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BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY LASI Local Agencies Serving Immigrants Local Agencies Serving Immigrants LASI • LASI is a coalition of immigrant service agencies serving the Ottawa community • LASI works together as a dynamic partnership • As a forum to share information between agencies LASI VISION Mission of the LASI coalition: • Advancing the social and economic integration of immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers • Ensuring co-operation and collaboration among partner agencies • Influencing community to adapt to newcomers Agency Participation • • • • • • LASI is comprised of independent settlement agencies Each agency has their own offering of services The agencies freely come together in partnership The coalition partners represent a wide cross-section of the immigrant community All are involved in delivering front-line services to Newcomers They come in daily contact with the grassroots, as well as influencing broader sector issues LASI Partners Immigrant Women Services of Ottawa Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre Catholic Immigration Centre LASI World Skills (employment services) Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) Lebanese and Arab Social Services Agency Jewish Family Services Common Goals of LASI • To enhance the social and economic integration of immigrants, refugees and other newcomers • To collaborate amongst partner agencies • To influence community-at-large to adapt to Newcomers • To voice concerns • To advocate in the community for immigrant issues • To plan strategically for the future Achieving Our Goals These goals will be achieved through: LASI coalition efforts in • • • • • Employment and employment-related initiatives Research Public education Settlement Integration services Guiding Principles • Negotiate with trust, good will and respect • Agencies support one another • Strive not to duplicate efforts • Share resources, expertise and knowledge Shared Governance Model • The LASI coalition utilizes a shared governance model • This reflects the spirit of the partnership • There is a monthly meeting of all executive directors from the partner agencies • These individuals comprise the membership of the LASI Coalition Board of Directors • There is an Executive Director of the LASI Coalition who attends each monthly meeting • There is a rotating chairperson each month, a responsibility which is shared equally among the agencies LASI Initiatives • LASI initiatives enhance and compliment the efforts of the partner agencies • Decisions are made by concensus ***If a partner agency determines that participating in the concensus decision-making process is not in the interest of their agency they may opt out LASI Activities Involvement in the following areas: • • • • • Public awareness Advocacy Relationship-building Outreach Project development In keeping with coalition mission/goals Recent LASI Activities • Ottawa police to Newcomers issues • Hosting presentation by Ontario Citizenship minister Mike Colle on Fair Access to Professions and Trades—Bill 124 • Organizing Enhanced Language Training conference • Addressing cultural competencies with in the Children’s Aid Society • Playing a leadership role in the United Way Impact council • Participation in Hire Immigrants Ottawa Project Creation of LASI World Skills • In 1997, the LASI coalition formed a separate agency called LASI World Skills • It is a non-profit, charitable organization • It was created to assist in meeting the employment needs of new Canadians residing in the Ottawa region • LASI World Skills is able to respond to Newcomer needs through a number of programs that are funded through different levels of government LASI World Skills and the Coalition • The LASI World Skills Executive Director attends and reports at all LASI Coalition meetings • At meetings, decisions and follow-up actions are decided by all partners, equally • When an employment initiative/activity may constitute a conflict of interest, partner agencies consult and collaborate to determine: • Should it be a World Skills initiative/activity? • How will it be implemented? • Should a lead agency be designated? LASI World Skills and the Community • LASI World Skills is well connected to the Newcomer community • The vast majority of immigrants in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario will use our services at some point in their search for employment • World Skills staff is made up of predominantly foreignborn professionals • As a result, many immigrants have been involved in designing our many programs and services LASI World Skills Programs and Services Job Placement OWEEP – Ontario Works Enhance Employment Program CAN- Career Access for Newcomers World Skills EAITP - Employment Alternatives for Internationally Trained Physicians Resource Centre JSW Job Search Workshop ITT - Internationally Trained Teachers – Teach in Ontario Workplace Training for Professionals (engineers, teachers, medical specialists) Career Access for Newcomers (CAN) • A project designed to help Newcomers access employment that is appropriate to their experience and education • Provides the tools, information and skills needed to conduct an effective job search • Prepare for, obtain and maintain employment • Explore career alternatives Job Search Workshop (JSW) • The workshop runs for three consecutive days • The JSW offers job search training that is designed specifically for Newcomers in Canada less than 5 years who are landed immigrants or convention refugees Examples of workshop areas: • Effective resume/cover letter writing • Successful interview techniques • Techniques for contacting employers Enhanced Language Training (ELT) Workplace Language Training for Internationally Trained Professionals The program consists of 3 courses: • Workplace Communication and Culture for Newcomers • Writing for Professional Purposes • Oral Communication Skills for Professionals • Volunteering or Job-shadowing opportunity Teach in Ontario • This project is designed for internationally-trained teachers who want to bring their education and experience into Ontario classrooms • Teach in Ontario provides the support you need to become a certified teacher and find a job in education • All the information needed to understand and navigate the certification process Mentorship Program • World Skills has partnered with Algonquin College to select and prepare candidates for the Algonquin College Mentorship Program • The first 15 clients from the CAN Project have already been coached and streamlined towards COMP Community Recognition • In 2004 LASI and World Skills received Outstanding Community Building Partnership of the year Award Serving Newcomers Together & Building A Welcoming Community Thank You!