Welcome Centre for Immigrants – September 2007 Newsletter
Multicultural Spotlight Series
World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty
EMCN has a mandate to encourage civic engagement by people and so to raise interest and understanding about the municipal election that happens on October 15 there will be several things happening:
- We will have a leaflet with some basic information about the election available and seek to circulate it to as many people as possible.
- We will be holding a news conference on September 13 that will indicate we will be asking all candidates in the election to express their views on the idea of extending the vote for municipal elections to non-citizens and the results of this will be made publicly available at our website.
- We will be co-hosting with NorQuest College, at NorQuest, a forum at Noon on October 2 with Council candidates for Ward 4 that will focus on issues especially relevant to immigrants.
Other ideas about how we can support more people being involved and knowledgeable about the election are welcome. Please contact Jim. The next meeting of the democratic action working group will be September 11 at 1 PM.
The Edmonton Small Press Association (ESPA) and the North of Nowhere Expo would like to extend an invitation to community advocates to attend the following workshop. This free skill-share is a valuable advocacy tool for anyone who's concerned about or impacted by the affordable housing crisis and our growing homeless population:
WORKSHOP: Dignity Villages: The Experimental Communities Tool-Kit
PRESENTER: Hendrik Beune (Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver)
DATE: Wednesday, September 26 from 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm
LOCATION: Room #5, 6th Floor, Stanley A. Milner Library (7 Sir Winston Churchill Square)
Admission: FREE
* Space is limited. We encourage people to register with us in advance to ensure a seat: Please email nonexpo@edmontonsmallpress.org orespa2006@telus.net, or call (780) 434-9236 by Sept. 24 to RSVP.
Workshop Synopsis: This will be an audio-visual presentation that focuses on intentional and 'experimental' communities, which by our definition refers to any housed community that is accessible to people who do not have the means to register a mortgage or pay 'market' rent, yet gives them reasonable tenure and a sense of belonging and home.
Experimental communities range from seasonally-tolerated 'tent cities' for transient travelers, to built communities that can weather all of the year's seasons in safety and comfort, for example Portland's "Dignity Village"*, which inspired this presentation.
In addition to presenting some of the successful models being implemented in other North American cities, Hendrik will address the alternative construction methods that have been tried (by necessity) and proven successful (green and sustainable). He will also discuss the political means that came into play to achieve acceptance and tenure in these communities.
The ultimate goal for participating advocates is to make a proposal to Edmonton and Vancouver City Councils to establish such sites in our communities by 2010.
We invite social workers, health workers, civil servants, police officers, lawyers and legal advocates, municipal and provincial politicians, and advocates from the larger community to join us in learning about sustainable 'alternative housing' models and how Canada's growing homeless population can be lessened through the support of these innovative and progressive
experimental communities.
Presenter Bio: Hendrik Beune was born and raised in the Netherlands and moved to Canada in 1970. He attended UBC and graduated with a B.Sc. Honors in Zoology, eventually working as a Biologist and Shellfish Aquaculturist for many years. He is currently a multi-media student in pre- and post-production techniques for digital DVD and TV productions (including editing for Vancouver's FEARLESS TV) and is a community activist with various other arts clusters. He is also a homeless advocate, and works with Vancouver's UPWORDS street newspaper, as well as a current Board Member of the Pivot Legal Society, which advances the interests and improves the lives of marginalized persons through law reform, legal education, and strategic legal action (http://www.pivotlegal.org ).
The Edmonton Small Press Association recently adopted and now publishes Edmonton's "Our Voice" street newspaper.
Fore more info about the ESPA or the North of Nowhere Expo (Sept. 16-30, 2007), see: http://www.edmontonsmallpress.org or call (780) 434-9236
