Mohamed Al-Adeimi welcomed the group. After introductions, he informed them that Dania Ajami is no longer able to participate in the Sub-council
2. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Motion to approve November 10, 2015 Minutes was moved by Jill Tansley seconded by Mohamed Al-Adeimi and approved.
3. Additions to Agenda
Updates on January 29 event. Motion to approve the agenda was moved by Sheila Foster, seconded by Jacquie Rumiel and passed.
4. LMLIP Central Council Update: Mohamed Al-Adeimi
Update on Welcoming Refugees:
The city is helping to encourage communication and information sharing;
Matching needs with groups who think they can assist;
Challenges faced include conveying information to private sponsors. The LIP will be hosting an information session. Details are listed below under Point 7, Information;
United Way has set up a fundraising campaign;
The Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) and London Intercommunity Health Centre (LIHC) have been assessing the health status of newcomers, a vaccination campaign is on this week;
The South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SLNRC) has seen many of Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs), no Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) as yet and
The Project Team will send an update on Syrian refugees to the Central Council and Sub-councils.
5. Settlement Strategic Plan 2016-2019: Discussion
Group went through the Strategic Plan Draft with Central Council’s new ratified themes and assessed Gaps/Needs.
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6. Updates from Working Groups:
a. Engaging Landlords & Tenants: Amani Radhaa
Shared the ‘Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants’ handout at a presentation in December for students at the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)..
b. Family Settlement Collaborative (FSC): Huda Hussein
Three workshops have been delivered from December to January. Information is provided as per the need identified. The FSC Team met last week to discuss timelines and schedules.
7. Information Sharing
The LIP will be hosting an event Jan 29, 2016 for groups and individuals sponsoring refugees. There will be presenters on settlement, education, employment and other supports. In addition there will be displays from service providers. Please share the event with your networks.
8. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
Mohamed Al-Adeimi thanked members for attending the meeting. The group briefly discussed changing the meeting location to SLNRC and will re-evaluate in March.
9. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:41 am.
10. Next Meeting Location and Date
March 8, 2016, 9:30 -11:00 am, Kinsmen Arena, Room 4.
Video to be shared with Jacquie Rumiel for use in Windsor
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Agenda LMLIP Settlement Sub-council
Location: Kinsmen Arena Rm. 4
Date: March 8, 2016
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Item Description
1. Chair’s Opening Remarks
2. Additions to Agenda
3. Adoption of January 12, 2016 minutes
4. Central Council Update - Mohamed Al-Adeimi
5. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update from Mohamed Al Adeimi
6. Settlement Sub-council Strategic Plan 2016-2019:- Discussion
7. Work group updates:
a. Engaging Landlords and Tenants – Amani Radhaa
b. Family Settlement Collaborative Update – Maria D’Souza
8. Discussions on:
a) Opportunity to collaborate with students in a Community Engaged Learning component at
Western University
b) Contribution of content and suggestions for periodicity of LMLIP newsletter
c) Dates and location for 2016-17 meetings
9. Information Sharing
10. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
11. Adjourn
12. Next Meeting: To be decided.
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Minutes
LMLIP Settlement Sub-council Date and Time: March 8, 2016 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Meeting Location: Kinsmen Arena, 20 Granville Street
Present: Mohamed Al-Adeimi, Sheila Foster, Jill Tansley, Lana Winchester-Tucker, Speciose Mukakamanzi, Maria DSouza
Mohamed Al-Adeimi welcomed the group and introduced new member, Speciose Mukakamanzi, who works at College Boreal. Roundtable introductions were made.
2. Additions to Agenda
None.
3. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Motion to approve January 27, 2016 Minutes was moved by Jill Tansley, seconded by Sheila Foster and approved.
4. LMLIP Central Council Update: Mohamed Al-Adeimi
Mohamed informed the group that the 2016-2019 Strategic Plan has been the main focus of the last few Central Council meetings. The overarching themes, gaps and activities were discussed. All sub-councils shared their plans and overlapping areas were identified. All sub-councils will be meeting this month to finalize their plans.
5. Settlement Strategic Plan 2016-2019: Discussion
The Group reviewed and finalized the Strategic Plan.
6. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update by Jill Tansley and Mohamed Al-Adeimi
Newcomer numbers have increased and the figures are changing daily;
The federal government met its goal of resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016;
London has received 900 government assisted refugees, 150 privately sponsored refugees and some refugees on a blended visa program;
The London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC) expects that 500 more refugees will arrive in the city by the end of the year;
Various groups have offered support in numerous areas including housing,
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transportation, health, education and recreation. Several landlords have also been very receptive, offering rent reductions for a year;
Finding suitable housing is a challenge for large families and the disabled who need accessible units, and
London’s task force, which involves many agencies, will be meeting in early April
7. Updates from Working Groups:
a. Engaging Landlords & Tenants: Amani Radhaa (Tabled to next meeting as Amani is away)
b. Family Settlement Collaborative (FSC): Maria D’Souza (Tabled to next meeting due to lack of time).
8. a) Opportunity to collaborate with students in a Community Engaged Learning component at Western University: Maria D’Souza
Maria D’Souza informed the group that Prof. Leora Swartzman is awaiting final approval for a course on Community Psychology in which Community Engaged Learning (CEL) is a component. If the course is approved, her students could work on a couple of projects for the LMLIP where they could give 4-5 hours of time per week for a 20 week period (around 80-100 hours). Prof. Swartzman also mentioned that students could collaborate with other Western professors who offer a course on qualitative research and survey methods respectively.
Members are requested to think of and suggest projects that they could coordinate with the students on. A list of possible projects from all sub-councils will be compiled by project staff and sent to Prof. Swartzman by May. The students will then select the two projects based on their interest.
b) Contribution of content and suggestions for periodicity of LMLIP newsletter
After some discussion, the group decided that a quarterly publishing schedule would work best for the LMLIP newsletter.
c) Dates and location of 2016-2017 meetings
Since many members were absent, dates for next year’s meetings will be emailed for feedback.
9. Information Sharing
None.
10. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
Mohamed Al-Adeimi thanked members for their time and commitment.
11. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am.
12. Next Meeting Location and Date
To be decided.
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Agenda
LMLIP Settlement Sub-council
Location: South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd.
Date: April 14, 2016
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Item Description
1. Chair’s Opening Remarks
2. Additions to Agenda
3. Adoption of March 8, 2016 minutes
4. Central Council Update - Mohamed Al-Adeimi
5. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update from Jill Tansley and Mohamed Al Adeimi
6. Settlement Sub-council Strategic Plan 2016-2017 implementation. Discussion of:
a. Projects and formation of work groups
b. Opportunity to collaborate with students in a Community Engaged Learning component
at Western University
7. Work group updates:
a. Engaging Landlords and Tenants – Amani Radhaa
b. Family Settlement Collaborative Update – Huda Hussein
8. Information Sharing
9. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
10. Adjourn
11. Next Meeting: June 14, 9:30 -11:00 am
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Minutes
LMLIP Settlement Sub-council Date and Time: April 14, 2016 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Meeting Location: South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd
Mohamed Al-Adeimi welcomed the group and introduced guest, Abbey Duggal.
2. Additions to Agenda
None.
3. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Motion to approve March 8, 2016 Minutes was moved by Sheila Foster, seconded by Speciose Mukakamanzi and approved.
4. LMLIP Central Council Update: Mohamed Al-Adeimi
1. The Central Council finalized its 2016-2019 Strategic Plan in March; 2. LMLIP Co-chairs and staff met with system partners (school boards, fire, City, etc.)
on March 22 and ethno-cultural groups on March 23. Participants at both meetings supported the role of Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS). SWIS budgets have been reinstated for the year and the demand for them is overwhelming, and
3. Pathways to Prosperity (P2P) annual conference will be held in Ottawa from November 30 through to December 2, including the pre-conference.
5. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update by Jill Tansley and Mohamed Al-Adeimi
4. The City of London has initiated a task force to support all service agencies to assist with new immigrants. London has received close to 1,400 refugees in all three categories (government assisted, privately sponsored and blended visas). The task force met in early April;
5. London is the third largest recipient of Syrian refugees in the province and the seventh in the country;
6. New connections are being forged between agencies. For instance WIL Employment Services is partnering with the South London Neighbourhood Centre
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(SLNRC); Tourism London is seeking activities for the Syrians to participate in and arranged 500 tickets for them to attend the London Lightning game. Summer programming will be held to keep the children occupied;
7. Recognizing the trauma many of them faced, thinking about the mental health crises that may impact them and job prospects are amongst future issues that the agencies are discussing;
8. Mohamed mentioned that Londoners have come together and welcomed the Syrians. The SLNRC has recruited a Community Integration Worker for this year to help Syrians with their transition. He observed that most are very resilient and many of them want to find work immediately. The SLNRC’s main focus as a settlement agency is to help them understand the services available and hold information sessions for other agencies that are helping them.
