Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s Post

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending an Open Doors event at the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre. It was a fabulous event where the community had a chance to celebrate with each other as well as enjoy some yummy treats! It was also an opportunity to discuss the upcoming National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Witnessing traditional indigenous dance and drumming and listening to the speaker talk about the idea of the medicine wheel - sage, cedar, sweetgrass and tobacco made me reflect our history as a country but also my own faith traditions. One of our core tenants of justice is "stand up for truth, even if it's against yourselves (your family, your tribe, your group)". To me, this is the litmus test for your commitment to the idea of truth. It sounds simple enough but so difficult to practice consistently, especially when you perceive the stakes to be very high. Standing up for truth seems to be a no-brainer but if the impacts of doing so adversely affect your world view, business, job, reputation or power, what then? I sometimes ask myself this question in the context of my business. Despite what appear to be the facts, am I holding on to old ideas because "we've always done it this way" or to protect some other dogma or idea I have about myself or my past? I'm not pretending to be an expert this subject nor did I ever study it in depth, but when I think about the history of indigenous peoples in Canada, i feel that we have adopted the stance of "stand up for the truth, except if it's against yourself". In recent years, there has been more of a willingness for our leaders and institutions to take a close hard look at the question of truth. Heck, we even have a national day for it now. Today, Indigenous peoples represent approximately 5% of the population of Canada but 32% of people in custody and 30% of children in foster care. While the truth about things like residential schools and the 60's scoop are now being talked about openly, we can see the legacy of not only their impacts through intergenerational trauma but also the systemic biases still at work today. While the conversation about truth seems to have started, the journey toward reconciliation seems to be a long way off. #westscarborough #truthandreconciliation #community #managedIT

Hello everyone! Here is my fourth #EJAFellowsUpdate! Last week, I had the opportunity to observe one of KIND’s amazing paralegals conduct a client intake. KIND mostly handles asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ), T-visa, and U-visa cases, so the intake is designed to be the initial screening of the client’s eligibility for each of these relief categories. Going through the eligibility considerations for each pathway is a long process involving lengthy questions, which can often take a few hours. The intake consists of asking the child personal questions about their life in their country of origin, their migration journey, their time in detention with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), and their life now in the United States. As you can imagine, these questions can bring up a lot of trauma for the child. Given the vulnerability of the children, the intaker will often take breaks, provide snacks, offer reassurance, and, if a question is too upsetting, move on. This takes off some of the pressure of getting to every question, as the intake is merely the initial meeting, and the child will have an opportunity to connect with their KIND attorney or pro bono attorney later, where they can talk more about their experiences. During the intake I observed, I witnessed the paralegal putting the child’s needs first throughout the long process and providing a welcoming and comforting presence. Afterwards, I realized the importance of completing the intake as best as possible, but beyond that, the child’s well-being should always come first. As such, avoiding retraumatization and creating a safe environment is of the utmost importance, especially during the intake process. I can hardly believe that I only have two weeks left of my internship with KIND! Over these last few months, I have learned so much from the amazing attorneys and staff. I’m so appreciative of all of them for taking the time to show us the ropes. If you’re interested in donating to Equal Justice America’s amazing work, you can use the link below! https://lnkd.in/g2TxTH7p

🖤💛❤️ National Sorry Day 2024: Reflect, Heal, and Act ❤️💛🖤 On May 26, we mark National Sorry Day, a day of profound significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and all Australians. This day reminds us of the painful history and enduring impacts of the Stolen Generations, when countless Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: “𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫” This year’s theme resonates deeply with the urgency to acknowledge our past, foster reconciliation, and take meaningful actions towards healing. It underscores the critical need for understanding, empathy, and collective effort in building a future that respects and honours First Nations people and their cultures. As a First Nations owned and NDIS registered provider, we are committed to supporting our communities through every step of this journey. Our dedication extends beyond services; it includes advocating for justice, equity, and the preservation of our rich cultural heritage. 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟏. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞: Take time to learn about the history of the Stolen Generations and share this knowledge with others. Education is a powerful tool for change. 𝟐. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: Amplify and support First Nations voices. Follow Indigenous-led organizations and leaders who are driving change. 𝟑. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Engage in events and activities during National Reconciliation Week (May 27 - June 3). This year’s theme, “Now More Than Ever,” calls on everyone to play a part in reconciliation efforts. 𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞: Reflect on how your actions contribute to reconciliation. Consider how you can be an ally in your daily life and in your community. Let’s use this day as a starting point for continuous reflection and active participation in reconciliation. Together, we can create a more inclusive and just Australia. #NationalSorryDay #Reconciliation #NowMoreThanEver #FirstNations #Healing #NDISProvider #CulturalHeritage #CommunitySupport

