2018-2019 A N N U A L R E P O R T

ELMWOOD COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE

5 4 5 W A T T S T R E E T , w w w . E L M W O O D C R C . C A W I N N I P E G , M A N I T O B A P h o n e : ( 2 0 4 ) 9 8 2 - 1 7 2 0 R 2 K 2 S 2 F a x : ( 2 0 4 ) 9 8 2 - 1 7 2 3 P A G E 1

Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC) is a not for profit community based organization established in 2001 in .

Vision Mission Motto Elmwood is a Community To build the Elmwood Neighbours helping of positive outcome for community with resources neighbours. everyone. and supports that make the neighbourhood a great place to live, work, and raise a family

MESSAGE FROM P A G E 2

Nin a Condo Norm Martin

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD It is such a privilege to work and serve t he individuals and families of Elmwood. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our funders, donors, community partners, stakeholders, and volunteers for going above and beyond expectations to assist us in furthering our goal of serving our community of Elmwood. Our deepest gratitude to staff for their tenacity, to keep up with the inexorably fast pace of change, thoughtfulness, brief periods of burn out, empathy, celebration, challenges, subversive humor, Kleenex, tears, sparkles, thank you cards. All this while walking beside each participants journey. The incredible numbers of services and activities offered throughout last year are because of the staff’s unquenchable dedication, and passion to empower our Elmwood residents to reach their full potential! Special thanks to each members of our team, they are the unsung heroes of ECRC. We had another successful year and now have accomplished all of the priorities set in our 2015 Strategic Plan. This year we have completed the final two priorities: a) Building Strategic Alliances through Knowledge Hub, b) renewing our commitment to diversity with more equitable and intentional effort to develop programs that respond to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action.

We continued to strengthen our programs, and create opportunities to reach out to more members of the Elmwood Community by offering;

Gender Based Violence Prevention Programming We implemented a Gender Based Violence Prevention programming with three pillars- pillar one- Family Counselling supporting families and youth who have experienced domestic violence and Trauma through individual or family therapy. The second pillar-Awakening Women’s Empowerment Program used a wrap-around approach in addressing issues of domestic violence and trauma by providing individual counselling, psycho-educational as well as therapeutic group. The program supported women and their children using a trauma-informed care lens, anti-oppressive practices and strength based approach. The third pillar-Inspiring Men, offering 6 weeks group therapy to discuss and develop healthy coping skills and ways of becoming ally in preventing violence in our families and communities.

The Awakening Women’s Empowerment program received a special recognition by the University of as Allan Klassen Health Equity Award from the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences.

Essential Needs Support Our organization has grown tremendously in recent years and the number of youth and families accessing our programs has increased significantly. In particular, our current kitchen facilities have not been able to keep up with our growth. Thank you to United Way of Winnipeg and Richardson Foundation for financial support to purchase and install a commercial dishwasher, new kitchen counter tops, and freezer.

Public Relations With the help of the Province of Manitoba-Municipal Relations, we were able to install new building signage at our 545 Watt St as well as purchasing new computers to improve access to technology for our drop-in participants. Finally, we were also able to print promotional materials such as the centre’s new Brochures.

We extend a massive thank you to the people that have helped make the past year of the ECRC a thorough success.

BUILDING STRATEGIC ALLIANCES P A G E 3 THROUGH KNOWLEDGE HUB

The Knowledge Hub was developed to understand social determinants of health and ensure that ECRC develops stra tegic alliances to support the health and well-being of Elmwood residents by meeting the needs for education & literacy, employment, mental health, cultural programming, income security, and housing support.

This has been accomplished by bringing the Elmwood community and stakeholders together to develop innovative approaches, which will enhance the social determinants of health of Elmwood residents. We are working closely with Primary Care medical services -Family Physicians from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority –Access River East in creating and strengthening our referral system. Additionally, medical students worked in our counselling program in delivering various community activities.

In partnership with University of Manitoba- Faculty of Social Work, students developed various program activities. Our in-house counsellors developed and implemented clinical frameworks, including an Anti- Oppressive approach; Trauma-Informed Care; Strength-based approach and Suicide Risk assessment framework. Students worked on developing our 2019 Environment Scan which provides data for services needs and gaps in Elmwood area.

In partnership with Brandon University, the Faculty of Psychiatric Nursing worked in collaboration with our team to develop mental health and wellness tool kits for both youth and families.In collaboration with Elmwood High School, EMWC, YMCA downtown, IRCOM, we offered 2nd annual Spring Break Basketball Classicto over 184 youth various activities including: basketball, games, teen’s wellness conversations, cultural activities for a full day during spring break.

