1. OCASI PDC. June 13th 2012
Saying What We Do:
Using communication
effectively for strengthening
community presence and
promoting leadership among
newcomers
The experience of the Mennonite New Life Centre

2. The Mennonite New Life Centre
 Since 1983 supporting recent immigrants from diverse
cultural communities. Special priority: low-income
newcomers (asylum seekers and refugees).
 In 2007, a community consultation and visioning process
led the New Life Centre to identify community organizing
and advocacy work as a priority for the future.
 The Mennonite New Life Centre envisions a society in which all
people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds participate
fully in all aspects of Canadian life.
 The Mennonite New Life Centre’s mission is to facilitate newcomer
settlement and integration through holistic services and community
engagement, carried out within a gender justice and anti-
oppression framework.

3. The Mennonite New Life Centre
 We are modeling an approach that brings together
community engagement and community services,
working together with newcomers to reduce
insecurity and reach integration, strengthen
voices and increase social equality.
 A related priority involved addressing newcomer
concerns with issues of access to employment and
civic participation.

4. Newcomer Skills at Work: Refusing to
Settle for Less Project (2008- Metcalf Foundation)
To respond to the needs and concerns of
newcomers in relation to:
 Access to fair paid and meaningful employment
 Promotion of leadership and civic engagement
while engaging them in collective analysis and
advocacy to propose policy change.

5. Strategies
Nurturing newcomer
leadership through
analysis and action to
address root causes of
newcomer concerns
Building connections Strengthening our
and solidarity among organizational
low-income capacity to advocate
newcomers, working with low-income
people and the social newcomers for
movement systemic change

6. Communication: strengthening newcomer
voices and promoting newcomer leadership
Public
Speaking
Community
Forums
Video&
New Voices
Newcomer
Advocacy
Committee
(PAR, monthly
meetings, leadership
trainings)

7. Conceptualizing the process:
From the •Breaking the isolation
•Verbalizing sense of exclusion
INDIVIDUAL to the •Re-valuing assets
•Re-encountering with dreams and expectations
COLLECTIVE •Sharing systemic and structural analysis
•Having the first-hand experience, valuable analysis
From the CRITICAL •Valuing the analysis, proposing changes
•Voicing priorities, shaping their environment
REFLECTION to the •Creating concrete products (videos, presentations , etc)
ACTION •Sharing PAR findings (reflections)
•Leading community-based coalitions
From the LACK OF •Understanding Canadian political (decision-making)
•Informing and using formal spaces for engagement
KNOWLEDGE to (voting, deputations, consultations process, etc)
•Training on key aspects
the AWARENESS •Realizing immigrant success not only job outcomes

8. Winter 2009/2010
Employer Incentives and Legislative Change:
Newcomer Internships and Employment Equity
Summer 2010
Civic and Political Participation of New Immigrates:
community experiences
Winter 2010/ 2011
Equity in Canada: refugee policy, employment
equity, women’s rights and freedom of expression.
Summer 2011
Contributions of new Canadians: invigorating our
democratic debate, building bridges between
cultures, giving back to local communities, and
stimulating the economy through creative
entrepreneurship.
Fall 2011:
Bright Ideas for a Better Ontario: increasing
academic success rates for immigrant
youth, ensuring newcomers enjoy health and
wellness , improving access to employment
opportunities
Summer 2012:
Canadian Experience

9. OUR LEARNINGS