Summer 2018

What's new at CultureLink?

CultureLink Newsletter - September, 2018

Students are now back in school after one of the loveliest summers in years. CultureLink is pleased to share program highlights with our community members and partners to keep you informed about what is happening. We are very excited to be planning CultureLink’s 30 ^th Anniversary Gala celebration and extend our invitation for you to join us , see the below link. We welcome your ideas and input and hope our newsletter will spark some ideas to volunteer your time to contribute to community success. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and family who might enjoy learning more about CultureLink. Have a wonderful fall!

Join us at our 30th Anniversary Gala event on November 22, 2018 at Old Mill Toronto. Order your tickets now!

CultureLink is pleased to invite you to our 30 ^th Anniversary Gala to be held on November 22 ^nd at the Old Mill. Featuring keynote speaker: Daniele Zanotti, CEO and President of the United Way, CultureLink's Nai Children's Choir, Casa Cultural Mexicana Dance, CultureLink Documentary by Mazahir Rahim, silent and live auction with great items! Please join our celebration!

New Orientation Week(NOW)-Central Toronto Academy/Harbord Collegiate Institute

Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program this year at Central Toronto Academy along with Harbord Collegiate Institute was the most well attended and successful program in a few years. We had a full house of 41 newcomer students from varying backgrounds and all over the world taking part in 4 days of peer-driven and led activities to ease their integration to a new home and their new school. With the continued support of both schools we managed to enhance the settlement process of newcomer youth that is long lasting to develop their potential and support their success at school and beyond. This year was the most diverse group of students representing youth from Vietnam, China, Thailand, Germany, Holland, Philippines, Italy, Mexico and Spain.

Congratulations to the Peer Leaders from both schools who were instrumental in delivering the program. We look forward to working with all of the students to support them as successful student activists at school and contribute to the community at large.

Ajith Aluthwatta, Settlement Workers in Schools

NOW at St. Mary's Catholic School Covered by CBC TV News

Peer Leader newcomer students on graduation day from the NOW Program and made the news! with Ronald Rojas, Program Worker, Settlement Workers in Schools.

CBC Radio'Here and NOW' with Gill Deacon

Interview with Cecilia, Peer Leader, and Lisa Randall, Program Manager about the NOW Program and made the news!

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Summer Youth Theatre Program

After a busy and exciting summer at the youth center, we wanted to quickly recognize what has become a beloved tradition at Culturelink: The Summer Youth Theatre Program. For the 14 ^th year in a row, with support from the Canadian Summer Jobs program, 15 youth were selected to participate in a collaborative Theatre Program. Staff member Isaac working with the youth to explore themes of migration, change, and identity. It was amazing to see the transformation from a shy group of individuals to a cohesive ensemble. Isaac led the first six weeks of the program and then Max from Youth in Arts stepped in, helping the youth finish the piece and introduce puppetry into two of the three pieces of group work. The show was a series of vignettes which highlighted newcomer youth experiences of being “newcomers” and settling in a new country. We had two performances, the first being to a large group of people at the Learning Enrichment Foundation’s ‘Multicultural Day’ and a second show at our very own CultureLink’ Children and Youth Center. Many of the participants are still involved with CultureLink and we are already counting the days until the program next summer.

Max Kelly, Youth Program Worker (Youth in Arts)

Winter Clothing Drive

On a warm Sunday, September 23 ^rd , CultureLink Community Connections Mentorship Program joined forces with Tao Sangha Healing Centre to deliver winter clothing to newcomer clients at St. Pius X School. It took a lot of preparation and hard work from the team to gear newcomers up and get them ready for the upcoming winter season. We successfully served 180 newcomer families in 3 hours. Robin, a dedicated volunteer from Tao Sangha, told clients that she was their personal shopper for the day and would help them select items that matched their size and style. It was a great experience for the team and clients. Signs around the neighbourhood and subway station were posted to help newcomers find the clothing pick up location. Clients were also provided with information and settlement services that they needed. A child-friendly table was set up for kids with snacks, colours. It was an opportunity for the little ones to meet other newcomer children. Our MP, Arif Virani was excited to arrive before the drive to donate some childrens’ clothing to support Parkdale community. Though working on Sunday is not our favourite thing to do, the satisfaction we get from supporting newcomers is worth every Sunday!

Dareen Fatimah

Program Worker, Community Connections Mentorship Program/Settlement Worker in Schools

Summer at Bike Hub

This summer, a group of kids learned how to fix bikes together. At the Bike Hub that Culturelink is operating at 15 Tobermory Drive, we spent the warm days of August getting to know the neighbourhood – the people, buildings, streets, food, and of course the bicycles. As a new part of the Sustainable Communities team we’re getting things rolling to help people reuse, repair, and choose bicycles as a way to get around in the Jane and Finch community.

The first nine graduates of the Earn-a-Bike program were energetic, eager learners who didn’t shy away from flat tires, rusty chains, stuck brakes, or even taking apart a whole wheel. With snack breaks, obviously!

By the time they were ready to go back to school, each of them had a bicycle they had worked to rebuild themselves. They’re excited to keep learning and keeping their bikes in good shape so they enjoy the bike-friendly facilities nearby, like the Black Creek trail and the Finch trail, and the new bike lane on Shoreham drive. You can read more about the Bike Hub at http://culturelink.ca/services/health-and-recreation/bike-hub/

Danielle Griscti, Youth Worker, Bicycle Repair Hubs