EMCN Weekly Newsletter: EMCN Weekly Newsletter

Autumn Harvest Potluck Lunch

Everyone is welcome! Staff! Volunteers! Visitors and Friends!

Please join us on Friday, October 31 for our United Way Campaign
Autumn Harvest Potluck Lunch!

The Potluck Lunch will be served in the staff room starting at 11:30, followed by a United Way presentation and the General Staff Meeting at 12:00 noon in room 2-4.

Tickets are only $5.00 each, or only $2.00 if you bring a dish for the potluck!

Please note: if you are bringing food, please let Katrina know before end of day October 30 – kpaufler@emcn.ab.ca or 780.423.9697

We look forward to seeing everyone there!
The EMCN United Way Campaign Committee

Submitted by Katrina Paufler

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Telelearning Session 11- Newcomers and Community Economic Development

For more information, please click here

If you have any questions, please contact Rispah Tremblay at rtremblay@emcn.ab.ca

Submitted by Rispah Tremblay

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Book Launch – Blood Mother by Su Croll

Hello,

My new book, Blood Mother, is now available from Signature Editions in Winnipeg. Go to http://www.signature-editions.com/ and click "new titles" to have a look at my catalogue page on my publisher's website.

Su

Book Launch

Submitted by Judy Sillito and Jacqueline Scott

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Submitted by Chissa Schmuhl

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SHINE: A youth walk-in clinic

Greetings!

My name is Darren Horney, and I am writing you on behalf of the SHINE Clinic, Edmonton. SHINE is a non-profit health clinic that operates out of the Boyle-MacCauley Health Center (106 Ave & 96 St) and provides free, comprehensive care to Edmonton youth. Our services include medical, dental, social work, and nutrition (high-quality free food), and are offered on a drop-in basis (i.e. - no appointment necessary). We operate on Saturdays, from 2 - 6 p.m.

The reason I am contacting you today is because I believe that your organization serves people who might be interested in the SHINE Clinic's services. We are open to all youth between the ages of 10 and 25 (approximately). Unlike many other clinics, we do not require government-issued identification or an Alberta Health Care card - all patients will be seen.

Here is a brief summary of some of SHINE Clinic's notable features:

We have comprehensive in-house care, with a physician, nurse, social worker, pharmacist, and dentist present and accessible on any given Saturday.
We do not have the per-patient time restrictions of other clinics. All of a patient's problems will be addressed by the appropriate health care professional, regardless of how long it takes.
We do not require a health care card or other ID. All patients within our target youth demographic (ages 10 - 25) will be seen.
We provide high-quality food, free of charge.

If you feel that the SHINE Clinic might be useful or desirable to your clients, we would most definitely like to hear from your organization to discuss the matter further. We can be contacted by email at shine@med.ualberta.ca , or by telephone at (780) 993 - 4676.

Thank you for your time,
Darren Horney
VP Development, SHINE

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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Canadian Social Forum

The Canadian Council on Social Development is creating the space for 750 people from across the country to meet face-to-face and participate in a program that meets poverty head-on.

You’ll hear about how poverty reduction is being accomplished in ways that are innovative, inspiring and workable. You’ll have the opportunity to create new connections with people from every part of the country, help build momentum for real action, and collaborate for effective social change.

This event will connect the new wave of leaders who know that reducing poverty is the only strategy for real prosperity.

More information about the Canadian Social Forum, including the preliminary program, is available on the Forum website (www.ccsd.ca/csf/2009/).

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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Connecting Edmontonians to City Government and decision making

The City of Edmonton is committed to involving people in the decisions that affect them. Whether it’s being informed about a City decision to build a road in an area, or an invitation to add your views on how we move people, goods and services through our City, your insights are needed to provide decision makers with the broadest spectrum of information informed opinion possible.

We are pleased to inform you and your organization that the City of Edmonton has a new tool to make it easier to plan when, where and how you can become involved in making your and your organization’s views known on the issues that affect you, your neighbourhood and your city.

The City of Edmonton’s Public Involvement Calendar lists public involvement events sponsored by the City. It’s available on the new City of Edmonton web site by going to www.edmonton.ca/PublicInvolvementCalendar. You can search the calendar by date, neighbourhood and/or City Department to see the range, location and timing of public involvement events throughout the City.