Thank you to Jia L. for sharing your perspective and continually advocating for immigrant families as a part of your family empowerment work! On our blog, Jia has taken the time to detail some of the ways schools can support immigrant families in the school system. Head here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eD-h4gja

Today, on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we honor the survivors of residential schools and acknowledge the deep pain and trauma endured by Indigenous families and communities across Canada. This day serves as a powerful reminder of the injustice faced by Indigenous Peoples and the importance of listening to their stories. It is a moment to reflect on the lasting impacts of these institutions, recognize the strength of survivors, and commit to supporting healing and reconciliation efforts. Reconciliation is more than a one-day event; it is an ongoing process of learning, understanding, and taking action. As individuals and communities, we must work together to foster a future where Indigenous rights are respected, and their voices are amplified. Let’s use this day as a call to action—whether through education, advocacy, or meaningful partnerships—to contribute to a more inclusive and just society for all. 🧡 #NDTR #TruthAndReconciliation #EveryChildMatters #IndigenousRights #CanadaReconciliation

CHILDREN’S DAY: August 4th is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. Not only does this day allow Australians to show their support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, but to also learn about the impact that culture, family and community play in the life of every child. Learn more about how you can support and get involved in this day here: https://bit.ly/3xWoVi6 #RomerMaud #FamilyLaw

Petition EN5849 - Don't remove Decision Making and Choice from People on NDIS. Petition Status The petition is currently open for signatures During the review process only 10 000 Australians participated in the NDIS Review which was a rushed process over 12 months. Only 1000 of those were people who identified as disabled were involved out of 600 000 accessing the scheme. We call for a more consultative and engaged process with people who identify with having a disability about the proposed removal of hiring Unregistered Independent Workers and Businesses. This process is harmful and removes Choice and Control from people. Choice and Control were one of the initial pillars of the NDIS when it was bipartisanly legislated in 2013. Petition Request We therefore ask the House to ensure that this important choice to be legislated as an option that remains a permanent choice. We hire many small businesses and individuals in the service industry and feel no need to disclose our disability who are not a Registered Provider. There is also an important choice for disabled people living independently and engaging with the community to hire Independent Support Workers for a number of reasons. It is more cost effective as we can negotiate rates which you cannot do with Registered Providers. There is more control with training and how the person chooses to be supported in their daily life.

King County's systemic failures are met with unwavering resistance from our grassroots community. Thank you Real Change, for letting me share our side of the story highlighting our collective struggle for justice and accountability. It’s time for action, not just promises. Again I am grateful for the platform to amplify this crucial fight for change. Read the article & join the movement: King County’s Failure, Our Resistance #GrassrootsPower #JusticeForAll #CommunityResistance #Accountability #KingCounty"

One interesting angle on advocacy are the efforts some people devote to prodding certain key players to get more involved. In sectors like philanthropy, there can be a reluctance because it seems too political. As founder of the Center for Community Foundation Policy Leadership, longtime criminal justice reform advocate Stephen Saloom has been focused on encouraging and supporting community foundations to advocate on their issues. As Stephen shared on the podcast, the strongest case for doing so traces back to these organizations' stated missions. Community foundations' missions typically commit them to the well-being of the local populace in the broadest terms—as broadly as any governmental body or public official. So it's only logical, Stephen argues, that community foundations should get engaged in questions of policy that affect the local community. https://lnkd.in/gbzzT-Ba

For the health, education, and financial stability of all.