C 6. Community Partnerships – An imperative Alternative for a Complete Circle of Service Delivery
Level: Intermediate / Advanced
The purpose of this workshop is to introduce the audience to the crucial importance of initiating, developing, and maintaining dynamic and effective partnerships in the community at large. The workshop is designed for all categories of audiences, from front-line workers to program coordinators and managers. The participants will be provided with types of recruitment strategies that vary from approaching partners at the local non for profit, for profit, and government level. The models will include a fine analysis of the “Ten Stepping Stones to Effective Partnering” and the understanding of the importance of tailoring the partnerships to the immediate or future needs of the immigrant clientele.
The facilitators will use teaching strategies to actively engage the participants. Focus group discussions and exercises are part of the methods used to reinforce the message that partnerships mean shared resources, power, risk, and benefits. The outcomes of the exercises, based on the audience’s professional experiences, practices, and personal occurrences will be used to enrich the spectrum of methods for engaging new partners or underpin the existing relationships. The facilitators will share their recognized best practices to date, with an emphasis on “local partnerships with non for profit and small and medium businesses”, and will include relevant dimensions of cultural differences and sector specific techniques on approaching and engaging community partners.
Marilena Benak has a postsecondary education in Economics and a Masters Degree in International Business Administration. She immigrated to Canada in 2001 and started working with the YMCA Cross Cultural and Immigrant Services in 2002. Since 2006 Marilena have joined the Host Program as a Mentorship/Partnership Coordinator. She is fully dedicated to helping immigrants in the transition process of settling into Canadian society.
Mehmet Mehmet graduated from the University of Windsor with a BA in Sociology, a minor in Psychology, and a certificate in Criminology and Criminal Justice. She joined the Host Program as a Mentors’ Coordinator in November 2007. Mehmet previous work experience has ranged from teaching English in Taiwan to being a Correctional Officer at a Youth detention Centre in London Ontario. She enjoy traveling and meeting people of diverse cultures.
D 7. Effective Partnership Strategies to Build Settlement Capacity among Service Providers (English and FRENCH)
Level: Introductory / Intermediate
This workshop will interest service providers -front line and managers- looking to enhance their effectiveness through partnerships with governments, academics, researchers as well as with other organizations. Examples demonstrating various aspects of partnership building will be discussed followed by the presentation of highlights of a successful, working model of pertinence to immigrant communities throughout Ontario. Discussion will then focus how non-profits can adapt the model to suit their circumstances to better address their challenges.
The participants will learn about:
- the challenges and opportunities of networking with allies beyond the traditional group of settlement service agencies. Identifying allies
- establishing goals in a diverse group of organizations with varied interests and foci
- developing methodologies for extracting maximal benefit from a partnership with diverse skills
- possible ways of adapting existing models to address the unique needs of various Ontarian communities
S.Gopikrishna (Gopi) is presently the Executive Director of Scarborough Housing Help Centre and an active participant in the City of Toronto’s Immigration and Refugee Housing Committee (IRHC) and the Scarborough Homelessness Committee. His past work experience focused on the areas of advocacy and community development involving newcomers. Besides the IRHC, Gopi is involved in a number of partnerships and advocacy groups focusing on various issues related to immigrant settlement.