9. Abbey Duggal suggested basic workshops on cultural sensitivity for Canadians. It was also mentioned that some years back, the LMLIP had developed a position paper on the topic and presented it to the Faculties of Education in London;
10. Jacquie Rumiel reported that the YMCA in London was offering primarily Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC). They are also providing a free two-month membership to all immigrants till the end of August. Those who wish to extend may also be able to obtain a subsidized membership rate. The YMCA received federal funding to bus Syrian children from hotels to their facilities for activities.
11. Ayan Aden informed the group that ACFO received 38 new Syrian clients. The agency is adjusting to meet their specific demands and plans hold some information sessions in Arabic, and
12. Speciose reported that College Boreal has started offering services to Syrians at the London Mosque every Tuesday and Friday. They will also start evening language classes shortly.
6. Settlement Sub-council Implementation Plan 2016-2017 Implementation. Discussion of:
a) Projects and formation of work groups:
Activity: Engage immigrants and receiving communities in joint activities in neighbourhood
Since some immigrants live in apartments and miss the gardens and farms they had previously, Amani Radhaa suggested engage them in Reforest London initiatives on weekends. Sheila suggested involving them in working on community gardens as well, and
Jacquie suggested involving newcomers in Earth Day in 2017.
Activity: Inform immigrants about services and opportunities
Amani suggested setting up an intranet network for settlement services on the immigration portal, allowing them to share information and coordinate more effectively. Information sessions (similar to the one hosted by LMLIP for private sponsors in January) could also be held to inform agencies of services available. If staff are aware of services and programs offered by other agencies, they can convey the information more effectively to immigrants.
Activity: Organize information sessions for private sponsors to inform about services and supports to assist families
Jill Tansley mentioned that the federal immigration website mentioned that 269 private sponsorship applications are currently being processed for London;
Amani suggested setting up a group similar to the FSC to organize information
Sheila to contact Janice Walter regarding Reforest London and community gardens
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sessions. Lana Winchester-Tucker, Ayane, Speciose and Mohamed will participate in the work group.
Activity: Explore the opportunity to present to faith groups though the LMLIP Family Settlement Collaborative
In order to explore the opportunity to present to faith groups through the FSC, the group’s Terms of Reference will first have to be checked.
Activity: Provide networking opportunities for frontline staff
Mohamed mentioned that London has an Orientation Community Partnership and executive directors of all settlement services will have to be involved to ensure all participate. Jacquie offered to lead the project.
Activity: Coordinate brownbag lunches using existing models to connect frontline settlement staff to learn and share
Mohamed, Sheila and Jacquie will work on organizing a brownbag lunch to connect settlement staff
Activity: Continue working with landlords and tenants to address issues that impede renting to new immigrants
Jill suggested translating the housing video, which explains the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, into various languages. Amani will continue on the work group.
Activity: Enhance the coordination with faith groups to engage established immigrants
Mohamed will explore ideas with project staff.
Activity: Explore opportunities to collaborate with programs funded to support childminding to facilitate immigrants access to information workshops and language classes
The activity will be discussed later because United Way has requested agencies to submit funding proposals for childminding supports. Next steps can be decided when there is more information on the agencies approved.
b) Opportunity to collaborate with students in a Community Engaged Learning component at Western University:
It was suggested that students participate in the activity that calls for involving established immigrants in assisting newcomers. “Train the trainer” types of programs can be used to coach established immigrants in how they can assist newcomers. The students can develop and provide lesson plans for the training module. Note on the Settlement Strategic Plan: Ayan requested that francophone service providers be included under the Settlement Sub-council Plan in addition to the francophone immigration network.
7. Updates from Working Groups:
a. Engaging Landlords & Tenants: No update b. Family Settlement Collaborative (FSC): Huda Hussein
A total of 44 sessions were held at LINC sites from September 2015 till date;
Project staff to check FSC’s Terms of Reference
Huda will seek Governance committee approval for the inclusion
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One of the LINC sites requested an information session for Syrians on appropriate behaviour in Canada, and
Suggestions for enhancing member communication including hosting an FSC newsletter on the immigration portal and sharing information through Google documents.
