Alliance for Cultural Equity NEWS

Issue 1 May 2012

WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT Inside this Issue

ACE Vision

 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE page 02  IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kamel Sadeq page 03  EVENTS PICTURE COLLAGE page 04-05  CONTACT US page 06  COMMUNITY page 06-07  LATEST HAPPENINGS page 08  ART OF NETWORKING: Karen Fraser page 09

 Canada as the global leader in welcoming & empowering newcomers. ACE Mission  Empower newcomers through leadership and innovation in service delivery, community-building and advocacy. ACE Values    

Excellence - relevant and pragmatic services for the community. Innovation - leading edge learning to foster adaptability. Diversity - Toronto’s motto “diversity our strength”. Integrity - accountability, transparency & ethical practices.

VISIT US ON WWW.ACECANADA.WEEBLY.COM FOR RECENT UPDATES, OPPORTUNTIES, NEWS AND MORE!

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Meet ACE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE |

In July ACE held a Gala Fundraiser for the Leaside Arena Expansion Project. Its great success was the result of our Events Nawal Ateeq Coordinator Danyal Wani’s efforts. The Alliance for Our work is guided by our vision of Cultural Equity (ACE) is a equality, social justice, equal access and multi-cultural non-profit democracy. Our tools are advocacy, public organization dedicated to education, community development, addressing issues that affect coalition building and bridging with the immigrants in the course of wider community. Our goal is a Canada that their settlement and welcomes and empowers newcomers. In integration into Canadian order to give our best to this country we society. must celebrate current standards of Since its inception in achievement and then be a catalyst to set the November 2010 ACE has bar even higher. The Engineers’ Opportunity organized “The Gifts of the Season,” a show Network in November of 2011 told and sale by vendors from Flemington Park and Thorncliffe Park. Proceeds from the first attendees about the changing engineering event were donated to the Leaside Property standards in Canada. On Sunday November 13 ACE & the Owners Association to offset the cost of their Talbot Apartment success. In March of 2011 Thorncliffe Park Tenants Association organized the registration of Thorncliffe the group presented "Finding Your Career Park children for a Sunday Free Skate Success in Toronto" a free seminar to Program in collaboration with the Leaside celebrate International Women’s Day. arena. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 08) THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAWAL ATEEQ President

Networking Event for Foreign Trained Engineers November 1st, 2011 Guest Speaker: Mr. Richard B. Jones

MUHAMMAD WANI Director of Finance MAZHAR SHAFIQ Chair DANYAL WANI Events Coordinator ANUM WANI Youth Engagement Coordinator HUFSA AKBAR Newsletter and Media Coordinator

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In the Spotlight ACE SUPPORTER KAMAL SADEQ | Originally from Jordan, Kamal Sadeq holds his Masters in Economics, has 24 years of banking experience and is a certified trainer with various institutes in the Middle East. He has conducted many training courses on Selling Skills, Quality Management and other Personal and Interpersonal Skills. He is presently working with Banque Saudi Fransi as an Assistant General Manager in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and “commutes” from his Toronto home.

COACHING AND MENTORING – BY KAMAL SADEQ As a manager one of your roles is to coach and mentor your staff. Well it should be anyhow! Good mentors are able to embrace and develop four main skills. Without these skills you will not be able to communicate with or aid in the enhancement of anyone’s development. And these skills are: * Observation Skills These are important because you must be able to see and understand what the person you are mentoring is currently doing and/or is capable of. * Analytical Skills These will give you the tools you need in order to determine where the person you are working with is falling short and what changes may need to be made. * Questioning & Active Listening Skills These are essential. When mentoring, you don’t feed the person you are working with a set of detailed instructions or telling them what to do. MULTILINGUAL PARALEGAL & INTERPRETER Accredited Will represent you in Court; Small Claims,Traffic Court, Landlord & Tenant Board, Provincial Offences, Summary Criminal Charges, workplace injuries, Employment & Human Rights plus all Administrative Tribunal and Board Representation. Services offered in English, Turkish, Russian & Uzbek. Call Bakhtier Shakhnazarov at 647-997-7667 or email: [email protected] LSUC license # P06958

Instead, you're probing and asking them questions so they come to the conclusions themselves. You’re not a teacher, you’re a guide. A lot of mentors are actually good at asking the questions but never listen to the answers. This is a really key skill. * Feedback Skills These are incredibly important as well. You must be able to give honest feedback in the form of constructive comments. Negative feedback isn’t appropriate in most mentoring situations. You must be able to provide feedback on the actions and behaviours of your staff member without making them feel as though they have failed. Have you taken the time to develop these mentoring skills? If not, get to it.

*Our Official Printer and Co-sponsor for this Newsletter:

Mohamed Dhanani High Print T: 905-709-9722 ext222 [email protected]

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Events

GIFTS OF THE SEASON

2010 - 2011

Above: A show and sale by vendors from Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park which featured beautiful, memorable gift items for the holiday season. The Gifts of the Season is the first step in a series of pragmatic workplace skills seminars and events.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2011

Below: Celebrating International Women’s day, March 8th, 2011, with a presentation on Finding and Creating Your Career Success in Toronto by Karen Fraser, the President of Women Like Me.

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Events

ACE organized a fundraising gala dinner on July 4th, 2011, in support of the second ice pad project at Leaside Gardens. This expansion has been the vision of the Leaside Arena Committee since the 1990s. ACE raised a total of $4000.

LEASIDE ARENA EXPANSION PROJECT FUNDRAISER

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Community LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? JOIN ACE!

Busy Day Cake – It’s quick,

We are looking for hardworking, devoted and dedicated adults, youth and children who wish to make our communities stronger. Contact us in any of the following ways to join our growing team or for any further questions and comments:

simple ingredients, yummy Total Prep. Time – 40 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Email

Phone

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[email protected]

647-216-4411

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Twitter

Website

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twitter.com/BuildAce

acecanada.weebly.com o 10 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 100 Toronto, ON M3C 3A1 Ph: (416) 422-2591 Email: [email protected] Website: newcircles.ca

NEW CIRCLES – THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY AND HOW Who: New Circles is a not-for-profit social service agency that strives to help residents of the City of Toronto, who need our support. Our primary service is our clothing program which provides new and gently used clothing for men, women and children. The clothing program offers a means to achieve dignity, respect and inclusiveness within our diverse communities.

o o o

METHOD 1. 2. 3.

What: New Circles delivers five key programs: Clothing Program, Senior’s Mobile Mall, Holiday Angels & Santa Sacs, Volunteer Program, and Prom Boutique

4.

When: Open all year-round, providing quality clothing to our clients for the changing seasons. Clients can shop with us once every three months. Why: All individuals should have access to basic necessities which are integral to dignity, respect and self-confidence. New Circles is committed to increasing access and opportunity for individuals living in poverty through offering clothing, connections and community. How: Our core values are Respect, Caring, Integrity and Diversity. In delivering quality community service we strive to maintain these values in everything we do. New Circles does not receive government funding – we are dependent on generous donors and volunteers who are committed to fostering equity within our communities.

Enough fruit to cover the bottom of a 10” pie plate For berries or peaches toss with 2 tablespoons of flour & white sugar mixed. For apples use brown sugar if preferred (cinnamon optional) 2/3 cup butter or margarine melted and cooled 1/2 to 2/3 cup plus 3 tbsps white sugar 2 large eggs lightly beaten 1 cup of all-purpose flour

5. 6.

Spread fruit evenly in bottom of pie plate Pour melted butter into a medium bowl. Add the sugar. ½ cup for sweeter fruit 2/3 for sour. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add the eggs, stir to combine then add the flour. Stir until thick and smooth (lumps will stir out) Spoon the batter evenly over fruit. Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake in 350F oven until golden about 30 minutes. Serve warm or cooled. Tip- For peaches place apple thinly sliced edge to edge over peach layer. It keeps juice out of the batter.