We implemented internal professional development to better equip our staff called Learning Lunches where professionals and agencies provide information and training to our staff. We would like to thank the Winnipeg Foundation for their invaluable support towards professional development capacity of our staff members.

We have developed Literature reviews for the Awakening Women’s Empowerment Project. We continue to consult with Psychologist and researcher –Jocelyn Proux for evidence informed program development and evaluation to ensure we are enhancing individual social determinant of health using an evidence informed approach.

Anne, Our Development Manager, participated in the 360 City Podcast, which is a group of urban designers, planners, strategic thinkers on the impact of Community Hub such as Elmwood Community Resource Centre.

Thank you to everyone who made the achievements of this year’s strategic priorities a reality! We would not have done this without your tremendous support, your steadfast generosity with your time and resources to ECRC!

STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS P A G E 4

Staff Board Members Nina Condo ~ Executive Director Norm Martin Mark Stine ~ Operations Manager Dylon Martin Anne Oserin-Pinnock~ Development Manager Dianne Murdock Kameliya Denkova ~ Administrative Assistant Leopold Kumbakisaka Kayla Haas ~ Program Assistant Mathew Nordlund Charlene Connors ~ Counselor Christy Anderson Lauren Barker ~ Social Change Agent Lisa Wlasichuk Auday Ab Redah ~ Newcomer Settlement Worker Marko Gjuric Anna Morgante ~ Newcomer Settlement Worker Christine Larose Keria Loewen ~ Tot Spot Coordinator Monika Franklin-Bevan Beth McDonald~ Mental Wellness Coordinator Jennifer Nolin ~ GOAL Teacher Tarek Aziz ~ GOAL Teacher Stephanie Edwards ~ Traditional Parenting Facilitator Mathew Jospeh ~ Community Connector Munugakonwa Mulumeoderhwa ~ Youth Facilitator Allysa Geddes ~ HEEY Facilitator/ Mini-Year Facilitator Sean Sousa ~ Youth Facilitator Hurui Bereketab ~ Youth Facilitator 2018-19 THEME- RECONCILIATION P A G E 5

We as a centre recognize that we are located on Treaty One Territory, therefore, we acknowledge the treaties that were made on this land. With the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action in mind, we strive to work towards reconciliation in our community. As a community, we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with our Indigenous community.

Throughout our programs and services we aim to embody major themes of the Truth and Reconciliation's Principles and Calls to Action. An anti-oppressive and systems lens leads our daily service to community members. In our Traditional Child Care Practices Program we strive to strengthen Indigenous peoples culture and traditional ways of parenting!Our Family Fun Days partake in medicine picking as collective community and shared with each other the importance of each medicine. Not only do we discuss reconciliation among Indigenous peoples, we develop and practice ways to reconcile with the diverse populations within our community. Our overall goal is to build the bridges between groups and heal as a whole community. Within our newcomer population reconciliation is also sought after.

Together let us stand and connect the bridges within the community!

FAMILY RESOURCES P A G E 6

BUILDING BRIDGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

Drop-in We provide access to community resources, safe space, computer lab, career counselling, community lunches, Wellness Workshops, Resilience Garden for the community to harvest fresh vegetables.

Events such as Family Fun Day , where families can enjoy activities from relaxing at the beach to playing a game of bingo, or even painting are available at the drop-in .

750 5,226 7,939 1,800 11,472 cups of coffee served Breakfast with Take Pride Elmwood Accessed phones, Drop-in visits to community Santa Attendances Attendances faxing, & computers members CHILD PROGRAMING P A G E 7

Tot-Spot

A short-term child care program that was designed to provide parents with child care support while attending centre programs, groups, and other commitment .

Mini-Year

A program offered on Mondays for ages 6-11 years. Children have a chance to explore the world around them through recreational activities, cooking, and art projects.

Summer Program After School Lighthouse

In partnership with Frontier A program stationed at River Elm School and Lord Selkirk School. Allows College, we offer summer literacy children to find their identity through Indigenous cultural practices, such camp for children ages 6 to 12 as performing Pow Wow dances. Involves community connection, as years old. Allows children to keep well as an enhanced mental and physical health through activities such up with their literacy capacity as hockey and yoga. throughout the summer.

