May 2017: New HQ completed May 2015: Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson broke ground for MOSAIC’s new headquarters. (Pages 20-21) 201 6-2 01 7 ANNUAL REPORT Empowering newcomers to fully participate in Canadian society TABLE OF CONTENTS Q&A with MOSAIC Chairperson ................................................................. 3 Noteworthy News ........................................................................................ 4 Executive Director’s message .................................................................... 5 To LINC with love ......................................................................................... 6 Teachers’ thoughts ...................................................................................... 8 The art of the interview ............................................................................ 10 Full Circle: Former refugees pay it forward ............................................ 12 How do you build trust? ........................................................................... 14 Finding Hope: Unique programs impact Syrian newcomers ............... 16 Standing Strong: Resettled Tibetans rebuild their lives ........................ 19 MOSAIC makes its move! .......................................................................... 20 Rise, Resist, Repeat: The struggle for gender equality .......................... 22 Teens learn coping skills ........................................................................... 23 Annual Report 2016-2017 ........................................................................ 24 Festival MOSAIC ......................................................................................... 37 MOSAIC in your community ..................................................................... 40 Our Vision Empowering newcomers to fully participate in Canadian society Our Mission MOSAIC delivers services and engages in community building and advocacy to facilitate meaningful participation of immigrants and refugees in Canadian society EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ninu Kang MANAGING EDITOR Dianna Lee EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Juliana de Souza, Eris Lam, Chantelle MacIsaac, Roman Guramishvili COPY EDITOR Joanna Habdank PROOFREADER Linda Davies PRODUCTION Type Creations PHOTOGRAPHERS Aziz Dhamani, Leeza Han @mosaicbc We thank our clients and staff for allowing the use of their www.mosaicbc.org images in MOSAIC ’s 2016-2017 Annual Report. © Copyright September 2017 Q&A WITH MOSAIC CHAIRPERSON Q: What has MOSAIC’s Board of Directors been focused on this past year? A: Over a 40-year period, MOSAIC has had a proud history of advocating for refugee rights and services. With the unprecedented influx of refugees coming into Canada and British Columbia over the past 18 months, it became clear that service capacities weren’t sufficiently meeting the needs of Dr. Mehran Kiai the refugees. The Board deliberated on this and decided to use reserve MOSAIC Chairperson funds to provide resources for new programs, and support existing programs and services to assist in the refugees’ settlement. Towards this end, and in support of our mission to empower newcomers to fully participate in BOARD OF DIRECTORS Canadian society, eight full-time staff dedicated to working with this 2016-2017 vulnerable demographic were funded. MOSAIC’s new headquarters at Wall • Dr. Mehran Kiai (Chairperson) Centre – Central Park was transformed from concept to reality in this past year as the amenity space, granted by the City of Vancouver, was readied for • Cheryl Nelms (Vice Chairperson) possession by May 2017. Many thanks to the Wall Financial Group for the • Maia Tsurumi (Secretary) beautiful finishing and furnishings at the site, and special kudos to the Space Committee members including board members Jeff Brooks, Adam Policzer • Christian Duff (Treasurer) and Yijin Wen for their year-long commitment, guidance, and efforts in • Karina Briño helping to establish this impressive facility. • Jeff Brooks Q: What are some challenges facing MOSAIC? • Bark Kong A. Sustainability in the face of a rising cost of living, especially around housing, creates challenges as we strive to help settle refugees and • Bryan Cassidy newcomers in our communities. While we cannot change market forces, we • Wendy Ma hope to play a role in finding solutions. • Miliça Nauman Q: What is Canada doing well regarding its immigration policy? • Deanna Okun-Nachoff A: For many years, Canada’s immigration system has served as a model for • Adam Policzer countries around the world. In the 1960’s, we were the first country to adopt a “points” system and although the formula for awarding points has changed • George Somerwill over the decades, it has long been considered a fair and effective way