By the end of October, all City of Edmonton print advertising for public involvement events will carry the following tagline:

Learn more about and get involved on City issues affecting you and your neighbourhood. Go to www.edmonton.ca/PublicInvolvementCalendar for a list of City of Edmonton public involvement opportunities.

The City of Edmonton believes knowing where, when and how to get involved is critical to effective public involvement. We would very much appreciate you advising your organization’s members about this new tool through regular meetings or newsletters.

If you have any questions regarding the City of Edmonton’s public involvement programs please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jill Bradford Green
Office of Public Involvement
Deputy City Managers Office
780-944-0300

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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International Week 2009 Photography Contest

The University of Alberta's Global Education Program is looking for striking shots from around the world to showcase in a photography exhibit as a part of International Week 2009.

It is a great way to get people to share their photography skills through campus. We would like to spread the information regarding the contest to a whole range of people. If possible, could you please take a few minutes of your time and forward widely to those who you think would be interested in participating.

The information regarding the contest is seen below.

Thank you for your time!

Leila Ang
International Week 2009 Volunteer Coordinator
lmang@ualberta.ca

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International Week 2009 Photography Contest

Submit your best shots from around the world!!!

Submission Deadline 4:30 pm, October 30th The University of Alberta's Global Education Program is looking for striking shots from around the world to showcase in a photography exhibit as a part of International Week 2009. The winning photographers will have their photo(s) included in the International Week Program (over 11 000 copies distributed), have their work on display throughout I-week, receive two tickets to the International Week concert, an International Week t-shirt, and a chance to attend an exclusive event with this year's keynote speaker. The top winner will have their photograph featured in the International House 2009/2010 Calendar and receive a professional, framed print of their photograph. For more information on International Week, or to check out some of last years' winning photos, visit: www.international.ualberta.ca/globaled/

The theme "Hungry for Change" should inspire the photos received. Be adventurous with the theme--anything is possible with creativity and explanation! This year, the photo contest will have three categories of submission: Current U of A students, Staff/Alumni, and Youth.

Submission Details:

A limit of 5 photographs per individual will be accepted (please specify if you are student/alumni/youth)
Release forms allowing the university to display your work (with photo credits) should accompany your photographs. Forms can be downloaded from the website or picked up at the International Centre.
Photos should be at least 300 DPI or an 8X10 photo print.
Photos may be sent via email or by a CD submission (preferred method) which will not be returned.
Each individual photo must have a title or caption, with your last name and location attached e.g. Summertime - Smith (Mumbai, India).
Include a few sentences about yourself (for instance what compels you to travel) and describe how your photo connects to "Hungry for Change" (50 words MAX).
Winners will be notified via e-mail after Nov. 20th.

Please email (stacheyc@ualberta.ca), mail in or drop off your release form and photos at the International Centre, attention Anna Stacheychuk.

Mailing Address:
International Centre
172 HUB International
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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Online festival unites immigrant experiences

You can watch the short films in the festival described below at
http://www.rciviva.ca/migrations/

Toronto Star

Online festival unites immigrant experiences

$25,000 in prizes will be awarded to short films from around the world, voted on by viewers

Oct 18, 2008

Nicholas Keung
IMMIGRATION/DIVERSITY REPORTER

This is not your typical film festival.

There's no red carpet, stellar Hollywood casts, big parties or even a proper launch.

This festival spans seven weeks, and audiences are free to watch their choice of movies at any time, anywhere at their leisure – all they need is an internet connection.

The uniqueness doesn't end there with the annual Migr@tions Online Film Festival and Competition, Canada's first and only online film festival dealing with issues of immigration – something close to the hearts of the loyal listeners of the organizer, RCIviva, Radio-Canada International's web-based service.

Now into its second year, Migr@tion 2008, launched without any fanfare yesterday, will feature a total of 80 short documentaries and dramas – 40 each in English and French – from more than 22 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, South Korea, U.K., U.S., Zimbabwe and, of course, Canada.

"We believe that the current media environment has excluded many stories of Canada's growing demographics. This is a small but important step toward opening a dialogue to explore the experience and reality of many immigrants living in Canada," explained the festival's project coordinator, Thierry Harris.

Following its move from short-wave frequency to internet podcast in 2006, RCIviva initiated the virtual film festival last year, hoping to enrich its multicultural fan base's experience by adding the visual element on its website.