8. Information Sharing
None.
9. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
Mohamed Al-Adeimi thanked members for attending.
10. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.
11. Next Meeting Location and Date
June 14, South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd
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Agenda
LMLIP Settlement Sub-council
Location: South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd.
Date: June 14, 2016
Time: 9:30-11:00 am
Item Description
1. Chair’s Opening Remarks
2. Additions to Agenda
3. Adoption of April 14, 2016 minutes
4. Central Council Update - Mohamed Al-Adeimi
5. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update from Jill Tansley and Mohamed Al Adeimi
6. Settlement Sub-council Strategic Plan 2016-2017 implementation. Discussion of next steps and
addition of members to working groups
7. Work group updates:
a. Family Settlement Collaborative Update – Huda Hussein
8. Information Sharing
9. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
10. Adjourn
11. Next Meeting: September 13, 9:30 -11:00 am, South London Community Centre
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Minutes
LMLIP Settlement Sub-council Date and Time: June 14, 2016 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Meeting Location: South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd
Mohamed Al-Adeimi welcomed the group and announced that Jill Tansley was leaving the Sub-council because she had been appointed Co-Chair of the LMLIP on Elisabeth White’s retirement.
2. Additions to Agenda
None. Motion to approve the agenda was moved by Sheila Foster, seconded by Speciose Mukakamanzi and approved.
3. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Motion to approve April 14, 2016 Minutes was moved by Lana Winchester-Tucker, seconded by Mohamed Al-Adeimi and approved.
4. Welcoming Syrian Newcomers: Update by Mohamed Al-Adeimi
LMLIP has created an information chart of services offering an overview of services and supports available to immigrants in our community. The chart was adopted at the Syrian Task Force meeting on June 1;
A resettlement program has been approved for Mississauga and Thunder Bay. London is the third largest Syrian resettlement site in Ontario;
A total of 531 Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) will be arriving in London by the end of 2016;
Responding to complaints from private sponsors that they are not being given the correct arrival dates for their sponsored families, the government will bring 500 privately sponsored individuals at one time. No timeline has been given for their arrival. A total of 539 Syrian newcomers are in London;
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recruited one staff member to support private sponsors. Settlement services in London may be requested for telephone interviews to provide input;
IRCC will share a document with the Task Force on lessons learned from Syrian initiatives. A rapid impact evaluation will also be conducted and the results shared;
Maria will email chart to Sub-council
Documents to be shared with Sub-council on receipt
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South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre (SLNRC) along with three other community resource centres will reach out to communities through the “Good Neighbourhood, Safe Home” project. Funded by United Way, the initiative will conduct a number of information sessions throughout the City of London for parents to settle in their neighbourhoods and aims to create awareness on how to improve the quality of life. In conjunction with sessions, there will be concurrent workshops for their children and youth. LUSO Community Services has also received funding for a similar initiative with landlords to educate them on the needs of immigrants.
WIL Employment Services noted that their pilot project of having an employment counsellor on site at SLNRC every alternate week was successful and the counsellor will now be on site weekly. Another change that was successfully introduced is that clients with language barriers are meeting the counsellor earlier in the process. Interpreters help counsellors explain the Canadian employment process and qualifications required, allowing clients to plan earlier to obtain the required qualifications.
5. LMLIP Central Council Update: Mohamed Al-Adeimi
The Central Council met on May 30;
The fourth annual Pathways to Prosperity conference will be held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa on December 1 – 2, with a pre-conference workshop on November 30. Details are on the website;
The dissemination of the Strategic Plan was discussed. The role of members at large and the messages they need to convey to community members was discussed. There was also some discussion on how to disseminate the information;
Central Council’s Year 1 work plan will include all its work groups: Communications & Marketing, Governance, Measuring Outcomes and Outreach & Advocacy. Potential members for all work groups are being identified;
Shooting for the ‘We Are London’ TV show has now been completed;
The Governance Task Group will be reviewing the Terms of Reference, and
Collaboration between Sub-councils is being encouraged by Central Council and there are many projects that the Settlement Sub-council can collaborate on, including I am London and Journeys of Migration. The Health & Well Being Sub-council may collaborate with the Settlement Sub-council for the Opening Doors project because Settlement has mapped resources for seniors in the past.
