PIHSRENTRAP NOITARGIMI LACOL SEITIC-IRT
YEAR IN REVIEW
2020
As we start 2021, we believe it is important for us to look back and reflect on our challenges and successes in order to learn and grow. We invite you to join us as we share not only our projects but the ideas behind it and the lessons we learned from them. 2020 has brought to light many things for our Tri-Cities communities. In the face of a pandemic with far-reaching impacts, in our communities we found resilience, connections, support and hope.
20 20
@tricitieslip
@tricitieslip
@tc_lip
HTTPS://TRICITIESLIP.CA/
OVERVIEW During the year of 2020, the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership hosted a total of 13 events, part of different projects that addressed our community strategic priorities. Through the year we had almost 600 registrants, demonstrating that anti-racism, diversity, inclusion and equity are themes that the Tri-Cities communities are keen to engage in.
KINDNESS ROCKS CAMPAIGN We started 2020 with the Kindness Rocks project, where we engaged the community in conversations about kindness and inclusion. Led by local Indigenous artist, Christine MacKenzie, community members were invited to rock painting workshops where they were able to share inspiring messages and connect with others. The Kindness Rocks campaign launched from February 26th (Pink Shirt Day) to March 21st (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination), where we featured different rocks and corresponding messages on our social media channels. Although provincial health orders were put in place during the campaign, the project continued to engage community members to reflect upon the messages of inclusion and kindness.
DEEPENING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION To further strengthen our community’s capacity to build inclusion in service delivery, TCLIP collaborated with Coquitlam Public Library, Douglas College, Drishti Consulting and MOSAIC in organizing the Crossing the Divide: Deepening our Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion. Bringing together 30 service providers, we discussed intersectionality and how we could use our own power and privilege to empower those who are vulnerable and marginalized by creating safer spaces and better supports to address their needs.
After George Floyd’s death and the protests that took over our neighbouring country, Canadian society took a deeper look at itself. Our communities started (and to some extent, continued) to have important conversations that were long overdue. Some of us questioned our privileges, looked with more attention to the elimination of much of Indigenous and Black people’s histories in Canada, examined what reconciliation and social inclusion
We understood that the Tri-Cities
means, and challenged the anti-
communities
Asian racism that escalated with
needed a safe space to have brave
COVID-19. We, as a society,
and honest conversations - to
understood it was time to really
learn, ask
comprehend why there are large
questions and heal. In the summer,
groups of people under-
TCLIP brought two amazing
represented in some
specialists to
levels of our society and which
talk and to listen to our
systemic oppressions allowed for
communities. Priscilla Omulo and
this kind of
Dr. Ismael Traore participated
inequality to remain embedded
in a series of three Virtual
in our daily lives.
Community Dialogues on Racism
he COVID-19 pandemic has
that covered: What does racism
brought to the surface many
look
inequities that vulnerable and
like; Why does racism still exist;
marginalized communities have
How to address racism in our
long experienced.
communities.
DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP PROJECT During the Anti-Racism Dialogues, we heard from participants that one of their main concerns was the lack of representation and diversity in leadership positions. Organizations wanted to do better but were finding it hard to understand where to start, while those seeking leadership roles did not know where to find them. In October, TCLIP launched its Diversity in Leadership Project which aims to engage current leaders in equity, diversity and inclusion efforts by supporting under-represented voices (including but not limited to Indigenous, Black and people of colour (IBPOC), LGBTQ2S+, women, newcomers, refugees and youth) to participate in leadership roles. There are two supporting pillars to this goal, one is to assist organizations and senior leaders to find and be equipped to welcome more diversity in leadership roles. The second is to engage diverse voices and support them in achieving their leadership goals. Those two pillars culminate in a networking event to bring together senior leaders and diverse leadership candidates to enable meaningful connections.
So here is how we started, first we hosted the Board Diversity & Inclusion Workshop. We welcomed 25 senior leaders (Executive Directors, senior staff) and board of directors from different sectors across the Tri-Cities and Metro Vancouver, including arts, social service agencies, community support services, etc., who were looking to adapt
their organization’s practices to increase representation on their boards. The workshop covered strategies on recruitment and retention of diverse leaders including tools to support the selection process.
Following
this
workshop,
we
engaged
two
cohorts of leadership candidates on the Own Your Voice: a Story Telling Workshop Series. Each group used a public narrative framework to look at how their personal experiences could lead to leadership roles that would ultimately impact meaningful change. The aim of the workshop series was to increase participants’ confidence in sharing their stories and using the power of storytelling to support their leadership goals. By the end of each series, participants shared their stories with each other in two very powerful Saturday mornings. Participants were also invited to share their stories at an upcoming networking event with senior leaders.
In November, we brought senior
We knew that the connections
leaders and leadership
that started on the
candidates together on the
networking event would boost
Leadership Connections
the chances of our leadership
networking event. In this virtual
candidates to achieve their goals.
networking event, leadership
We also recognized that one of
candidates were able to present
the barriers to reaching
their stories which spoke to their
certain levels of leadership is the
passions, interests and goals.
limitation regarding information
Afterwards, the group were
and familiarity with leadership
divided into smaller groups to
roles for groups who don’t
connect with current leaders for
necessarily have access to social
more informal networking. This
circles where these resources are
allowed senior leaders to listen to
shared. If one is part of a group
personal accounts from a diverse
that lacks representation in
group of talented individuals
senior leadership levels, it’s hard
while giving much needed space
to be an “insider” who
for under-represented voices to
understands how Boards
speak to their capabilities and
function and what are the
expertise on their own terms.
practical roles and
This event fostered deeper
responsibilities of its members.
connections that are still
With the intention to bridge this
flourishing.
gap TCLIP offered a capacity building workshop, the Board Fundamentals: Roles & Responsibilities.
This workshop was intended to engage diverse individuals who are looking to participate in leadership levels; however, it attracted both the intended audience and existing board members who wanted more information on the topic. The workshop covered the fundamental fiduciary roles of board of directors. Participants shared their experiences and learnt from
one another. The workshop created an opportunity for
As we look to 2021, TCLIP hopes to continue to share and expand on the lessons and
leadership candidates and
recommendations from the
more experienced board
Diversity in Leadership
members to share learnings and
project, and to see diverse
network meaningfully.
representation at the leadership level within the Tri-Cities. We continue to explore opportunities and collaboration to enhance and continue this project.
CREATING SAFER SPACES TO LEARN AND GROW
Throughout the year of 2020, we heard from the Tri-Cities communities that they needed further support on being allies in dismantling racism. While some of our workshops aimed to address systemic inequalities, there were routine challenges that needed a more practical approach. The Tri-Cities communities wanted more learning and dialogues on how to be an ally. As a
As the TCLIP holds the Resilience BC spoke (Provincial program that supports
result of this feedback, TCLIP
communities in responding to
hosted the Active Bystander
incidents of hate and racism
Training to
spoke for the community), we
share some strategies and tools
will continue our efforts to
on how to respond to incidents
support the
of racism that
we may witness or experience.
Tri-Cities in developing coordinated responses to incidents as well as mobilizing the community through education and engagement activities.
Finally, our last initiative of 2020 was the Diversity in Books – a book club to read diverse voices, in partnership with the Coquitlam Public Library. This book club was created as a safe space for everyone in the community. After months talking about inclusion, diversity and allyship, we felt that an informal space to continue the discussion of hard themes was needed. This is a long journey and we’ll keep on growing and learning. On the first Wednesday of each month you can count on us for deep conversations that revolve around the words of diverse authors.
FUTURE PLANNING AND YOUR VOICE We closed our year with the primary results of the community research on priorities around immigrant integration and inclusion. TCLIP commissioned the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) to gather input from the Tri-Cities communities on the important issues that support immigrants to
settle and thrive. The results from the research will inform the TCLIP’s priorities for their next strategic plan. This research was carried out through 2020, wherein 169 individuals were consulted through focus groups and surveys, to determine community priorities around immigrant integration and inclusion to foster welcoming and inclusive communities..
We hope you join us in 2021 in more opportunities and initiatives that move us towards building a more equitable, diverse and inclusive community.
@tricitieslip
@tricitieslip
@tc_lip HTTPS://TRICITIESLIP.CA/