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Welcome NL Building Capacity to Welcome Newcomers Dr. Willow Anderson, Mind the Gap Consulting™
3 • Context Outline • Key components • Related research • Next steps
Context • Demographic challenges in NL - 10% decline in working-age population by 2025 • Reduced workers, reduced tax revenue • “ The Way Forward: On Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador ” ** • 1,700 immigrants* annually by 2022 • Attracting newcomers, but also retaining • ANC has opened satellite offices in Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, Labrador City, Happy Valley-Goose Bay ** http://ow.ly/4Esv30hTn8i 4
5 Welcome NL Toolkit Outreach Creation of multimedia settlement Presentations will be delivered to and integration toolkit to raise municipal delegates at regional awareness and offer guidance on meetings to obtain feedback welcoming for communities respecting areas for additional coverage Working Group Key Personnel Municipal representatives, Kathleen Parewick, MNL settlement NGOs, and community & members will provide feedback Willow Anderson Mind The Gap Consulting™ and guidance on toolkit development
Phase 1 Toolkit Material • Context for and importance of immigration • Immigration avenues • Identifying and supporting champions • How to do a welcoming community inventory • Services available for newcomers 6
Evidence-Based Approach Special consideration is being given to: • Nationally- and provincially-based research • Local lived experiences 7
17 Characteristics of a Welcoming Community These scholars did an in-depth look into what makes a community welcoming for newcomers. Any guesses on what they found? Esses, V., Hamilton, L. K., Bennett-Abu Ayyash, C., & Burstein, M. (2010). Characteristics of a welcoming community. Welcoming Communities Initiative , http://bit.ly/1MBSanN 8
17 Characteristics 1. Employment opportunities 2. Fostering social capital 3. Affordable and suitable housing 4. Positive attitudes towards immigrants 5. Presence of newcomer support services 6. Connections between the main players 7. Features and services sensitive to newcomers 8. Educational opportunities 9
17 Characteristics 9. Accessible and suitable healthcare 10. Available and accessible public transit 11. Presence of diverse religious organizations 12. Social engagement opportunities 13. Political engagement opportunities 14. Positive relationships (police/justice system) 15. Safety 16. Opportunities for use of public space/recreation 17. Favorable media coverage 10
Local Experiences • Things that can be challenging include: Geographic and social isolation, weather, racism, adapting to a more rural setting • David recounted the story of a woman who immigrated to Canada and settled in a mid- sized NL town: “she said she didn’t like Toronto. She thought it was a village compared to [home].” (Anderson, 2012) 11
Local Experiences • Things that help: Offering to help, inviting people to activities they may not have the skills/equipment for, facilitating employment/social connections • When does a newcomer know they have been accepted as a local? (Anderson, 2012) 12
“You come closer to belonging here (at least in my frame of reference) when someone says you are just like a bayman. I like that. And, to that extent, I have a boat. I go out fishing. I have a lot in common with the folks around here. So, at least in [this community], I feel a sense of belonging because I don’t get asked ‘where are you from?’ at all— they know I’m from here now.” - Miguel (Anderson, 2012) 13
Something to ponder “Community cannot feed for long on itself; it can only flourish where always the boundaries are giving way to the coming of others from beyond them — unknown and undiscovered brothers.” (Thurman, 1971, p. 104) 14
Ways you can get involved • Look through the material on the website • Spread the word about the toolkit in your area • Become a point person for future engagement in your region 15
Thanks! Any questions? Find us at welcomenl@municipalnl.ca @WelcomeMNL 16
17 Credits Advanced Education, Skills, and Labour (2017), The Way Forward: On Immigrating in Newfoundland and Labrador http://ow.ly/4Esv30hTn8i Advanced Education, Skills, and Labour (2018), The Way Forward: Immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador Anderson, W.J. (2012). Immigration to rural Newfoundland: Individual and community change (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from: http://hdl.handle.net/1928/21043 Esses, V., Hamilton, L. K., Bennett-Abu Ayyash, C., & Burstein, M. (2010). Characteristics of a welcoming community. Welcoming Communities Initiative http://bit.ly/1MBSanN
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