6. Settlement Sub-council Implementation Plan 2016-2017 Implementation: Discussion of next steps and addition of members to working groups:
Activity: Engage immigrants and receiving communities in joint activities in neighbourhood
Mohamed, Sheila and Jacquie will be on the work group;
Agencies will be contacted with information to pass on to immigrants next spring as planning for community gardens takes place much before summer;
Starting new plots will have to be planned well in advance and the feasibility of having a specific site assigned has to be researched. The possibility of developing a garden plot at SLNRC can also be researched.
The Sub-council can assist immigrants in applying for plots. More than 1,000 individuals participate and 600 plots are available in the program coordinated by the. London Community Resource Centre. There is a sliding fee scale based on family income for renting a 400 sq. ft plot for the season, and
Established immigrants who are keen gardeners can be requested to mentor
Mohamed will request mentors to volunteer
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newcomers. The Windsor Co-coordinator can also be invited to present.
Activity: Coordinate brownbag lunches using existing models to connect frontline settlement staff to learn and share
Jacquie has devised a questionnaire that will be distributed to frontline staff to select topics of interest to them. LMLIP will help disseminate the survey if needed;
A suggestion was made to invite other frontline workers dealing with Syrian newcomers and to discuss lessons learned;
Funding will be sought. However, if no funding is obtained, sessions will be organized over a couple of hours at lunch time, and
The work group will meet to decide if the sessions should be held monthly for a couple of hours or if a half-day or one day session should be organized.
Activity: Continue working with landlords and tenants to address issues that impede renting to new immigrants
The work group will apply for funding to translate the housing video into different languages.
Activity: Enhance the coordination with faith groups to engage established immigrants
Various faith groups have approached SLNRC for information on Syrian newcomers. Amani Radhaa did presentations at St. Vincent de Paul and at St. Leonard’s Society.
Twelve Catholic churches were present at the session with St. Vincent de Paul. Amani explained the visa categories and what newcomers are entitled to in each category.
St. Vincent de Paul has changed some of its volunteering policies to allow established immigrants to volunteer with them. Vouchers have also been changed to meet the new needs.
The session at St. Vincent de Paul’s led to an information session at St. Justin’s Church which wanted to know how many Syrian newcomer families are in their area and how they can help.
A meeting with the London Muslim Mosque will be held in the summer to inform and engage
7. Work group updates: Family Settlement Collaborative – Huda Hussein
Huda Hussein noted that the Family Settlement Collaborative had completed its sessions for the year. One of the last sessions coordinated was presentations on the City’s Spectrum programming as many newcomers wanted information on summer activities for children.
Huda also noted that representatives from the Collaborative met with one of the LINC leads to discuss next year’s presentations
8. Opportunity to collaborate with students in a Community Engaged Learning component at Western University:
The Settlement Sub-council’s proposals were submitted to Dr. Leora Swartzman for consideration and members will be informed in the fall if the projects were selected.
9. Information Sharing
Lana Winchester-Tucker: Renovations are under way at Central Library. The library
Work group will inform project staff periodicity of sessions Amani to follow up and provide an update in fall
Meeting with
Jacquie Rumiel
to discuss next year’s presentations
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will be closed for a short period and renovations will continue for the next few months after it reopens. Branches remain open as normal.
Jacquie Rumiel: Site supervisor positions at the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) sites had been consolidated into one position. There will be one coordinator for all sites and the teachers will take on more responsibilities.
Abbey Duggal: Frontline settlement workers can participate in a Western University conference “Organizing Equality”, from March 24-26, 2017 (www.organizingequality.com). LMLIP has already done a lot of work in the field and academics would benefit from hearing from people with practical experience. Members could provide their viewpoint to create understanding while benefiting from networking and interacting with academics.
The “Life as a Refugee" event being held on June 20 from 9 am - 4 pm at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre.
10. Chairperson’s Closing Summary and Review of Action Items
Mohamed Al-Adeimi thanked members for attending and mentioned that the work groups would communicate via email.
Action items to be noted:
The communal gardening work group will comprise Sheila, Jacquie and Mohamed.
A survey will be conducted on topics for brown bag lunches.
Amani will follow up on funding for translating the housing video
The conference on “Organizing Equality” is an opportunity for frontline staff to learn from academia.
11. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am.
12. Next Meeting Location and Date
September 13, South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd
