Dear Friends,
The year 2009 is ending on a very busy note with a number of exciting events lined up for the month of December. The Seniors Summit on Income Security is being held on Dec. 09 with focus on immigrant seniors and the forum will discuss important issues related to it. The Equity report launch is to be held on Dec. 10th where the key findings of our campaign in York region “Putting Equity on Agenda- Are we being heard?” will be presented. We are also organizing a major networking event “Trailblazers United” on Dec. 18th for young South Asian community leaders. We invite you to attend these events with your friends and families and look forward to having your continued guidance and support in our efforts to build a socially and economically- just Ontario.
Thank you
Sincerely,
Neethan Shan
Executive Director
UPCOMING CASSA EVENTS
Seniors Summit for Income Security – Dec. 09: CASSA is marking the first anniversary of the Government of Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy with this Poverty Reduction Forum with a focus on Immigrant Seniors. Topics such as Access to Old Age Benefits, Affordable Transportation and Accessing Health Benefits will be discussed. All social justice minded individuals, seniors and seniors' related associations from across the GTA and frontline workers who work with seniors and their families are invited to join us on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at Humber Summit Library Auditorium (2990 Islington Ave, Etobicoke) from 10a.m. – 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Click here to view the flyer.
If you would like more information on the event and/or are interested in partnering, please feel free to contact Neethan Shan neethan.shan@cassa.on.ca. To RSVP to attend the event, please email Nitole Quader at nitole@cassa.on.ca
Equity Report launch – Dec. 10: In recognition of the Human Rights Day on Dec. 10th, CASSA is launching its report from the 2009 Equity Campaign in York Region, “Putting Equity on the Agenda – ARE WE BEING HEARD?” at Centennial Community Centre, Markham from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Key findings from the campaign will be presented and a panel discussion featuring local residents and service providers knowledgeable about the issues faces by immigrants, newcomers and people of colour will take place. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Anita Khanna, CASSA Community Engagement Coordinator at anita@cassa.on.ca or 416 932 1359 x 13.
Trailblazers United – Dec. 18: CASSA is organizing a networking event “Trailblazers United” for young South Asian community leaders on Dec. 18th at Malvern Library, 30 Sewells Rd. Scarborough from 6 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m.This event is an excellent opportunity for the young leaders to showcase their talents, skills and talk about their projects with fellow community leaders. If you are a young South Asian activist involved in social and economic justice, community development and social service work with an intention to create an equitable society, please join us at this event. Dinner will be served.
Click here to view the flyer.
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Sanjay at sanjay@cassa.on.ca or 416-932-1359 extn 17 before Dec. 11, 2009.
UPCOMING EVENTS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
SARCCP Fundraiser – Dec. 06: Sexual Assault Rape Crisis Centre of Peel and the Artist Collective and Kumkum are organizing a Gala Dinner on Dec. 06 to mark the National Day of Remembrance at Novotel Hotel Mississauga, 3670 Hurontario St at 6:00 p.m. To book a ticket, call 905 273 3337 or email admin@sarccp.org.
“Gandhi High” Fundraiser – Tetrault Art Productions, the presenters of the play “Gandhi High” are organizing a fundraiser to support a multicultural arts project. For more information, please visit the site www.gandhihigh.ca. To buy tickets, contact Doris Rajan at 416 409-7025 or email at d.rajan@rogers.com
Shades of Power – Jan. 10: Shades of Power is a “women only” fundraiser organized to raise awareness about mental health challenges for women of colour in the GTA. The fundraiser will be held on Jan 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at North York Memorial Community Hall.
Click here to view the flyer. For more information, please contact Mya Vijendran at mya.vijendran@gmail.com
Senior Manager – Marketing
Employer: United Way Toronto
Right to Housing Working Group: The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) has organized a Right to Housing Working Group which includes people with a variety of backgrounds and expertise e.g. people with lived experience of homelessness or of being inadequately housed, community organizations, advocacy groups and academics. The group is seeking applicants who are very vulnerable to the housing crisis including: First Nations people, single parents, youth, people with disabilities and mental health issues and newcomers and racialized communities. The group, through affidavits, will make the case about the devastating human impacts of homelessness and the lack of affordable housing. It plans to file a Charter application at the Ontario Superior Court in the spring of 2010 and argue that under the Charter, Canadians have a right to adequate, affordable housing and Canada and the Provinces must develop a national and provincial housing strategy. If you want to participate in this hearing as an applicant or if your agency or network wants to be involved in this campaign, please contact Yutaka Dirks, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, at dirksy@lao.on.ca or 416-597-5855 x. 5243 or Tracy Heffernan, Director/Lawyer, ACTO, 416-597-5855, x5174, heffernt@lao.on.ca by Dec. 18, 2009.
Focus group on South Asian Minorities in Canada - Researchers at McMaster University are currently conducting a study to understand the perceptions of visible minority citizens regarding their local Members of Parliament and the overall quality of representation in Canadian politics. Participants should be Canadian citizens of Chinese or South Asian background and focus group interviews will be held in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. If you are interested and you meet the above criteria, please call Mohammed Khan (647-444-7860) or visit the link http://www.mcmaster.ca/minorityfocus
Family Justice Research Project at the Law Commission of Ontario: The Law Commission of Ontario is inviting public consultations for its project on the family law system” Best Practices at Family Justice System Entry Points: Users’ Needs and Workers’ Responses in the Justice System”. If you work in the social service sector with people who face family crisis, or if you have a story to tell about your own experience with the family justice system, the LCO invites you to consult the project web page at http://www.lco-cdo.org/en/familylawprocessconsultationpaper.html. To arrange a consultation meeting or to send your comments to http://projects.lco-cdo.org/familylawprocess/ before January 15, 2009.
Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Handbook Launch: The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has launched a handbook “Have You Been a Victim of Crime? What’s Next ….Information and Resources for Victims of Crime in Ontario”. This handbook will serve as a valuable resource, not only to victims of crime and their families, but also to victim service providers who work diligently to assist victims in their time of need. The handbook is available in English and French online in the Resources section of the website www.ovc.gov.on.ca.
New Protections for Temp Agency Workers – New protections for temporary agency workers have become effective from Nov. 06. To read more about these new changes, visit www.workersactioncentre.org or call 416 531 0778.
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.
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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