to • Yijin Wen qualify the economic class of newcomers. In 2016, the targets were set to receive approximately 53% of newcomers based on the points system and perceived ability to contribute to Canada’s economy, while 27% admissions were based on family ties and 20% arrived as refugees or for humanitarian reasons. It is important to note that the impressive receptivity of Canadians towards immigration policies has given our country a universal reputation as a safe and welcoming place for immigrants and newcomers. Q: What can the country improve upon so that newcomers can better integrate? A. Settlement organizations such as MOSAIC help newcomers to bridge the divide between the culture and customs of their native country and Canada. It is imperative that support for these programs, along with the continued support and engagement of individual communities remains strong so that Learn more about newcomers can integrate sooner and begin participating and contributing to MOSAIC board members at Canadian society. mosaicbc.org/board MOSAIC 2016-2017 | 3 NOTEWORTHY NEWS MOSAIC can now MOSAIC achieves directly sponsor refugees re-accreditation to Canada Following an onsite audit by an In February 2017, MOSAIC became international team from CARF in the 18th Sponsorship Agreement October 2016, MOSAIC has retained Holder (SAH) in British Columbia. This its gold seal status for another three Michael Radano, official status allows the organization years. This achievement is an Director of Employment to work with others in the community indication of MOSAIC’s commitment and Language Services to bring in refugees, or to directly and dedication to improving the lives sponsor refugees ourselves. of its clients. The CARF report Executive change supports the organization’s Regarding the decision to become a continuous improvement cycle and MOSAIC is pleased to announce that Sponsorship Agreement Holder, Eyob provides a roadmap on areas of focus Michael Radano assumed the role as Naizghi, Executive Director, said it was over the next three-year period. Director of Employment and Language a simple choice: “We asked ourselves Services, effective June 1, 2017. what else we could do to help with the The accreditation process applies sets campaign to support refugees. And of standards to service areas and Radano took over from Joan the combination of our experience business practices during an on-site Andersen, who successfully led the and resources, along with our capacity survey. Accreditation, however, is an employment and language divisions at to help, creates a synergy that makes ongoing process, signaling to the MOSAIC for eight years and stepped this the logical next step for MOSAIC.” public that a service provider is down to pursue contract work. committed to continuously improving services, encouraging feedback, and Radano left his position as CEO of the serving the community. Society of Translators and Interpreters of B.C. to join MOSAIC, and was To learn more, visit carf.org previously Director of Business and Information Systems for the Certified General Accountants of Canada, as well as holding a variety of senior positions in the technology sector in Canada and the United States. He holds an MBA from SFU and is experienced in both the for-profit and the not-for-profit sectors. Eyob Naizghi, Executive Director, said, “I know Michael will do an excellent job as director for the department, but he will also be a significant contributor to MOSAIC at the strategic level.” Learn more about MOSAIC's management team: mosaicbc.org/management LINC management team with Joan Andersen at her farewell event. Left to Right: Anita Schuller, Nina Miller, Joan, Diana Ospina and Chantelle MacIsaac 4 | MOSAIC 2016-2017 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE MOSAIC celebrated a significant members and staff and milestone this past year, marking 40 representatives from partner years of supporting immigrants and organizations to engage with him on refugees to fully participate in the issues of global refugees and Canadian society through service Canada’s humanitarian response. provision, advocacy, public engagement and community We presented to the Governor Eyob Naizghi development. General MOSAIC’s exemplary Executive Director for MOSAIC leadership in responding to the global The organization served more clients refugee crisis through mobilizing our partnership with the developer, Wall – an increase of 7% to 28,370, and own resources and engaging the Financial. I cannot thank enough the offered more programs – up to 40 community to sponsor refugees. It studious contractors, consultants and from 36. This growth was driven by was a rewarding experience for staff from the City of Vancouver who the influx of Syrian and other MOSAIC staff to work with so many supported the MOSAIC team as we refugees,