1404 341 45 children meals and Mini-Year attendances snacks provided sessions INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL CHILDCARE P A G E 8 PRACTICES

OMBIGIAAWSIWIN

This program was developed in consultation with Elders, knowledge keepers, and our Early Childhood Educator Facilitator. Building bridges with various communities through the sharing of cultural parenting practices. Some of the cultural activities included; drum making, learning traditional songs, making medicine bags, and learning about the 7 sacred teachings.

205 176 58 144 children accessed Adult Child Families short-term Attendances Attendances benefited from the program childcare activities YOUTH PROGRAMMING P A G E 9

Homework Education for Elmwood Youth (HEEY)

Enhances academic success by engaging youth in literacy based program. Provides youth with one-on-one support, mental health support, and leadership circles.

This program takes a holistic approach that supports youth to overcome social issues, poverty, crime, low literacy rate and mental health issues through a mix of academic, social and recreational activities that stimulate active learning that lays a foundation for a unique, effective academic success.

Reach Out!

Provide tools to the youth to keep them safe and inspire them to take care of themselves as a whole, including their, mind, body, emotions, and spirit

164 83 15,674 385 Recreational hours of homework life skill sessions meals provided activities sessions provided P A G E 1 0 NEWCOMER IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT PROGRAM (NISW)

The newcomer Immigrant Settlement services supports families living in Elmwood. Families received mental health supports, needs assessments, referrals to other service, home visits, & support with systems navigation.

In addition the NISW program offers educational sessions on a variety of topics such as coping skills, housing, parenting, family law, Indigenous history and community awareness.

Also includes English conversation circles, employment and volunteer opportunities, skills training, and childminding is provided.

300 498 555 100% reported learning supported 181 sessions provided hours of programming more about families Home visits Canadian systems P A G E 1 1 COUNSELLING SERVICES

The family counselling programs are intended to strengthen families and youth who have experienced domestic violence and abuse, trauma through individual or family therapy.

The programs include crisis and long-term individual counselling sessions, Psycho-educational group workshop sessions, trauma therapy and mental wellness.

Awakening Women's Art Therapy Program

A gender based violence prevention program that is based on the Cognitive Behavior Theory, trauma healing, feminist perspective, conflict resolution and healthy relationships.

Inspiring Men's Program

Another gender based violence prevention program that addresses societal roles and expectations, trauma healing, coping skills, conflict resolution, and cultural perspectives.

548 524 189 148 505 therapeutic Advocay Sessions snacks served individuals supported hours of programming counselling sessions P A G E 1 2 ADULT SERVICES

GOAL Adult Literacy and GED Preparation Program

A literacy program for adult learners (19 and older). Program teachers offer assistance in GED Students work on Adult Learning and Literacy preparation, basic computer skills, and curriculum and on independent programs of study to achieve personal learning goals. even math skills!

Elmwood Youth Employment Experience (EYEE)

The Elmwood Youth Employment Experience (EYEE) employability skills training program. The objective of the EYEE program to help those aged 18 to 29 overcome their barriers to obtaining employment by providing participants with training to obtain the skills they need to find and keep a job.

55 168 2457 1596 attendances hours of learning learners registered Employment support sessions provided SOCIAL CHANGE IN ACTION P A G E 1 3

The Elmwood Community Resource Centre's commitment to building the Elmwood community has also expanded in being a social change agent by providing knowledge expertise to drive positive change for our community.

Our staff have been involved in providing training at various national conferences regarding Gender Based Violence Prevention, Best Practices on Trauma-Informed Care, and Implementing Anti-Oppressive Framework in service delivery at several conferences including: National Metropolis Conference, Strangers in New Homelands International Conference, World Refugee Day.

In the National Metropolis Conference Dr. Lori Wilkson from the University of Manitoba and Natasha Beg, the Assistant Director of Settlement and Integration Policy at Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada, joined the ECRC team to present on promising practices for Gender Based Violence within the settlement sector.

Our staff participated and supported The Civic Engagement Campaign to empower newcomers to take part civic municipal elections, which was led by Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW). Additionally our staff members actively participate on IPW various Sector Tables.

The Executive Director, Nina Condo, has been appointed to represent The Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance on the National Gender Based Violence Strategy, led by Immigration Refugee Citizenship Canada.

Charlene Connors, our Family Counsellor participated on the Poverty Reduction Roundtable in collaboration with other local organizations and elected officials.

Charlene, our Family Counsellor and Lauren, our Social Change Counsellor successfully delivered integrated service model for the Awakening Women's programing in partnership with Together in Elmwood Parent Coalition.