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Community How to make a Good First Impression (For Job Interviews or Volunteering) 1. Research: know about the organization and the volunteer/job opportunity 2. Rehearse: practise with a list of interview questions 3. Prepare two or three questions to ask the interviewer 4. Dress appropriately: wear neat, clean and suitable clothes for the organization and opportunity 5. Plan ahead: arrive on time 6. Begin with a smile – be confident, polite and friendly 7. Keep answers short and to the point – if they need more information, they will ask 8. Relax and enjoy the interview process and learn from the experience! www.volunteertoronto.ca

Too Late Tomorrow by Tricia McCallum Fates ride on little moments. Outcomes of entire lives can rest on the seemingly miniscule. Fresh from another of her parent’s brawls the little girl shuffles to school. She needs a sign today that the world is a safe place, something better awaits. This one afternoon in her life could turn her around, steer her through the minefields. A comforting word, a warm glance her way, the right things happening at just the right time. You know this little girl: Watch for her: The window is narrow. But you are powerful. She is waiting, for the smallest, the sweetest of mercies to be saved. More from Tricia www.triciamccallum.com

FIND THESE WORDS IN THE WORD-SEARCH BELOW TORONTO FUNDRAISE FLEMINGDON SERVICE CULTURE JOB EVENTS NEWSLETTER

LEASIDE THORNCLIFFE OPPORTUNITY ALLIANCE COMMUNITY NETWORK RECIPE

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Latest happenings (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 02)

Above: Skate Program – Children learn how to skate through a free program every Sunday Below: Making Your Own Future Course – Students learn to make their own opportunities

Over 430 people came to the arena and 75 pairs of donated skates & helmets were issued to those who registered. The smooth registration was only the first task handled flawlessly by our volunteers each Sunday from November 20, 2011 to March 25, 2012. Volunteers under the direction of ACE Youth Engagement Coordinator Anum Wani got the children into their skates and after the free skate they wiped down and organized the skates for the next week. We are grateful to all who helped; in particular Jane Pitfield, Muhammad Wani, Mazhar Shafiq, Brooke Biscoe and Abbas Kolia. In March 2012 ACE in partnership with Learning Support Council, Flemingdon Park Ministry and Flemingdon Community Health Centre launched a small business course called Making Your Own Future for residents of Flemingdon Park. The course combined practical business practice taught by Karen Fraser of Women Like Me and the basics of creating jewellery by Alison Jones of Alison Rocks. The reaction to our first initiatives has been very positive! We appreciate your well thought out questions and suggestions. They are now part of our planning for the next ACE projects.

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The Art of Networking KAREN FRASER – From the course Making Your Own Future A network is a group of peers who formally or informally share a mutually beneficial professional relationship. Admission to the network is gained through respect, experience and reputation. Networking, the practice of mutually beneficial giving and getting, runs the world of success. In a tight and shifting economy most jobs and opportunities flow through networks. Networking is a skill to be developed and then perfected to the level of an art form. Getting Started Become visible - Start by volunteering. Newcomers should volunteer in the mainstream. People who have good things to share must see who you are- your character and abilities. In the beginning you must give much more than you get. Be reliable-Show up on time. Do what you have promised and do it to the best of your ability. Always keep people informed about your progress. Always thank people. Savvy networkers are not influenced by current titles or who you were in another country; they network with the person. Watch for the subtle boundaries- Where is the line between an unprofessional demand and a reasonable inquiry? Always ask in balance with what you have given. Use Social Media- When the time seems right ask your new network contacts to connect on Facebook, LinkedIn etc. Opportunity is everywhere- Talk to everyone, listen to everyone, be well informed on many current topics so you can add to the conversation, attend events. Be patient- No one shares power and opportunity with someone they do not know. They would not want your actions to reflect badly on them and cause their network to question their value as a member. Sound difficult? Any new skill is difficult in the beginning. What will you get from an effective network? 1. Peer support. Success is not a solitary achievement. Newcomers need mainstream contacts to learn Canadian realities, success fine points and to avoid the barriers of isolation. 2. Information from skilled colleagues. 3. Save time. One call or email to the right person can save hours and prevent costly errors. 4. Opportunity- seemingly casual conversations with your network often prove to be invaluable. 5. Support and influence of a group 6. Direct business and business referrals 7. An edge on the competition 8. A community of capable friends Networking is the difference between working hard and working smart!

Khalid Usman, FCA

Tel: 905-470-8111 2750 14th Avenue, Suite 207 Fax: 905-470-8121 Markham, Ontario, L3R 0B6 Cell: 647-297-0211 Web: Email: [email protected] http://www.khalidusman.ca

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