Activities
Jun 8th, 2009 by admin
- Coordinate forums for dialogue and make recommendations for social change
- Promote cultural awareness and acceptance by helping to create a community that values and respects the diversity of all Canadians
- Support local, provincial, national and international initiatives that address the dismantling of cultural and racial barriers
- Build skills, knowledge and proficiencies in the areas of diversity and anti-discrimination among all citizens—young and old—and also at the organizational and institutional level
PROJECTS
Bridging the gap between New Canadians and Aboriginal peoples
Bridging the Gap between Immigrants and Aboriginal Peoples is a grassroots attempt to develop an anti-racism curriculum for the ESL students and teachers to begin movement towards eliminating racism and all forms of oppression through anti-racism education and action. This unique initiative is community based and Aboriginal led. It must be noted that while a presentation guide follows, the delivery of such materials requires not only “book knowledge”, but the unique lived experience that only an Aboriginal facilitator can offer. Aboriginal people must play a vital role in the development of anti-racism tools and resources, and the transmission of anti-racist values and methodologies through education.
Partnership with the Calgary Public Library
Building Bridges: Engaging Communities includes the expansion of existing services and the development of new and innovative programs incorporating awareness raising, skills and knowledge development and civic engagement. It promotes long-term change in attitudes and behaviors through collaboration and inclusivity. Through components that highlight the significant assets of a diverse community, this initiative will build participation and leadership amongst people systematically marginalized, as well as understanding and acceptance within society at large.
Components of particular note include:
- Living Library—This innovative program supports Calgarians learning about diverse social identities by borrowing a “living book” speaking to that identity. It will include the development of a community resource database. Watch for the next Living Library event in October 2009!
- DiverseCity—These programs provide learning opportunities for newcomers to enhance their skills and knowledge about accessing information and social services. It promotes diversity through celebratory and interactive programs for the public. Through the Speakers’ Series, professional development will be provided for staff of the Library and other agencies, enhancing services to all Calgarians.
Developing Knowledge and Skills on Social and Civic Engagement for Immigrants
Civic Participation & Engagement: This project aims at developing, among Canada’s diverse people, active citizenship with both the opportunity and the capacity to participate in shaping the future of their communities and their country by developing a knowledge base and participation skills about the social, economic and political activities of their cultural communities – and the broader community at large.
Canada Without Poverty
CCCED is the Alberta representative on the Board of Directors of Canada Without Poverty. Our role will be to address poverty including issues of racialized poverty.
Canada Without Poverty is an incorporated, not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty in Canada. Founded in 1971 and based in Ottawa, Canada Without Poverty is governed by a cross-country Board of Directors. Canada Without Poverty works to address the structural causes of poverty and to promote lasting solutions to low income material deprivation and social exclusion.
Proposed New Project: Responding to Hate: Community Response, Engagement and Mobilization
This project will address hate-motivated crimes or incidents motivated by prejudice or hate towards vulnerable communities (e.g. race, ethnicity, colour, disability, sexual orientation and faith) by developing a community response strategy. This will include producing educational resources, conducting educational and information sessions for marginalized communities and youth, organizing community forums and advocating for change with provincial and municipal bodies in regards to the licensing of hate-promoted demonstrations.