Message from Executive Director
Putting Equity on Agenda – May 9th Forum
CASSA celebrates May Day and South Asian Heritage Month
Queen’s Park Lobby day for Childcare
Upcoming Events
Membership

Dear Colleagues:

We would like to thank all of our partners who helped us with our South Asian Heritage Month activities. We also thank all the organizations and institutions that organized meaningful South Asian Heritage Month celebrations this year. This month is not just about celebrating South Asian music, dance, clothes, food and cultures. It is also about recognizing the contributions South Asians have made to Canada and the world in various fields such as economics, arts, literature, politics, sciences, math, sports etc. Our contribution in building Canada politically, economically and socially needs to be showcased as well. Lastly, this month also provides an opportunity for various institutions to identify ways to effectively address the marginalization, discrimination and exclusion that South Asians still continue to face in Canada.

On a different note, we would like to invite all of you to our Annual General Meeting on June 17th.  We also invite you to join our many new initiatives: Community of Practice for frontline workers around poverty reduction, a task force to address Access to Trades for Newcomers in Ontario, Network of Executive Directors of Organizations Serving South Asians to look at a poverty reduction strategy for South Asians in Ontario, Speakers Bureau of community members, Welcoming Communities Initiative in various parts of Ontario outside the GTA. For more info on any of these initiatives, please contact me at neethan.shan@cassa.on.ca  We also cordially invite you and your organization to join CASSA as members and to become part of the mission to build an Ontario based on social and economic justice.

Sincerely,
Neethan Shan
Executive Director - CASSA

On May 9th, CASSA in partnership with Social Planning Council of York Region and Social Services Network of York Region, held a Public forum to discuss the ethno-racial equity within the York region. The event was a big success drawing close to 100 people to Bur Oak Secondary School in Markham. The forum was attended by Richmond Hill City Councilors and Town of Markham’s Director of Culture along with a large number of youth, seniors, service providers, York region representatives and other community members. The combination of lively discussion and dynamic community, agency and service speakers helped guide the session participants towards designing recommendations for school boards, not for profit agencies and municipal government. The recommendations and key findings from the community dialogues and surveys will be compiled in a report to be released next month.

CASSA in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress held our first annual May Day celebration at the Ontario Federation of Labour Auditorium to commemorate South Asian activism with respect to workers. The panel comprised of Naveen Mehta from United Food and Commercial Workers Canada, Uzma Shakir, former Executive Director of CASSA & SALCO, Mohamed Baksh from United Steelworkers, Mehan Krishnamoorthy from Unite HERE and activist Rekha Sharma. CASSA also presented awards to members of the community for their active involvement in the struggle for workers’ rights.

Click here for more information on this event.

CASSA and many of the community members engaged through CASSA’s outreach efforts participated in the Lobby day. Presentations were made by Hon. Deb Matthews - Minister of Children and Youth Services, Hon. Kathleen Wynne – Minister of Education, Andrea Horwarth – NDP leader and Critic for Children and Youth Services and several others. CASSA staff also met Members of Provincial Parliament to discuss their action for improved child care.

Youth Engagement Events

Take the lead! Youth Leadership Retreat- May 24th The South Asian Youth Advisory Committee (SAYAC) in partnership with the City of Toronto is organizing a special training workshop for Youth to provide leadership training in the areas of leadership skills, communication and media skills, anti – oppression and conflict resolution.

Second Annual Fires of Resistance Youth Conference – May 30th
The South Asian Youth Advisory Committee (SAYAC) Presents...
The 2nd Annual Fires of Resistance: South Asian Youth Igniting Action - Youth Conference!

Calling all youth activists (ages 16-29) to unite in celebrating and strengthening Social Justice Activism amongst South Asian Youth, as part of the celebration of South Asian Heritage Month in May! Ignite action and explore issues of youth violence & diaspora, queer/gender issues, immigration policies, racialization of poverty, intergenerational conflicts and more! Also featuring performances, art-based workshops on yoga, photography, radio and more!

When: Saturday, May 30th from 10am - 6pm
Location: University of Toronto at Scarborough, AA 112

Space is limited, so please register with Nitole Quader, Event Coordinator at CASSA by email or phone: nitole@cassa.on.ca - 416.932.1359 x 12

For the online registration form please click on the link below:
http://www.cassaonline.com/index/index.php?option=com_chronocontact&chronoformname=FoR
May 25th – 29th – South Asian Heritage Month Display at City Hall for the whole week!

Click here for more information on Youth Engagement events.

CASSA’s Annual General Meeting
June 17th, 2009 at 5:00pm – 8:00 pm  Location: Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto

Your involvement with CASSA: Volunteer Orientation Meetings

Mississauga
May 26, 2009, 6.00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Mississauga Central Library, Classroom 3, 301 Burnhamthorpe Rd.W.

Downtown Toronto
June 23, 2009, 6.00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., CASSA Board Room, Suite 205, 1992 Yonge St

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.

You or your organization can also 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 where you’ll find plenty of up to date information on CASSA weekly activities. 

Thank you for your support and for sharing this information with others!