The inaugural event drew 150 submissions from across Canada, attracting more than 60,000 viewers. By going international, this year's festival received more than 200 entries, each between four and nine minutes, from South African Sarah Van Borek's Xenophobia Unplugged on a musician's journey, to American Alana Kakoyiannis' Cosmopolis, a documentary on Greek immigrants who, having gained social mobility, are passing the torch to the next waves of Mexicans.

Among the Canadian features are Ellen Tang's Girl Any More, which examines if having an anglicized name affects who you are, Radha Rajagopalan's Wires and Words, exploring how second-generation Tamil Brahmins in Canada connect to their heritage through the internet, and Punam Kumar Gill's The Lesson, about the filmmaker's father, who helped his Punjabi community in Edmonton by teaching newcomers how to drive.

Viewers can watch and vote for their favourite films at rciviva.ca/migrations, with a chance to win an iPod each week, leading up to the festival's closing in mid-December, when the winners of the $25,000 in awards are announced. There will be an old-fashioned screening at University of Toronto from 8 to 10 p.m. on Nov.16.

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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Global Citizenship Education in Post-Secondary Institutions: Educating Citizens in the Context of Globalization

Thursday, October 23, 7:00 pm
Wild Rose Room, Lister Conference Centre

Dr. Nita Freire and Dr. Donaldo Macedo

Dr. Nita Freire - Brazilian educator and wife of influential theorist, Paulo Freire, best known for his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed. She has a rich background in education and has collaborated with Paulo Freire on various books.

Dr. Donaldo Macedo - Professor of English and a Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He has collaborated with Paulo Freire on various books.

Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for non-students. You may purchase tickets at the University of Alberta's International Centre (172 HUB International, 9101 sidewalk level). Tickets will also be available at the door.

Sign language interpreting services, real-time captioning or other disability services or accommodations can be arranged. Please direct requests to nancy.hannemann@ualberta.ca or 780 492 5962 by October 17.

This lecture is the keynote address for the conference, "Global Citizenship Education and Post-Secondary Institutions: Policies, Practices and Possibilities", October 23-25.

For further information on the conference please visit:
http://www.international.ualberta.ca/globaled/nav02.cfm?nav02=82503&nav01=71443

The conference is being organized by the Faculty of Education (Global Education Network & International Office) and the University of Alberta International and is part of a larger initiative to develop global citizenship education opportunities at the University of Alberta.

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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WI backgrounder: OECD says Canada's rich are richer than their rich!

It’s good news and bad news for Canada as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development released a powerful new report today that confirms that the gap between rich and poor is growing throughout the richest countries of the world. The full OECD report called “Growing Unequal” is available at <>

Here’s a quick snapshot:

First, the good news:

“The rich in Canada are particularly rich compared to their counterparts in other countries,” according to the OECD. So, our very wealthy are doing much better than the very wealthy in other countries. So that’s all right, then.

Then, there’s plenty of bad news:

overall, poverty has increased for all age groups in Canada over the past decade, according to the OECD.
the gap between rich and poor has been growing very fast in Canada, and we’re second only to Germany among the other countries in the OECD (which is the league of rich nations of the world).
one reason for the rapid growth in income inequality is that Canada spends less on income assistance such an unemployment and family than most OECD countries.
the low level of transfers means that “work is even more important as a way of avoiding poverty in Canada than it is in other countries”, according to the OECD. Lots of Canadians are working, but the quality (and pay) for those jobs are not lifting people out of poverty.
“If Canadians do fall into poverty, however, they are likely to remain poor for longer than in most countries,” says the OECD.

Michael Shapcott, Director of Community Engagement
The Wellesley Institute, 45 Charles Street East - #101
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 1S2
Telephone - 416-972-1010, x231
Mobile - 416-605-8316
Facsimile - 416-921-7228
www.wellesleyinstitute.com

Submitted by Jim Gurnett

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Put Your Car Keys Beside Your Bed at Night

Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents your Dr office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house,
just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:

It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.

It works if you park in your driveway or garage If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar rapist won't stick around... After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there ..... This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S. I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic. Would also be useful for any
emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can't reach a phone. My
Mom has Suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn't hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she'll know there's a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you've read it before. It's a reminder.