Furthermore, ECRC staffs are engaged on various Board of Directors and Committees, such as Manitoba Association of Newcomers Settlement Organization, The West Broadway Youth Outreach, Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation, Together In Elmwood Parent Coalition and more. ECRC team has continued to lead the Elmwood Mental Wellness Coalition work in collaboration with local community agencies, mental health stakeholders, and Healthy Child Manitoba. P A G E 1 4 P A G E 1 5 P A G E 1 6 Gratitude to our Generous Funders & Donors P A G E 1 7 Community Involvement and Partnerships

Assiniboine Credit Union- Henderson Branch Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development (CAHRD) Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation(CNRC) City of Winnipeg Elmwood/ East Kildonan Active Living Centre Elmwood High School Frontier College Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Parish Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) Immigrant Partnership of Winnipeg Kildonan MCC Thrift Shop Lord Selkirk School Manitoba Public Insurance Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO) Munroe Public Library RBC –Henderson Branch Riverwood Community Church River Elm School Together In Elmwood Parent Child Coalition University of Manitoba University of Winnipeg Winnipeg Harvest Winnipeg Regional Health Authority-River East Transcona Community Areas Winnipeg Police Service

Thank you! Appreciation to all our volunteers, P A G E 1 8 thank you!

Doris Deraps - Traditional Parenting Carla Luis - Resiliency Garden Ninoondawah Richar- Tradtional Parenting Mila Luis- Resiliency Garden Mark Fahim - Goal Kianna Luis - Resiliency Garden Hayley Hussman - Reach Out! Halimah Connors- Resiliency Garden Vivek Vivek - Reach Out! Mark Simpson- Resiliency Garden Randy Plant - Goal Kaylor Konrad- Resiliency Garden Mandy Marsland - Goal Zarmina Zarmina- Resiliency Garden Leilani Esteban - Goal Phil Haazard - Lunch & Learn Rhael Wube Abimbola Abasa - Lunch & Learn Nazefa Ismael Ayo Orugun - Lunch & Learn Eugene Emery - Resiliency Garden Neema Mulumeoderhwa - Reach Out!/Mini-Year Margaret Brown - Resiliency Garden Laysar Dee - Mini-Year Barbara Chatelaine - Resiliency Garden Fehintoluwa Orogun- Mini-Year Mark Werner - Resiliency Garden Radeate Tadesse - Mini-Year Kevin Radtke - Resiliency Garden Gabriella Swampy - Mini-Year Karen Preteau - Resiliency Garden Samuel Obasa - Reach Out!/Mini-Year Kristen Hooper - Resiliency Garden Julian Payment - Reach Out!/ Mini-Year Geraldine Connors - Resiliency Garden Favour Lawal - Reach Out! Sheena Connors - Resiliency Garden ValentineAdedeji - Reach Out! Heather Buhler - Resiliency Garden Benyam Abegaz - Reach Out! Dale Feschuk - Resiliency Garden Yesake Abegaz - Reach Ou! Alison Lemoine - Resiliency Garden Kurubel Abegaz - Reach Out! Kevin Grace - Resiliency Garden Issac Caulker - Reach Out! Lydia Bachmeier - Resiliency Garden Victoria Schimanowsky - Reach Out! Axel Bachmeier- Resiliency Garden Steven Ajibi - Reach Out! Adara Sajtos- Resiliency Garden Dustin Solverson - Reach Out! Brandon Olfert - Resiliency Garden Jola Orogun - Reach Out Ryan Nagel - Resiliency Garden Jennifer Vandal - Reach Out! Adelle Fenn - Resiliency Garden Aaron Kisimba - Reach Out! Halle Fenn Holdnick - Resiliency Garden Daniel Kisimba - Reach Out! Ives Holdnick - Resiliency Garden Rachel Kisimba - Reach Out! Isabella Fenn Holdnick - Resiliency Garden Nshizirungu Ndanyzwe - Reach Out! Jason Dmyterko - Resiliency Garden Titus Bargeboe -Reach Out! Sherry Emery - Resiliency Garden Timothy Bargeboe - Reach Out! Sandy Lissenberg - Resiliency Garden Shukuru Mulumeoderhwa - Reach Out! Rob Lissenberg - Resiliency Garden

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. ~ Mother Teresa ELMWOOD COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE Neighbours Helping Neighnbours

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: @ElmwoodRC

Youth Connections

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