing wipes, respirator masks, Medi-Stick pain reliever, neck gaiter scarves, Tim Horton’s gift cards and snacks.
WE LIP produced a video for partners to share on social media to help encourage attendance: (https://youtu.be/5leE-gu_GLw) as well as a video of COVID-19 FAQs which was shared on social media by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. (https://youtu.be/o26b1EJWRnU)
The coordination and cooperation among all partners and volunteers lead to a very positive outcome, and conversations are ongoing for continued opportunities in support of the International Agricultural Worker communities in Essex County.
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Download a PDF copy of this Success Story here:
