Members Handbook 2018
Members Handbook
Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust
"I got involved with the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust 3 years ago, and I am so proud to see how much the PNLT has grown. Parkdale residents are brought together within an organization like PNLT, reaching a diversity of people who work together towards a common goal of securing land for community use and ownership."- Susanna Redekop
2Board Chair Message
Message From The
Welcome to the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust!
The PNLT is an inspiring and passionate community of socially-engaged people taking control of Parkdale's housing needs and other important community spaces. With the PNLT, you will contribute to creating community-owned affordable housing and other inclusive responses to the wave of gentrification and displacement in Parkdale.
You (our members and volunteers) are the difference. The collective minds and hearts of our members are powerful and we thank-you for choosing to place your power with the PNLT.
Together our collective strength will preserve our diversity and create a more affordable, equitable and inclusive Parkdale.
With Love and Solidarity,
Claire-Helene Heese-Boutin & Claudia Pedrero
Board Chairs
The Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT) is a community-controlled charitable organization, built by residents and local agencies striving for a just, healthy, and inclusive neighbourhood. With our board, staff and members, we work to:• Acquire and manage land under the unique model of the Community Land Trust (CLT). • Drive a vision for this neighbourhood in which all members of our community:
• have the ability to shape the development of the land in the neighbourhood where they live and work;• benefit from development that does not displace community members and that enhances social,
economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing;• Have the opportunity to contribute democratically and in a meaningful way to local planning, as well
as guide neighbourhood change through community-led participatory planning.For more information on our vision and values, please visit pnlt.ca
Who Are We... We Are PNLT!
3Acquisitions
We encourage all members to actively participate, whether it’s attending or volunteering at an event, sharing news and information on social media, contributing to fundraising activities, or growing the PNLT by joining a working committee.
Get Involved!
So You're A Member... Now What? As a PNLT member, you are encouraged to:• Volunteer on a committee or at PNLT events• Purchase a PNLT T-shirt or solidarity flag to help increase our visibility• Vote for new PNLT board members at our Annual Members Meeting;• Attend workshops on neighbourhood issues, affordable housing, community gardens, and community
economic development; • Use your particular skill set(s) to help action PNLT initiatives (eg. graphic design, translation etc.)
PNLT's Member Organizer Lynne Sky speaking at neighbourhood walk
4Join A Working Committee
Join a Working Committee!
We have five committees that meet on the last Wednesday of every month. Each meeting begins with a 10 minute update from staff about PNLT's main projects. We then split into committees and work as small groups to develop projects, exchange insights and ideas, and plan events.
Each committee is made up of community members who work together to further the goals of the PNLT. Participation is open to all members and we invite you to join us!
Governance CommitteeThis committee’s primary responsibility is to foster organizational development from the legal and governance perspective. The committee works on building a community-based and democratic governance model, while also developing policies and bylaws that reflect our principles of diversity, equity, and democracy.
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact committee chair Shelina Ali at: [email protected]
Governance Committee members count votes at 2017 AGM
5Join A Working Committee
Community Education & Engagement (CEE) Committee This committee develops outreach initiatives to attract new PNLT members from the Parkdale Community. It also develops educational materials and events, and organizes community engagement and community-led planning activities to promote greater resident participation.
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact committee chair Bareket at:[email protected]
Governance Committee
PNLT's Lobsang Tenpa speaks at Jane's Walk 2016
On Gentrification Lecture # 1, What is Gentrification?
Governance Committee members count votes at 2017 AGM
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Acquisitions Committee
Community-BasedResearch
This committee leads the planning of acquisitions of property by the PNLT. The Acquisitions Committee includes a Negotiations & Due Diligence subcommittee, which undertakes formal negotiations and due diligence reviews. Due to the confidential nature of much of the work, this committee currently operates on an invite-only basis.
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact committee chair Alison Folosea at [email protected]
Equity Strategy Committee This committee is working on ways to encourage different kinds of people - across race, class, religion, gender, sexuality, lived experience, ability, citizenship status, housing tenure, etc. - firstly to join the PNLT as active members; secondly to make sure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect; and finally to make sure that every member understands how things work, feels valued, feels safe to contribute and is able to meaningfully participate in PNLT activities. We acknowledge that our society does not treat all people with dignity and respect, and that inequality due to racism, classism, sexism, and other forms of prejudice continues to exist. We will aim to balance this inequality in our work by centring voices that are often silenced and supporting them in leadership positions. This vision will apply to the PNLT committees, board and all operations.
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Anita Wong at [email protected]
7Governance& Finance
This committee focuses on fundraising – identifying potential funding opportunities, organizing donor drives, and creating fundraising events.
Fundraising Committee
Milky Way Garden Fundraiser, June 4th 2016
If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact [email protected]
The Board of Directors is the decision-making backbone of the PNLT.
Board members are democratically elected by a vote of the membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Board meets once a month to make core decisions on behalf of the organization and the membership.
Board members are nominated by other members. To be eligible for a nomination, you must be a registered voting member of the PNLT for 1 year..
The Board of Directors (BOD)
PNLT Board of Directors, May 2017.
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An agency of the Government of OntarioUn organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
Team
Staff
Joshua Barndt – Executive Director (Full-time) Raven Williams - Affordable Housing Development Assistant (Part-time)Lynne Sky - Member Organizer (Part-time)Jim Hanson - Member Organizer (Part-time)Sonam Wangmo - Interpreter (Part-time)
Board of Directors
Claire-Helene Heese-Boutin - ChairVictor WillisTanja Mirjana Juric Claudia Pedrero - Vice ChairRic Amis - SecretaryElenita Maureen Adams (Uzoamaka )John Doherty Tish CarnatSonam Yangzom Labsong TempaZachary Michael LathropJason Thomas McKinneyWayne KellyDaisy McCabe-LokosTerence Williams
Officers
Claire-Helene Heese-Boutin - ChairClaudia Pedrero - Vice ChairRic Amis - SecretaryJohn Doherty - TreasurerAnita Wong - Equity OfficerKuni Kamizaki - Community Planning Officer
Committee Chairs
Shelina Ali – Governance Committee ChairAlison Forbes – Acquisitions Committee ChairBareket Kezwer – Community Education & Engagement ChairAnita Wong - Equity Strategy Committee ChairJohn Doherty - Finance Committee Chair
Funders
Ontario Trillium FoundationMaytree FoundationEcho Foundation Catherine Donnelly Foundation Metcalf FoundationCity of TorontoParkdale BIA
The PNLT would not be the dynamic force for change that it is without the hard work of our committee members, staff and volunteers. Thanks so much to our entire team for all of your hard work!
Parkdale Solidarity Flag Mural Launch, 2016
Team
