It it?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Well, we'll do calls.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Emil has is a member of the migma people, peoples of Chapel Islands.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and he will.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): We pronounce that properly later on. Today Emil has been an indigenous ambassador since the
Zahra Esmail (she/her): of 7, Knowing his mission at the age of 5,
Zahra Esmail (she/her): making him the ultimate fit for his role as indigenous Li Exam. For the Rural Development Network, an organization that supports rural community developments.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): A meal informs the Rdm or the Rural Development network on the history and narrative of indigenous people. as it relates to their work. Welcome a meal.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you to all of you for being here, and thank you to all of you for joining us today. so let's jump right in.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): We have a couple of questions that will be guiding this conversation today, but, like, I said, we will be looking for some engagement from all of you and I'll be keeping an eye on the chat box as we as we dig in here.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): So the first question that we're going to be starting with
Zahra Esmail (she/her): is given the widespread, influential factors and impacts that have taken place in the past few years.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): What trends or changes have you seen in your work, and how has this been reflected in the core purpose of your organization?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): The big question, and well again. Let's start with your comments first.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Well, thank you very much, Sarah, and good afternoon, everyone. It's such a privilege to be here, and a big Thank you to the Tamar Institute for convening this space to have this important discussion about the health
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and resilience of the most profit sector in our country. So my name is Augustakova. I have the privilege of leading Mosaic one of canada's largest immigrant-serving organizations
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: over 45 years with the supporting newcomers to BC. Through a variety of services where they'd settlement, language, training, employment. We work with newcomers from over 130 different countries.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and we do so through our dedicated team of about to 500 employees and about 300 volunteers. most of them who have lived to a linked experience as immigrants or refugees
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: so really thrill to be here and take part of this conversation.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So there's this: some trends i'd like to speak to that. I've seen that I think, will become for all of us. There might be others. They might be more specific to to our particular sector.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: but the some that are the few that i'd like to mention is
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: let me start with the first one. The fact that the virtual program delivery that we've all seen, and we all implemented during Covid is here to stay.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: It's not a temporary bending. It's not something that we've turned to during Covid and I have a Quebec
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I think both service organizations and
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and the clients have seen the the advantage of their to service delivery when appropriate. And again, I want to stress it's not doesn't mean that virtual service delivery. I'll replace everything we do. There is need for in-person services, but there's a lot of merit in certain cases to virtual on the line service delivery.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and because it's here to stay. That means that not for profits have to start
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: turning their attention more to online solutions to business applications.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: but not only the technological solutions, but really the the the whole increased complexity around data, safety and privacy.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: How intel information, client information is store like, how is it access and a lot of focus on cybersecurity, training? And and because, let's be honest when we talk about Csv data.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the biggest risk is the human factory. It's human error. What we click on, what attachment we open, that we are not supposed to. and this all requires a much more sophisticated
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: approach by, not for profits to investment beyond what we are used to like. This support, and it support
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: awesome things that were as perplexed because of funding shortages, and of course, a stuff that it's quite expensive, and expense is not covered by finders.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: despite the ever-increasing requires in the contract. I have been in the role for about 5 years, and I can tell you I've seen the difference in the the Government contracts, the section around
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: our obligations around data security and and
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: a confidential to grow. Often it's a sixty-page documents requiring state of art
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: approach, which is just affordable for for.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and this is not just about a serving client. This is also addressing the the change of how we work. I'm sure many of you have staff working remotely after Covid stuff are not willing to come back to the office. A lot of organizations are moving and are implementing hybrid work. And again, the way we work.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So if changes, if you if you're not in the office, if you calling virtually and pre creates more complexity, so that is definitely a huge focus. And I think we, as a sector need to really focus on how to build the capacity and the the resources here, because it has been underfunded for too long.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: The second related is the the glaring digital divide
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: that exist in our society. And it was very, very clear during Covid was very clear that that not everyone has access to what this technology to connectivity, but also have the skills to use and navigate the online world.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So as we see the service delivery access to support that that will continue in the online environment. and we'll see much of our lives and and training and job interviews moving online. There has to be greater focus on digital skills
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: in our programming, and then we've seen it where a digital program is becoming part of
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: embedding that training and will stay, and it will stay so. And also, of course, it's also becoming a big piece of our advocacy Efforts.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I think all of us have seen an incredible cost increases
case of infrastructure, insurance, rent, construction you name it. Cost of everything is going up.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and it's making it increasingly difficult to provide services from physical locations and operates physical donations. and we all know that cost of learning is driving. Seller increases many sectors that lead to staff turnover and our
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: lack of ability to retain and recruit.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And as as there are, so the sector is facing on percentage levels of vacancies, and especially at the senior levels, so we see a lot of senior leaders retiring or leading the sector. My question is, how do we, as it sector, actually sustain the knowledge and the experience and ensure business continuity.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Now there are some trans that are offer a little bit of hope to like with. I think we've all seen the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: an example very equal and trusted partnership between founders and and service providers during Covid. This in our case, we've seen our funders to say we understand. This is not business. As usual. You are the experts. You do what's needed. We trust you.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and that it was such a great experience, of course. Now it's coming back to the way it was before. There is a lot of
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: boxes put around, and all the limitations of what we can do so. But we've seen the glimpse of what can be. And I think, as a sector, we should really think about how to engage our founders in the discussion and have the trust-based relationship.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And the same we've seen with with a lot of the original contracts like in the past. We've seen a lot of service that variables limited by regions like you provide services in this region.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: But with this online role that doesn't make sense anymore. And you can also see. And we will have definitely witnessed that our our clients. Don't want to see that our clients don't want to get services at the place where they live.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: They want to choose where they seek services. Maybe it's where they work. Maybe it's where they pick up their kids from school or daycare.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Maybe it's what services are provided in their language. There's a lot of factors. And so we've already started engaging our funders in, and it'll be interesting to see how they P. But in this, because
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: they will need to be a she from from regional
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: contract. And maybe this is very last one very specific to to our work.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Just over the past year we've seen the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan war in Ukraine, rising hopefully across Africa.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So it's really the staggering levels of a conflict around the world.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And we are at all time high with the number of displays individuals around the world, with Canada as a world later, in resettling those in need
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and the generous nature response of Canadians. We will continue seeing and welcoming refugees. But we need to find a more system, a great to do that. It cannot be tried to figure out the response. But there's a crisis. Something happens in Afghanistan, and we try to figure out okay, scramble how you read that. About 6 months later something has to do with you crying the wall, how do we do that?
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So we really need to build those
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: systemic, a partnership and and systems where they just kicking what we need to respond. That means no just service. Providers like mosaic. That means housing providers that means employers and having those systems in place. So we are ready to respond to board will be an increasing
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: either conflict or or
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: displacement, because of the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: increasingly intense climate events that we see around the world.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So i'll just go there. Thank you
Zahra Esmail (she/her): so much. Okay, I think a lot of very
Zahra Esmail (she/her): for getting it started in that way.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Emil, what are your thoughts to that question, and I can repeat the question to remind people what we're chatting about. So given the widespread influential factors and impacts that have taken place in the last few years. What changes or trends have you seen in your work?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): And how is this been reflected in the core purpose of your organization
Zahra Esmail (she/her): over to you by now.
Emele Neufeld: Absolutely. Thank you. I would like to acknowledge, first and foremost, that you know I
Emele Neufeld: I struggle with things like you know nerves and and stuff like that. So I would just like to get ahead of myself and acknowledge myself as a human being first.
Emele Neufeld: and you know simply state that my role within rural development network is to help work with indigenous communities and indigenous populations. And how do we make our projects.
Emele Neufeld: You know, effective with indigenous communities and indigenous people.
Emele Neufeld: because.
Emele Neufeld: you know, all indigenous communities, for the most part
Emele Neufeld: are rural in reserves. You know, in these little pocket communities that were intentionally shoved outside of any municipal area.
Emele Neufeld: And that was, you know, from things like the Indian Act. And
Emele Neufeld: what my position does is it helps. you know. Talk about that history and help.
Emele Neufeld: you know. Talk about these things that are going on, You know, within Canada specifically.
Emele Neufeld: How do we move past a lot of that pain and hurt and educate. You know people that are struggling with the history of you know what they know has happened in Canada, and maybe some of their ancestors might have taken part in.
Emele Neufeld: you know, when they found
Emele Neufeld: all those kids in DC. That were, you know, hidden away.
Emele Neufeld: You know that wasn't necessarily a surprise to me. I grew up hearing a lot of those things from my elders. I grew up hearing those stories, and
Emele Neufeld: you know that sort of stuff scarred me as I was growing up, but it was also something that empowers me to want to do good by those kids that never had that childhood that I got to experience. Luckily.
Emele Neufeld: you know a lot of indigenous communities. They're They're living in third world conditions.
Emele Neufeld: you know my reserve. Personally, you know
Emele Neufeld: they have not had clean water, and they they they recently, I think, got a lot of that fixed, but it's not. It's not clean water, you know. It's just not running brown.
Emele Neufeld: and a lot of the houses, you know, especially in the Northern communities. They have mold in them
Emele Neufeld: because things like maintenance Aren't. Necessarily there's no budget for it.
Emele Neufeld: So how do we, you know, create opportunities for housing indigenous people for looking after
Emele Neufeld: a lot of the
Emele Neufeld: how do I put it? The historical trauma that has been
Emele Neufeld: forced upon indigenous peoples?
Emele Neufeld: Because, you know, we want to stand up on our own feet, too, but we've been shoved so far to the side that we can't do that.
Emele Neufeld: It's very, very, hard for a lot of our communities to be able to take care of themselves.
Emele Neufeld: and it was also something that was part of the treaties that were signed that indigenous peoples do receive things like medical care, and the resources they need.
Emele Neufeld: You know, 2 to 5. A medicine box is what they called it.
Emele Neufeld: And you know. how is it that I create opportunities. you know, for indigenous people's in my position by looking at the documents that we have
Emele Neufeld: not a support indigenous peoples? How do we create
Emele Neufeld: those pieces of knowledge that indigenous communities need to apply for the funding that they require so deeply.
Emele Neufeld: You know a lot of administration staff for bands.
Emele Neufeld: They don't have the same resources that municipalities to. There's like one person applying for, like all these different grants.
Emele Neufeld: but they're also wearing a lot of different other hats on them. So how do I make their lives easier.
Emele Neufeld: you know, for things like reaching home funding. That's something that Rdm.
Emele Neufeld: you know. They brought me on to try and see if I could help them make it so that indigenous communities have an Eastern time applying for things like reaching home, funding and other funding that are available.
Emele Neufeld: and we're trying to
Emele Neufeld: make the data more available to indigenous communities that they need. If you're doing indigenous data collection. so that is done by indigenous peoples for indigenous peoples.
Emele Neufeld: and
Emele Neufeld: I find it very, very empowering to talk to a lot of people and hear those stories. you know here where they come from, and what they deal with.
Emele Neufeld: because there's there's there's a there's a power in being able to tell your story in a in an empowering way, opposed to a disempowering way, where you constantly go to different services and providers, you know, jumping through their hoops through their documents to their you know service intake forms.
Emele Neufeld: telling your story repeatedly. We traumatizing yourself
Emele Neufeld: in a way that you know there's no one there to help provide that
Emele Neufeld: mental health first aid after
Emele Neufeld: you know those re traumatizations of yourself?
Emele Neufeld: You know. How do we create policies for communities
Emele Neufeld: that
Emele Neufeld: that help them, you know, make that make mental health
Emele Neufeld: more accessible for people that are struggling with homelessness.
Emele Neufeld: How do we identify what homelessness looks like for indigenous peoples that isn't? Just Jessie. This is Mattis idea of what homelessness looks like.
Emele Neufeld: It is an indigenous thought, but it's also, you know, a mete idea of it.
Emele Neufeld: You know what doesn't in you with
Emele Neufeld: a person with Inuit ancestry, define his homelessness. What is the person with first nation history to find his homelessness, and then, beyond that, you know, breaking down what the term indigenous means now breaks down into, you know, in you at Mit and first nations, and break that down even further, so that we have more of a granular understanding of.
Emele Neufeld: You know, all the different vibrant cultures and peoples. That's something that we're kind of really looking at as we apply for grants and
Emele Neufeld: and help distribute aid hand in hand with indigenous peoples not doing to, but doing with
Emele Neufeld: It's very important.
Emele Neufeld: I think that's everything that i'd like to talk about.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much, Emil. I think a couple of things that I noted down hearing yours and all this thoughts is that it's really important for us to think about the learning over the past few years from an individual level, and how it affects people who are doing the work or receiving the benefits of our work.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and mixing that with the systemic sort of impacts and meetings that we have. So
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I love that. Thank you so much, and, Terry over to you for your opening thoughts.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Would you like me to repeat the question?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Sure? Why not? I always need a little bit of a reminder for everything nowadays. So, given the widespread influential factors and impacts that have taken place in the past few years, what changes are trends Have you seen in your work. And how has this been reflected in the core purpose of your organization?
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Perfect? Thank you, Zara. So, as mentioned, I'm. Terry Brock. I'm. A director of health services for look out society in B. C.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: And, you know, been around for over 50 years, providing services from housing to health care services across the lower mainland, and about 15 communities. When we started to move services up to the island as well.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Now I was a con. I was someone who who was pulled to the side of Look at. I worked at the Health Authority for over 20 years, and and Fraser health is a social work, lead, and One of the things that brought me into look at was really the mission and mandate of providing that that social safety net of people and services for
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: those people who really are not getting the services, those people who generally are turned away, and really having those low barrier services. So it was really refreshing to come from a big health authority to into a service model like this.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: that you know where we really are trying to end. Those people who who get turned away, and and where we can provide that kind of support. and for years, as a as a health leader, I was always talking about the fact that health, care and and homelessness is always intertwined because unmitigated homelessness and addiction
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: always becomes a health care issue 100% of the time. So if you're not able to manage some of that, that it always becomes, it becomes an issue. So
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: that's what the mission of mandate to look at really brought to me, and
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I've been here for a couple of more years, and and really what we've seen and and i'm sure many you've seen on the news in regards to the decampment of the downtown side, and some of the issues regarding the opioid crisis and the public health emergency, it's really hard to ignore that. Now, in regards to what's what's what's happening in our country, and and how we're responding. And
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know, when we've looked at that, those trends, what I've seen is a couple. There's been some good things, and there's been some things there are obviously challenges, and one of the things that
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know. What we've seen is because it's so in your face. Now, in regards to you know the communities and the homeless issues that are that are that are impacting all the communities there is, there is some
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: more interest in investment, I found from some of the health authorities to invest in a complex car, even BC. Housing, which which is our housing agency out here, which funds a lot of the housing to look at other solutions. So we're seeing some of that move, and which is, which is good.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: But when we do some investments i'm sure some of you kind of heard some of the the narrative, too, like. Why, haven't you done this sooner? Why are you just doing this harm? Reduction doing these these kinds of services? And we really are a harm. Reduction organization where we provide those harm reduction services. It's a stable where we go.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: and on one hand, we've received. We received some funding and some initiatives, and some very in some very
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: innovative areas, and one of them being, you know, health contact centers where we provide witness consumption, and especially witness the inhalation of smoking services now where we're seeing that. So that's by far over what we're taking injection
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: which has been a development on so initially, we are injection site, safe injection site. We realize we have to do supervision for those those inhalation services. So we've seen some investment with those, but when we try to develop them
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we either can't find space people at least just they don't want us around their area, or you know. So we have to look at mobile options, and then. So that's what was not always the greatest option, and we have to park somewhere and do that, and actually finding a place to Park. And so
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: i'm really living that piece where you have, where there is some investment in some ideas that that philosophically you're on the right track.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: But having the services in those areas and and where you can set them up has been the the ongoing issue. And you know the amount of
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know how again it really is at the core of our our organization to provide those little barrier services. So it fits well. But again, getting people to have the you know.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: trust in us or trust in the process of providing services in their areas has been very, very difficult, and where I can see where people the public facing of homelessness.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: It scares the general public. It is a hard
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: place to bring people where they understand Well, there is this: the you understand the trauma that's associated with home. So you understand the the issues that people that people struggle with, that it's not just a matter of this person just toing themselves up.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: And so I I think i'm hearing. And i'm worried about a national narrative is that people think that these harm reduction programs, don't work that they that they are it effectual, and that's, you know. Really, we just should be mandating treatment
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: again. I think the there it creates a dichotomy. In a sense you have to do either treatment and or car reduction when you really need to do both.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: because started from being frank. But that people don't go to rehab right. And so when you, when you do that, you have to provide and keep people alive and provide those services and what we've seen when we provide those services when we're there. When people are struggling, we're finding that when they can make changes
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we can make it and happen at the time of a time of change. So you're seeing, although it might not be all the time, it might not be every time. But when people have been
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we get people a. In with homeless services, which which we we do as well in palliative care. We've been able to get people hooked up with iode and treatment services. So it's harder for people to understand that longer term vision and that.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: and whether you can like providing the service, you're not gonna just bring a whole bunch of stuff that people don't like, or you're gonna to provide a service where you can address people in the health needs that they have.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: So again. I've I've seen some opportunity in a lot of this. It's really hard to ignore. Now i'm sure homelessness impacts all of your all of your communities and and people are afraid of looking at. But see what the downtown East Side looks like, and we don't want that in our area
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: when we if we provide the services we can actually prevent that we can actually in. And if we're involved in planning, so
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I've had coffee with more politicians in the last 2 years than I want to account to be in regards to it. But I think it really is the piece that has to happen in and in building relationships with folks and trying to build that.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: You know the credibility that we can. We can help with, you know, with the the opioid crisis of homelessness. But the other trend out here. I'm sure many of you are where real estate is.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: It's extremely high and inaccessible for folks, so
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we can have subsidies from very subsidy programs, but it's not maintain it's not sustainable if we have subsidies, for you know we're subsidizing people for a certain level. But it costs, you know, 1,400 a month for a room in a basement, right? And so when you're looking at that stuff, it's that sustainability is an issue. And I think when I was talking to the Language City Council on Monday.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: really it was about. You know. How do we? What's a regional and a provincial kind of approach to addressing some of those crises that they have. But there's not a lot of land in the land they do have is really expensive. So I've actually seen
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: more people come to the table, and more people, you know. I think any other questions i'll talk about some of those things, but I've seen more people come to the table with with ideas. It's just a matter now, if will they let us do
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: so. That's my
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: You could comment on those.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much, Terry.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): You know again, I think some of the things that really, so far, regardless of whether it be newcomers or the people a male that you work with, or indigenous, or the guests out of society
Zahra Esmail (she/her): we're experiencing
Zahra Esmail (she/her): who is included, and who is excluded, who is really leading. The development of the solution is, I think, really important, and
Zahra Esmail (she/her): that opportunity for programs to be.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and community driven and trauma informed. I think that's been a really important thing from all 3 of you.
The next question here could you please? And look? Terry will start with you this time.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Could you please describe one or 2 innovative practices or change the service, delivery model or core practices that your organization is implemented. I think you touched on one, but
Zahra Esmail (she/her): perhaps you can expand on it.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): What outcomes have you seen so far? And what more do you hope to achieve?
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: So one of the one of the things that's been, that's that has been really innovative and and and and shown some really good outcomes. Unfortunately, it's under tragic circumstances. So the when there was because we're a low
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: barrier service provider and low barrier housing provider. We got approached by community living BC. With some of their folks, who are, you know.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: struggle with the fas or developmental disabilities, and they they noticed that they had a number of overdoses that occurred over the last number of years, and it really was the you know, the folks who are interacting with the shelter and shelters, services, and the like and chronic homelessness and chronic
business to the emergency department.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: They really were trying to figure out a way to address that. And back in my days in the Health authority. For years i'd seen people in the hospitals, who either acquired brain injury or or developmental disabilities, who really did not fit the complexity or the services that were out there. They might.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: they didn't fit mental health criteria. They didn't fit home else criteria, because they weren't stable. They
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: presented too many risks, or they were using substances, and made it very difficult, so one of the things that we were able to work with them is provide. We happen to have some scattered housing in Surrey that we were able to rent from the city of Surrey. And now we have a residence with 5 young men.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I think all 5 identifies indigenous, and it's a partnership with the the the friendship resource.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I I always get the Mexico for the French French and Center Resource Society as outreach, and they're just wonderful partners.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: So really it's a place where we can provide, You know we have. He is the staffing. We have 2 staff, 24, 7 for these folks, but they don't have to be absent. They can be active in their use. In fact.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we reverse overdoses, but it's a way of keeping them stable, having the supports, and we've found that it's been really successful where 3 of those zoom men have been housed longer than all for the entirety of the project when we started, which is a well over a year and a half, and everybody has been housed longer than they ever have before basically because of the fact that
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: they're not going to get kicked out. If they were high They're not going to get kicked out. If you know mothers, there's desktops, Of course, young guys in are in a house and stuff, you know. You work that kind of stuff through, but they're not. If something somebody gets aggressive or they use language that that may not be a sensitive to everybody's here. It's not They're not kicked up because of that, as we work with that in a trauma form plans, so
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: that has shown some really good results in regards to having people in a service that if you have it little area, but it's staffed appropriately, the trauma informed Staff. You can really support them in this, and so that's gain some traction with the Clbc community. But it also
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: morphed into some other opportunities within Fraser health, where they're looking as to provide similar type, low barrier housing for acquired brain injury
I've got a
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: and those are those that's the bonus Of this I worked at 20 years in the health authority and 15, and leadership where I was advocating for these kind of specialized resources did
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I did proposals all, you know, all kinds of proposals for it, and they went nowhere. I was in the this organization for 6 months, and we had a house we're actually running with 5 people and supporting them for this period of time, and it's really morphed into and things with the quiet brandry as well. So
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: i'm. I'm. Optimistic about that. I think we're seeing people are realizing that the
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: the opioid crisis and the homelessness requires special answers that it's just not the the common thing where we just rifle people through the system over and over again. So when I look at that, that's something that I've been particularly.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I'm particularly happy about, and seeing that, and see that moving
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: and investment from, and interest from other organizations like Clvc. And Health authorities.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Amazing. Thank you so much, Terry. and some changes in service delivery that have emerged over the past few years.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): And what about the outcomes? And what do you hope to achieve.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Thank you, Sarah. I'm I I I'll speak to you to 2, one or 2 examples.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: One is really around moving really towards meeting clients where they are at rather than creating and delivering one fit for all t of services.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And the the example I give is around the language services we provide. So as an immigrant serving organization.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: we fund, or we, we, we, we we deliver the fairly funded link English training program, and it's. It's really based as a classroom based
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: language training, where you come into the classroom 5 days a week. and that's how you that's how you learn.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: as you can imagine. It is not possible for the majority of the newcomers. If you work you, you can be in the classroom, everybody.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: if you have children, and you can get us all in a day care which are very, very limited Again, You just cannot take this this training. So learning and and language is so important.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: so what we've done actually, over past few years, but especially last year, we implemented a number of
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: you know, learning solutions that fit and meet particular groups where they are what they need. So, for example.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: we we hear a lot about caregivers stay at home caregivers so lot of especially women, immigrant women stay homeless children, and there is really no opportunity to go for and and and take English classes.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So we've actually played a little bit and develop the model that allows caregivers to learn remotely in in small chat, so it's not a 2 h session.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: It's a 1520, many times. When you have time, when you keep taking an app or when you have the child is occupied
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: so it's a it's really self-directed learning in in
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: in small manageable chance at the past that at a time that is convenient
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: with the regular getting together once or twice a week as a group with providing child lining and making sure that the the the characters can attend.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and it's they also focusing and tailoring the the topics and the language that you are learning. You are teaching to the needs of of caregivers, for example.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and those who are are taking care of their children.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: The other end, for example, there is, we have individuals who really want to plow through the learning very fast. They don't want to follow the traditional curriculum. They just They really want to have an expedited way to learn. And again, that model is available to move faster to the content, and especially with a particular
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and going by Often is people who i'd like to apply for citizenship. They would like to pass the citizenship exam, and then really are, are gearing towards getting the vocabulary. The ability to do that. We see a lot of interest in occupation, specific training.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So there might be a particular sector that would like to bring workforce and and really focus the learning on a particular vocabulary in that particular sector.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And then there is a big issue with a lot of newcomers, especially those ones who are here on temporary base, is not actually being eligible for the the Government in Federal funding.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So how do you create
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: affordable classes for those who have been on eligible for the ones provided Federal.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So we've seen great results of as a because we've been able to experiment with the way we we provide language training, while other English language providers are still struggling to fill their classes.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Our classes are full with waiting lists, both virtually and and in person.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and we've see definitely see that the clients have appreciated it. Now the challenges to convince funders that
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: that has to be a change in how services are delivered, and how clients are actually expected to to receive, and and they have access to to services.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and that means embracing innovation
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and unique models. But we all know funders are very discovers.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and any innovation inherently brings well of risk.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: a lot of unknowns and flexibility. So
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: it it is really, I think, upon us to see. How can we engage our funders to be
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: more for open to funding innovations. That means that the goals and the activities and the budget you put in place at the beginning make change dramatically over the the the the duration. And that is okay.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: That's what innovation is. It is messy. It doesn't fit budget categories and tables.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So I know that there is a parallel session actually for funders, I think, at this conference. So it' be really interesting to see what comes out of there. But if you have a chance to to work with
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: with founders, it'd be good to to bring this up. But as a situation dramatically changes as the it's important to have the flexible to innovate.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: The other example very quickly I use is one around partnerships and going back to to housing, which is a
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: pull. The meal, and and Terry talk about the need of housing. Of course, as welcoming newcomers. Housing is the top
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: challenge, especially in our work, where we bring and support refugee claimants.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: or privately sponsored refugees who come, and really they start with nothing like there is, there is no support and no job in in handy.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and so it's very important to be able to find
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: affordable housing, and especially the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I'm. Not sure if transitional is the right word. But you know you come for the first 3 to 6 months until you are able to find a job. Figure out where you want to leave, Get your long term fund place to live. That housing is very challenging, because the only options are
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: probably shelters. But again, you have a family. You don't want to separate families. It's traumatic as it is, to cross the borders and and seek refuge here. So we've been really fortunate to get a lot of Well, I haven't seen a lot of some attention and some interest from from developers.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: You know how cost of construction and development is very expensive, and
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and our permitting process are so long, so developers are often sitting on properties that are that waiting to the devil.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and we were able to get into partnerships that we never thought we would be able to do where the developers actually provided those houses to us
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: on a 1218 month basis. They look, if you need something on more with the traditional way. Why, Don't, you use our our houses?
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: You welcome your refugees, refugee claimants there, and usually we see, after 3 6 months people transition to to longer term housing, and that has something that you never would have thought of. But it's such a great partnership, and it really meets multiple needs. I think the the developers also really like the model, because they
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: they feel they are contributing. They are bringing contribution to the stock and supply of
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: affordable housing. And so we are really looking at building on this
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and on the good wheel, and creating more goodville awareness. Why this these relationships are important. So to you, highlight because it really worked well for us.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Amazing. Thank you all, God, both you and Terry attention on the importance of those relationships, and that trust between yourselves and your partners to create some community solutions.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Emil, what about you?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): And again, just a reminder to describe one or 2 innovative practices or changes in service, delivery, model or core practices that your organization has
it over the last, while.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): What outcomes that you see so far, and what more do you hope to achieve?
Emele Neufeld: Yeah. So something I'm actually super deeply proud of is that we talk about. You know the truth and reconciliation calls to action.
Emele Neufeld: We talk about Unrip, the United Nations Declaration of indigenous Peoples. We we talk about mimic memowig calls to justice.
Emele Neufeld: and we we see what the interactions we have as an organization
Emele Neufeld: can do, because
Emele Neufeld: you know those those documents they're not just for the Canadian Government to follow. They're for each and every single one of us to see what we can do to interact with them.
Emele Neufeld: So we go over them for each and every single project.
Emele Neufeld: and we see what is the interactions that this project has, you know, with looking into. How do we keep indigenous families together? You know.
Emele Neufeld: How do we create new?
Emele Neufeld: What is the word protocols around.
Emele Neufeld: keeping
Emele Neufeld: families together that are trying to access services that, you know would normally, you know, push those families apart because the mother can't necessarily take care of her kids in that instance.
Emele Neufeld: You know. How do we keep them within the family? How do we fund projects that
Emele Neufeld: you know our indigenous led with indigenous leaders that want to do, not necessarily innovative, that that's what the world usually sees it as, but the they They're really just going back to historical cultural practices that have worked for generations
Emele Neufeld: until you know Colonization stopped a lot of those
Emele Neufeld: those pieces.
Emele Neufeld: for instance, like one program changing courses.
Emele Neufeld: they're creating a very well-rounded holistic
Emele Neufeld: program that we are supporting
Emele Neufeld: that allows people that are struggling, you know, with drugs and substance abuses, and you know, struggling with housing find a way to, you know. Get clean. Get back into community through.
Emele Neufeld: You know, programs that they develop like the food. Sovereignty.
Emele Neufeld: Food, sovereignty is also a really really big piece that we're trying to work on right now.
Emele Neufeld: Hmm. But how do we get these people essentially to give back to the community and see worth in themselves see worth in the value that they have to offer.
Emele Neufeld: and not just feel like they're constantly taking or
Emele Neufeld: not having as much to offer to the community. There's there's
Emele Neufeld: There's a lot of different levels of like restorative justice that you know we're we're looking at when it comes to what communities we're trying to support in there
Emele Neufeld: in their goals. because you know what what's really important to me is that that you know doing with and not doing 2 piece, because that's something that
Emele Neufeld: has really been a problem with indigenous communities. You know. Researchers have come on, and they have, you know, decided I will do this work
Emele Neufeld: on this particular subject
Emele Neufeld: with these people, and the indigenous people that you know took part in those surveys, will not see any piece of that research.
Emele Neufeld: and it doesn't help their community in the end.
Emele Neufeld: You know. how do we create more empowering
Emele Neufeld: methods of research gathering
Emele Neufeld: abilities to you know fund programs that need it.
Emele Neufeld: I I brought up earlier, you know, using the Trc. Using on-drip, using mimiwig within, just like our
Emele Neufeld: our approach with what we're doing within our programs. But also when we're applying for funding.
Emele Neufeld: you know, these are things that are becoming common language when we are speaking about, how do we want to.
Emele Neufeld: You know, Approach getting funding for something? How do we use this to help empower?
Emele Neufeld: You know people that are struggling?
Emele Neufeld: Yeah, I think that's for the most part, everything that I have on my mind about that that is currently there.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): you know. But I was
Zahra Esmail (she/her): that it resonates with that, you know.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): That's the image that
for reason I
Zahra Esmail (she/her): with the solutions that the community knows
Zahra Esmail (she/her): It's fine
down, and
Zahra Esmail (she/her): so many cultures we'll we'll give You might see this a lot of newcomers coming together. A lot of cultural traditions are to stay connected, and the way that our phones and our systems are built. It it doesn't allow for that. And so the
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the damage that that causes to
Zahra Esmail (she/her): feelings of belonging and mental health, and you know it.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): It's not too far and try to then see that results in people leaving to use. Look out services, Terry, like it is.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): It does seem to me, all interconnected. So Thank you all for that. We are running a tiny bit over time here, so i'll encourage. I'll ask the third question.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): But those of you who are listening in today. If you do have questions, we'll have about
Zahra Esmail (she/her): 10 min to take questions after this this last
Zahra Esmail (she/her): question that i'll ask. So if you want to start fucking ideas into the chat box. Please do.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): But the third question we'll start with the mail with you for this one.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): What is one new opportunity to drive change that your workplace or collaborative should be.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): What conditions will be needed for this opportunity to be successful in realizing. Change
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the one new opportunity. Maybe, that you're excited about that. You feel hopefully.
Emele Neufeld: Well, something that I feel very hopeful around is
Emele Neufeld: changing the social narrative around. How indigenous people you know, feel about themselves when I was growing up, and when I was.
Emele Neufeld: you know, beginning to. I understand myself as a person. you know, I would see my people in the streets.
Emele Neufeld: and that's something I still see is my people on the streets. And how does that inform my narrative? And how does that inform how i'm going to see my future.
Emele Neufeld: Can I be successful if I see my people constantly struggling in every aspect?
Emele Neufeld: Generally you. you, you begin to struggle with something called learned helplessness. You know you begin to not see yourself as someone that is the hero of your own story.
Emele Neufeld: When you look at things like cowboys and Indians. You know, that paints indigenous people as
Emele Neufeld: is a negative piece of those stories. a negative thing to be dealt with.
Emele Neufeld: and that's something that is deeply rooted within society. You know I don't know of any indigenous hero.
Emele Neufeld: you know, in the Marvel Universe, or in the DC. Universe, that it's been portrayed very well, I mean there's a very recent one, which I think they did really well with the mine gone, Should that? That was really really cool, but like in suicide squad, particularly
Emele Neufeld: like within the opening act of the movie, they killed off an indigenous person immediately.
Emele Neufeld: They just they of them.
And
Emele Neufeld: you know, how do we change these narratives? How do we get people to really take back their story and to
Emele Neufeld: become the heroes of their own story. Finally. you know
Emele Neufeld: that's one of the things that I find that I struggle with the most
Emele Neufeld: because I've talked to so many youth. You know my education is in child and youth care.
Emele Neufeld: I work with youth. I talk with you. I speak with you.
Emele Neufeld: and that's something that's so consistent. you know, kids trying to leave their community
anywhere they can. And that's how we end up with a lot of missing and murdered indigenous women.
Emele Neufeld: A lot of little girls want to leave their communities because they don't see a future there, and they take the first person that offers them a way out
Emele Neufeld: and they end up going missing.
Emele Neufeld: It's just so hard.
Emele Neufeld: But yeah, I've I've had opportunities to help people restore. You know some of their life. Narratives see strength in it.
Emele Neufeld: Have their opportunity to say, I am Moana, you know.
Emele Neufeld: Just take back to a bit more of a lighter side.
Emele Neufeld: because there is a lot of power.
Emele Neufeld: and you know, taking back your story, and we need our youth of the future. the ones that are still being put away in, you know.
Emele Neufeld: There's still an over representation of youth that are indigenous being taken into care. You know
Emele Neufeld: there's still an over representation of indigenous youth that are, you know. falling through the cracks that are struggling with drugs.
Emele Neufeld: and that commits suicide.
Emele Neufeld: you know, in their own homes. because of the stories and the narratives
Emele Neufeld: that are perpetuated against them.
Emele Neufeld: You know it's not hard
Emele Neufeld: through
Emele Neufeld: an indigenous child to see that they are valued less. Then most of the kids in Canada
Emele Neufeld: that is. that is hard. See you talk about.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I I want to thank you for your strength to talk to us today. I know that it takes them
Zahra Esmail (she/her): a big emotional tool to have to share with people who
Zahra Esmail (she/her): really need to learn from you. But it's not it shouldn't be your burden to help us understand. And I I just want to recognize
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the
Zahra Esmail (she/her): yeah, just recognize you for for sharing your your message. It's an important message.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and I think that
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the sale
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and you're inspiring some change through your work.
Emele Neufeld: Well, and thank you. Yeah. Just think about the stories and the narratives that we perpetuate
Emele Neufeld: even something as simple as saying Indian winter. You know that I've heard people say, without even a second thought.
Emele Neufeld: you know, perpetuates a negative stereotype
Emele Neufeld: of indigenous people that you know it's just subtext in a conversation.
Emele Neufeld: Thank you.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Yeah. I would invite us to just take a moment to really let his words sort of wash over us and and think about, you know.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Maybe
Zahra Esmail (she/her): this is what's going through my mind, Anyway, it's always. How can
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the rest of us who are not indigenous, participate in a good way to teach our children to have conversations with our grandparents.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): to call out when we're noticing that these
Zahra Esmail (she/her): stereotype should be
Zahra Esmail (she/her): perpetuated because each of us does something small voice, and
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the ability to even just challenge one mind that is.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): this is set it quick. So thank you. Bye.
Emele Neufeld: if if I may.
Emele Neufeld: One thing that I found really really helpful is, you know the the musical Hamilton. You know how it starts off. Look at where you are. Look at where you started. and you know the fact that you're alive is a miracle, and that's what I feel about. Most indigenous kids.
Emele Neufeld: That's that's also what a lot of. You know people are struggling with, and, like
Emele Neufeld: Ukraine.
Emele Neufeld: may they
Emele Neufeld: employee to Ukraine. and we'll only thank you.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Terry. I'd love to to talk about, you know for a moment something new that's happening at. Look out! That is driving change that
Zahra Esmail (she/her): gives you
Zahra Esmail (she/her): hope, or makes you feel that this is an opportunity
that should continue it. Look out.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Thanks, Sarah. I like to just mention that i'm
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: i'm humbled a meal. That's a that's here. That's your word. So thank you so much for that.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: When it comes to something something new, I think what? What is becoming more important, I I see a lot of the same issues with any of my not profit partners is that you know we're all struggling against the
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know, against
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Nimbism, about not let having things happen in our neighborhoods. We're all struggling with staffing. We're all struggling with.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: we're all struggling with financing, and and I think part of it is to to be collaborative within within your ear. Circles, I think, has been, as has been the most rewarding for myself, because I didn't. When I moved into this role I didn't actually know a lot of the community. So it it was really important for me to get to know and talk to other
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: other organizations to get a full understanding of what they offer, so you can partner with them and be and be.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know, collaborative. And I think the collaboration piece that is so key where we don't have good collaboration. I think our our service or not services are not strong, and we do a great collaboration with other folks.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know we work well, and it can that can even
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: operate in regards to having different philosophical backgrounds. You know that we partnered for extreme weather resource in in one of our communities, and
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: although another community doesn't share the same kind of a philosophy, we're able to really work together to provide services for the people, and really get out of the way about what's philosophy work, but to take care of the people who need it at most. And I think, when you do that you can provide that that that cooperation and that collaboration.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: you know it really does speak to other folks that a you're not the person of your organization's problem. It's a it's a larger issue that could be that can be tackled and other people want
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: to do it. So when I, when I look at that, and I look at that. The the newer parts that there there's there's always kind of programs, and and like I mentioned before in regards to opportunity, but without really working with
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: the the people who are alongside you, and having those connections, you really are alone, and they don't. Do you don't do really good service at that point, and plus, you know, you
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: and I think the more people who are aligned with our purposes to get things done and to take care of marginalized folks the better off we are. So I've in in my own piece, really trying to make those connections with other organizations and other cities. It's been something that's been a bit of a mission of mine as well, and our organization, so
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I will keep it relatively brief, because I know that there's other comments as well. But that's where I would see that we're aware of that
Zahra Esmail (she/her): very much.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): We'll go over to you for your thoughts about one new opportunity to drive change. That's
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: thank you. And I really like this. P. Because the panelists have been very different perspectives, and and it's really it's great to look at an issue from so many multiple perspective. So i'll switch gears now at a different angle, looking more at the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the internal health and residents of the organization. Because this is something that worries me quite a bit.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: obviously keeps me awake, and I. Then
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: there's things that we are doing in. We'll say that. Give me hope. But I have. I do have a lot of concern for the not sector in general. especially about it. You know our ability to actually build a strong foundation.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and we talk about the infrastructure that is holding everything up.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: especially when times are hard. We do see increased demand services. We have more people coming and seeking services.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: That, of course, leads to us, applying for more funding and then receiving more funding and getting more staff, and having more contrary requirements, and to build the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: like the at times like that, often not for profits, a lot of funding and grow fast. It's like if you do not
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: pay attention to the foundation that actually holds everything up.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I sometimes worry that we are almost like a house of cards that something shakes and uses, that everything falls apart. and that truly, truly worries me. And
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: you know we we look yes, that we could look at potentially technology as a strengthen in the core. And of course it's about adoption of business applications
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: because it's just not feasible doing things manually as we've been excel spreadsheets and and and emails. It's not safe. It's not secure. It's not efficient.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: But the thing is, it's adoption of systems and technology is very hard, and it's not only about technological solution. Often
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: it's about.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: If you're looking at the way we are doing things.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and I see it in our organization. We are going through a digital transformation. We are trying to put in systems and processes and solutions underneath. That will help with the manual work that will help with efficiencies, and then people and the workload.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: What I find is that there is always attendance to build a solution around the existing processes.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So one big opportunity that we all have is to when building and and thinking about how technology can support us.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: thinking not and basic in order, and how we've been doing things until now. but how things can be done in the future.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: like if we are building whatever technology for internal communication or processing, it's very different when we were all in the office when we are working remotely for industry distributed organization.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and it's important to be able to reflect. Okay, how are we going to change and to do a little bit of analysis? What actually do we want to build in the business? Do you want to just map the current processes, or do we actually want to reflect, how do we amend our processes so that they are? They can with? They can withstand the changes that are coming.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: We know the only thing that is this constant is the change. There will be change. There will be changes to the way we work, there'll be changes to the client needs. How do we create this? The the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the process that will support us in the future
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and not have the way we are doing things in the past limit. How we do them in the future I know it's. I know it sounds simple and obvious, but
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: people are used to doing things certain way, and change is hard.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: especially if you're busy as we are. We are trying to creep up with the workload, and we don't have the appetite you and think about how we can do things things differently.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and also recognizing any change, will first require more time and more resources, and the more burden some, and creating efficiencies. And it takes time until there is actually adoption. People are comfortable, and you see the efficiencies one
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and i'm really struggling how we as not for probably actually have a time and resources to to build this and and the foundation. We are very much doing it mosaic, and we've been for years, because this is the way we grow. When we
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: we we we couldn't. We couldn't support the the programs if we didn't invest, but it creates a lot of challenges, especially with the fun, like, Where do you get funding for this?
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And I think it's so important to to help advocate the funders about recognizing this reality
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and either increase the percentage available for overhead
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: or introduce new expense categories that actually focus on on digital transformation on privacy, cyber security technology, but not through
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: individual dance. I know. In BC. We have the BC. Community gaming ground, which is great.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: but it's a one time, once a year you apply for something, and there's such a demand you can't rely on it.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: How do you really focus on creating core funding?
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: And i'm not sure if you've seen. But imagine Canada is doing a lot of advocacy. They put forward but pre-budget submissions. They put forward down
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: analysis and and really a a number of recommendations to really institute and core funding increased
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the overhead available to you to this trends of infrastructure. But I think we all have a role to advocate. We all have a role when we have a chance to to speak to our funders to bring this this topic to forefront, including our pre-budget submissions, because
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I do worry, and and my I have this vision and it's an awful vision. I have the vision of a
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: of a nonprofit sector as a as a train that is going faster and faster.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and instead of and it's being loaded like, there's more loading on the train without any consideration. Well, what is the load going to do to it? Safety, our ability to to break if it needs to break.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: I really have this vision that we are heading for a huge impact, and and something has to change in the way that
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: that the Grants are awarded and the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and the organization, I would you should build a strong stable funding that allows for job security that allows for for continuation of programming and
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and and just the the
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the the of actually being a healthy
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: organization. I think we all have a role. So i'm really hoping we get to connect with
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: the funding panel, at least with the notes and see like an engagement by how we each can help out. Okay, so please check out the imagine Canada resources. They on regular basis. They issue really great resources and reports that we can use all you know, locating
Zahra Esmail (she/her): that. I was in a team meeting yesterday, and I said to my
it.
Yeah. Hi to be. And P. That.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Okay. All back up again and talk to each other in Audrey. The reality is
okay.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): It says.
Ruté Ojigbo, Tamarack Institute: sorry to interrupt. But I think your audio is kind of a little muted.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Okay.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Is that better? Yes, okay, Sorry. Switch to the other microphone. I don't know Why, sorry about that. I was just saying I was talking in a team meeting yesterday about how right now we're funded to do like a 115 of capacity of what's reasonable. And imagine, if we had a system where we were funded at 90% capacity, and we
Zahra Esmail (she/her): we had that extra 10% to think and collaborate and talk and just pause and look after ourselves, right, engage in mental health activities and self care, so that we could sustain and keep going. So I hear you all got 100, and we have a couple of questions that have come through. We don't have to too much time, because I do want to be able to get into the breakout
Zahra Esmail (she/her): for a little bit to hear your thoughts as well.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): But, Jesslyn, I, it looks like. There are a couple of people who have appreciated that a question that you put in, so we'll start with that one. I'll read it out for the panelists. as you have all been speaking to. It's as important to shift the cultural narrative about indigenous people's unhealth folks.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): both living in poverty, folks navigating eviction, etc.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): The public, the governments, the nimbies, need to hear more humanizing stories about our communities
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and the radical and innovative services. The nonprofits are offering to bridge gaps. Personally, I am finding it really difficult to carve out time from what I feel like are the most burning client service priorities on my place
Zahra Esmail (she/her): to reflect, report, and reach out to the community potential funders governments to share the work we're doing.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I'm interested to hear your recommendations about how nonprofit organizations
Zahra Esmail (she/her): can best leverage our voices to help shift the cultural narrative that are Harvey us. So we have very little time. But perhaps each panelists can take 1 min to share your thoughts on that.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): And maybe, Terry, we can start with you.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Sure. Yeah, Absolutely. Thanks. So, Jasmine, for the comment that it totally it hits the key to what happens with the with our work, and especially, you know, trying to balance the those real, that client priorities. And then how do you advocate on that?
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: The the thing that I I've found that has been impactful is, you know, when we talk about the collaboration and partnership sometimes with partnership. So it's other tables. Other people get out and inform you as you go as you go through, but also those human stories are things that I think, are gold when it comes to talking to funders in regards to what is
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: is actually impacting people. And I know when we were we're doing our of prevention work. It's like, okay, Well, city doesn't realize these are young people in your community dying. So we have people having those stories there for them so, even though it's, you know I
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I don't want to oversimplify, or anything on that. So this is a very difficult thing with staffing and and being able to do that
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: do all this work.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: But the thing we all do collect our our stories, and we do collect those those things that are impactful to our
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: communities, and having those in a way that can be brought up at a time when it's appropriate. When you do get those situations where you're off on the side. Well, okay, this is an example. When this happened with this person, it's a very specific thing that either data does work, but Also, those stories really does do work as well when you have those stories that are impactful. Those are some of the things that can really work in your favor, and without having all the infrastructure that everybody has, or staffing, which is which everybody struggles with.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I hang out with the stories and utilize those in regards to you know those moments when you have those moments of of influence having those writing for them. So that's my quick
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: try kind of an example, and not saying I could fix a big big problem. But you know.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: good luck with all that.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you, Terry. Okay, your thoughts, please.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Thank you, Jason, that that's actually a very good question, and I agree with Terry, like the the individual stories, carries so much like I can talk to the government officials as much as I want. But if they get you me one of our clients, and and if you hear the story, that's a very different experience. But I think we all should be very careful how we write these stories
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and make sure we write them from a like. It's a string to be narrative.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: and we we intentionally focus on when serving refugees. Refugee claimants often refugees are portrayed as very vulnerable. Yes, they are at some part of their lives they are vulnerable, but they also bring incredible level of resilience and expertise, and and motivation and commitment to the country. So there is a lot of strain.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: So how do we actually portray the story, so that we don't only talk about the vulnerability
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: that we actually talk about everything that the strength that these communities hold, and it's very intentional in every story that we write. Maybe we don't write that many. But when we write stories we really pay attention. How we are actually portraying these communities.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you. Okay, yeah. And and the the
Zahra Esmail (she/her): the work. It is sometimes of having to tell your story again and again, you know, and we can show that
people are not being extracted from and
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and
Zahra Esmail (she/her): in a way that doesn't feel appropriate, Emil. What about your thoughts on this.
Emele Neufeld: Oh, my God! Do I love storytelling?
Emele Neufeld: I think it's very important to talk about the heroes that are doing amazing work. showcase their story, you know, and talk about the people that they are working with
Emele Neufeld: Katie Rabbit, Young Pine.
Emele Neufeld: You know she is working in kind of a nation, and she is.
Emele Neufeld: She's struggling with like 2 people.
Emele Neufeld: A week pass away
Emele Neufeld: from from opioids.
Emele Neufeld: and so her nation is constantly dealing with funerals. and you know she's She's always telling stories about the people she meets and the people she talks to.
Emele Neufeld: because it's a important to keep. You know their story alive.
Emele Neufeld: and it's also important that other people.
Emele Neufeld: you know, have the opportunity to hear it. Let you on, do it and create change hopefully from it.
Emele Neufeld: Because
Emele Neufeld: a lot of these stories are not isolated. A lot of them are very much connected and the same.
Emele Neufeld: And and another thing I really suggest to help influence change
Emele Neufeld: is again going back to the Crc. Going back to Mimiwig, going back to undrip.
Emele Neufeld: And the more common you use those articles from undrip. or those calls to action
Emele Neufeld: of the trc or the calls to justice from everwig within. Whatever you do.
Emele Neufeld: the more common that
Emele Neufeld: all right
Emele Neufeld: verbiage that that those those documents become.
Emele Neufeld: and the more people will take notice of their existence and and know what they mean.
Emele Neufeld: you know, calling something by its name empowers it essentially.
Yeah.
because we didn't have eyes in any of the rooms so hopefully we didn't catch you off too quickly. But welcome back.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I would love it if different groups. Now take a few minutes to report back on your discussion, and any kind of key nuggets that you like to share.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): So could we perhaps start with group Number one?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Is there a representative from Group One
Emele Neufeld: did we have numbers.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): It would have just been the first breakout group, so the room number one. I think there were 5 rooms.
Emele Neufeld: Is that us?
Emele Neufeld: Okay, All right.
iMonica Den: See? This is this is
iMonica Den: just wait. I then
Betina: I think my group was recorded for Number one.
Betina: Yes, yes, somebody has just told me in my group. Yes, we were group number one. so we all there were. There were several. There were things that we pulled from each of the speakers that we would that we thought we're really good ideas.
Betina: you know, working with people that you don't always agree with to address community issues. So bringing all those folks together.
Betina: The you know Emil's, you know words around, you know, making indigenous people be the heroes of their own story and doing strength based storytelling.
Betina: calling something by its name and powers. It. That's something something else that Emil said. And you know.
Betina: I think, what kind of the the kind of language that we use can enable people to to to be able to do more actions.
Betina: And I think we South talked about one other thing, and I can't remember what it was. But we're just one of the things we're talking about when, with respect to strategies was.
Betina: I, I use my organization as an example, and how we're at a point now where we have to do a brand new strategic plan, and there's things that we have to start thinking about.
Betina: You know, when we talk about our philosophy and how we do things, you know, At our board table we talked about asset based community development already, and and the approach we take in our work.
Betina: So that's that was one piece that we talked about.
Betina: Anybody else in my group can help me. I think there was one other thing that we talked about with respect to strategies, but I can't remember anybody else.
Betina: They're all going to stay very quiet. We also talked about paying attention to foundation. I think that also came from an emerald.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you all so much. Some really great wisdom from group Number one have a group number 2.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I'm. Sorry to call you all by your by your numbers enough by name, but it looks like Group Number 2 was justly, and Monica and Terry
Zahra Esmail (she/her): or no. Is that right? No, Ellen, Kelly, Olga Penny and Sharon. Sorry that was group.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): Hi! I can tell you about a few of the top strategies we talked about.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): So during Covid we talked about the pressures that we had to innovate, and there was lots of ways in which people identified their innovations and using technology, virtual work, texting.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): And there was a loss of strategies that included policy making grants, working better with first nations, neighbors, and having increased representation of first nations members on their boards, and looking for
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): strategies to address combined issues like such as poverty, poverty, and immigration partnerships was named as a big issue, our big strategy
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): and systems navigation. You might not be able to access a physician. But can you access other needs in your community to and and navigate the system to get your health needs met
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): in another community. There was strategies that that I did identified urgent issues, equity issues in the community.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): But as we go forward
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): sorry I might.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): I just turn my phone off. Sorry.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): Yes, we need to move from just strategies to addressing social change in our communities and and underlying issues such as poverty.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): And I think that's pretty much it.
Sharon Yanicki (Lethbridge, AB): and mental health issues are urgent.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you, Sharon
Zahra Esmail (she/her): anything to add anybody else in Room 2.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): I think that sounded like a good summary. Of course I wasn't there.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Okay, how about room? 3 Jesslyn, Monica and Terry.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: We had some. We had some technical difficulties. Hearing Monica, I don't Jaslin if it's just okay. If we let Monica just say what she wanted to say, After all the times we we, Mr. If if you can
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: shine in, I'm: perfectly okay with that
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: jasmine, are you? Okay?
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Oh, so she's on a phone call. So.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Monica, are you able to? Are you able to talk or unmute?
iMonica Den: And
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: oh, there we go! I I really wanted to hear what you had to say. So here's a chance.
Yeah, I'm: I'm just gonna talk about
iMonica Den: housing issues. All this thing
iMonica Den: because we haven't problem like we Don't have a recording housing, and we are rental. We have in problem with the rank.
iMonica Den: You have to stay in the place. You don't have to stay too.
iMonica Den: like some people. That is.
iMonica Den: there is a lot of thing
iMonica Den: all this thing in the house, but you have to stay there. Why? Because you don't have enough money to move out to find a good place to go through.
iMonica Den: You have to say this thing you have, kid, you don't. How could you just staying in one place
like me. Apply for busy housing.
iMonica Den: 2011
iMonica Den: after 5 years they close my file, and they told me I you have to apply again, I said, Why, they said, this is the rules. This is the rule. You didn't show me any one house for me.
and I refuse. After that you can close my file.
iMonica Den: This thing I see in the busy housing is not. It's not fair
iMonica Den: because
iMonica Den: I went to them a lot of time. They they? I told them what is my house, situation, and all these things, and my church road there.
iMonica Den: the letter for them because they came, and they see the same neglect.
iMonica Den: Leak in my daughter room. The room is just messy is where until today nobody fix it.
and when you go to the owner I have these issues, they said, oh.
iMonica Den: you! If you have these issues, you can go and find the good
iMonica Den: how to go to in this time where i'm gonna go. I'm in disability.
The money I get in disability is not enough for me to
iMonica Den: to run for for new ones. It's 24 for 2,400 for it by room.
iMonica Den: I I have to choose between my bill and food and
and all this thing to to to feed my kid. Sometime I go to a store, I said. Did I have to buy the meat, or just vegetable, just whatever to feed them, to
iMonica Den: get up and go to school.
we having a lot of problem because there is no according housing
iMonica Den: there is no a lot of
iMonica Den: low income, or until middle class. The same thing we are going to, because
iMonica Den: since pandemic people are just homeless, it is a lot because
iMonica Den: because people they don't have less to go. 2 days ago. I have to offer one one general man. They they kick him out from his house.
iMonica Den: It just came in our building, and it's. Say I, I said, what is going on for you? Is it? To be honest, I don't have place to go.
iMonica Den: They just kick me out because I don't have it. Then I lose my job. I told him. Okay, come in. I let him in in the lobby. You have to lay down there for the morning. It's raining like a crazy. On Sunday.
iMonica Den: I told him you have to be here. I have to go to the man I get to pay her $20 for the day. He can use it to you there.
iMonica Den: If we, having a porting housing, the homeless is gonna be less than that, and we need up. We need shelter for the homeless, too.
iMonica Den: because they are a big allow in the suite. Nobody knows they're getting sick. They all this they no no, no food we have to do something to
iMonica Den: to, I guess. Do they shelter and upwarding housing for people
iMonica Den: We can just move on. But like this, we're gonna have a lot of a lot of
iMonica Den: the parents gonna be homeless if we having 2 years from now without theing the housing.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much, Monica. Thank you. Those are some great great thoughts and urgent call to action, I think.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Is there anything from Group Number 4 who would like to report back Amanda
Caitlin : hi
Zahra Esmail (she/her): hi caitlin!
Caitlin : So it was just me and Amanda in there.
Caitlin : But we didn't take notes, so i'm just gonna do my best to capture the conversation that we had. Amanda had mentioned that
Caitlin : her organization always incorporates indigenous colleges, worldviews, and components to all parts of their work. So
Caitlin : most of what a Meal spoke about resonated with her. We spoke a little bit about
Caitlin : about like the importance of telling stories, and like
Caitlin : doing that through a strength-based approach was which was spoken about, because that can be really impactful and important. But we also talked about the fact that
Caitlin : it can be a little bit frustrating that we even have to tell those stories, to get funders to care and to provide funding so a little bit of conversation about that. And then that funding can be a barrier, and
Caitlin : we both spoke about how the program areas we work with are underfunded in terms of like age groups. So certain age groups
Caitlin : receive higher funding, and that's always a struggle.
Caitlin : And then, having strong partnerships with other organizations, and being open to those innovations and change that they might have to offer. So.
Caitlin : for example, allowing for workshops to be altered as needed to fit different communities and allow people who access your services to guide the programs that you're providing, and that people's needs will change, and we have to be adaptable to those changes.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much, Caitlin, that very insightful and group 5, Emil Kirsten Orpa and Richard.
Emele Neufeld: Does everybody here want to say something
Emele Neufeld: straight? Your hand, if that's a yes, because i'm i'm down it like either speak for us, or, you know, say one thing and then pass it on.
Kirstin Webb (she/they): Yeah, Emil, if you want to share. And then maybe, Richard, if you want to jump in to share your thought, and
Kirstin Webb (she/they): we can kind of bring it in that way. Great.
Emele Neufeld: sure. Yeah, to kristen it. Looks like she's getting ready there
Emele Neufeld: all right. I'll just pop off, I guess. Really, really quickly. I think we talked about something that was really
Emele Neufeld: talk about collaboration and the importance of being able to make mistakes.
Emele Neufeld: because mistakes are generally what you learn from the most. Not that you know we want any horrendous mistakes to happen, but just that that's where a lot of the deepest learning really comes from, and then I will pass it on.
Richard DS: Hey? I took. I made notes.
Richard DS: So yeah, we were talking about them. First thing was, yeah, that mark having no margin like when you, when you.
Richard DS: when nonprofits get funding
Richard DS: as often
Richard DS: no margins for for mistakes
Richard DS: or experimentation
Richard DS: as a as we left off in the group chat before us, and if we.
Richard DS: if we plan for 90% of the budget, and we had 10% to play with at the end
Richard DS: we could we have a chance to grow or try something? Experiment something new.
Richard DS: not nice
Richard DS: talking about things that I change.
Richard DS: I've changed in society or in general lately in last 4 years, is
Richard DS: the concept of collateral damage
Richard DS: in our in our stories like this as a meal with sharing to with the with the avengers. and as I look back to it, they the history of superheroes like Superman.
Richard DS: the seventies.
Richard DS: where collateral damages. And no, no, you you just Superman, is not allowed to allow any single innocent person to be injured
Richard DS: or
Richard DS: interfered. Have their their life plan interfered with it all.
Richard DS: But today.
Richard DS: in superhero stories there's all kinds of collateral damage on this. On scene, you know. People's, cars, direct businesses are destroyed.
Richard DS: This cities, whole cities, even worlds, are completely destroyed, with no thought of the collateral damage.
Richard DS: Just so long as the the good hero wins and the fight looks really good.
Richard DS: and we don't even think about it anymore.
Richard DS: And what was another? What we were thinking of?
Richard DS: Oh.
Richard DS: coming from a borderline
Richard DS: fantasy and reality of living on the borderline
Richard DS: concept. Bye bye. Emil brought up dungeons of drag dungeons and dragons experiences. and the how how that concept of causing collateral damage
Richard DS: really touch touches yourself, your soul, when you, when you realize that it's
Richard DS: you cause unnecessary pain or
Richard DS: expense.
Richard DS: and having that, so
Richard DS: that freedom to not do any real damage. We're all experiencing. like having that being in control and having that choice
Richard DS: of leaders, that leadership choice To to make these decisions.
Richard DS: it allows for for a growth like a personal growth, and it and it would also do the same thing in our in our
Richard DS: non-profit organizations to be able to have that little bit of freedom to take a leadership role.
Richard DS: and and perhaps cause an expense or a waste that has no real consequence in to the to the real world
Richard DS: would profit. It would give give us a chance to grow and take a direction that we might not otherwise be able to to experience.
Richard DS: And
Richard DS: the last point that I was going to throw in one last point. Let's see when we're when we're applying for these budgets
Richard DS: to throw in an item. That's it's not so pertinent and not so critical to accomplish that we can provide ourselves with a
Richard DS: with that that 10% marching to to play with and to say it. You know we we. We plan to do this, and we're we're asking for this to be in the budget to be funded for.
Richard DS: but if we don't accomplish it, it's not not too critical.
Richard DS: and then we can provide ourselves with that
Richard DS: with that little margin
Richard DS: to to experiment and grow.
Richard DS: I can run out of time.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you, Richard. Yes, I'm sorry I did. You want to add a final thought here?
Zahra Esmail (she/her): No? Okay, great. I I have got permission for us to go just a couple of minutes over to 5, to 1, 30, or 4, 35. But if you have to head out, we totally understand. I would love to just hear a final thought from our panelists before we wrap up here, so maybe like 30 to
Zahra Esmail (she/her): 60 s to each of you starting with you a meal. Thank you. Any final. Let us share before we sign off today.
Emele Neufeld: Well, Allen, thank you so much. I really appreciated the conversation that we did have.
Emele Neufeld: If i'm not saying this wrong, or Pop Kirsten and Richard, we'll all in. Thank you so much.
Emele Neufeld: I'm
Emele Neufeld: happy to have been able to share stories and have people take them into their hearts and potentially care that carry them into their futures.
Emele Neufeld: That makes me very hopeful. Thank you so much.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you, Emil. Okay, over to you for your closing pot.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: Thank you for the the great discussion, and and, as I said, it's sometimes what it was remotivating is just the the group coming together, and so providing even
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: emotional and and mental support for each other, and in what we are facing, and what we are all struggling with. And
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: you know there's a lot of great leaders in this sector, and I have a lot of hope that there is. There is a bright future future.
Olga Stachova (she/her) MOSAIC: We we get together, and they have opportunities to support each other through ideas and best practices experiences. So thank you for for joining today.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much. Ilka and Terry over to you.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: Thank you, everyone. It's been. This has been a very powerful and humbling experience for me to talk to you all. And you.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: I think I need to give some voice to. You know Jaslin was mentioning that you know Sometimes it's just really hard when you don't have a lot of resources to put this on, you know, to make things happen, make things change and to and to move things forward, and I think we've all been there in that situation. So please keep
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: to hope up. Please stay Treaty or yourself your mandation. And hopefully, there's breaks where the where you get those opportunities to build that capacity that you're.
Terry Brock - Lookout Society: So I definitely hear that. But it's a it's a hard, hard thing to do everything off the side of your desk and that, and to just try and make it work. And if you can find those little wins to kind of pull you and keep you keep your float in some of the work you're doing, you know. Look for those. So thank you again for everything, everyone.
Emele Neufeld: Hi, hi!
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you so much, Terry, and I want to thank all of you so much for your time and for being part of this conversation, and really for being part of the solution of what we're trying to create together, which is a a better world, a brighter world in a world where everybody can belong and experience their best reality so big. Thank you to Olga Terry and his.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): and huge Thank you to Tamarack Institute for bringing us all together, and facilitating these incredible conversations, these aren't actions. But the thoughts that we share it really makes the difference, and I think each of us will leave this conversation
Zahra Esmail (she/her): more motivated and a little bit wiser. I definitely will be inspired to take back some of the learning that have been shared today to the PC. Poverty reduction advisory Committee in that role, and I look forward to engaging with many more of you as we work towards collective.
Zahra Esmail (she/her): Thank you again. So much for having me, and for being part of this conversation.