It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of our colleague, friend, and Board member Charles Nichols. As we grieve Charles' passing, we also wish to celebrate his life and the dedication with which he fought for those on the margins. Please join us at the SDC office for a Celebration of Life on Friday, May 10 (5-7pm).
The Lived Expertise Prototyping process was started in 2023 so that staff and Council at the Region of Waterloo could learn and benefit directly from the insights and knowledge of those with lived or living experience of homelessness and housing instability.
It has been an honour for the Social Development Centre to facilitate this ongoing process, and today we are pleased to share the final report outlining the recommendations made by the Lived Expertise prototyping cohort for addressing homelessness in Waterloo Region.
We can't wait to welcome you into our space again at this year's open house on Tuesday, March 26 (4-7pm)!
Come meet the new faces on our team. Socialize with others who share your values. Learn how you can strengthen grassroots and community connections. And bring a copy of this flyer for a chance to win one of our door prizes!
No more status quo solutions!
SDC invites you to join community organizers, service providers, and elected officials on March 9 for an evening of learning and advocacy around homelessness and housing policy. The purpose of Hope for Ending Homelessness - A Community Dialogue" is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to build a shared understanding - of the issues, potential solutions, and the support that's needed from all levels of government to address this crisis.
SDC is thrilled to receive funding from Region of Waterloo to continue delivering two critical programs as part of the Region's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness:
Read the full media release here.
Do the values of the Social Development Centre (SDC) resonate with you? Come and join our team! We are recruiting for the position of a Part-Time Bookkeeper who will be responsible for supporting (with the potential to eventually manage) the day-to-day accounting responsibilities for SDC.
If interested, please review the job posting for more details and apply by February 16, 2024. Not having all the listed skills and qualifications should not in and of itself exclude you from submitting an application. SDC is committed to hiring people with diverse abilities and backgrounds.
Our ED, Aleksandra Petrovic, is on sabbatical
After nearly a decade at SDC, Aleks is taking a well-deserved break. We feel her absence every day, but hope you'll join us in wishing Aleks the very best as she takes this time away to focus on herself.
Who to contact in Aleks' absence
There's no denying we have some very big shoes to fill. But just over a year ago, Aleks transitioned SDC to a Distributed Leadership model, where ED functions such as liaising with the Board, and guiding the mission and vision of the organization, were shared across multiple roles. With Aleks on sabbatical, the Distributed Leadership Team will fully assume all of her former responsibilities...
Thanks to O:se Kenhionhata:tie, the "Falling Through the Cracks" photo exhibit will be at Willow River Centre throughout January - March, 2024! Developed as part of a research project undertaken by Wilfrid Laurier University and members of the Lived Expertise Working Group (LEWG), the exhibit provides an opportunity to discover the powerful perspectives and voices of displacement in Waterloo Region.
Office Closure:
The SDC office will be closed Monday, December 18, 2023 to Tuesday, January 2, 2024 to give our team a chance to rest, reflect, and recharge for the new year.
Staff Development Days:
Our team will be back at work on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, but you may experience slower response times as we take part in staff development sessions January 2 - 5, 2024. We thank you in advance for your patience as we do our best to get back to you in a timely way!
We hope this holiday season brings you rest, warmth, and care - and all the very best in the new year.
We are thrilled to partner with Waterloo Public Library (WPL) to have an Eviction Prevention Peer Worker on-site at the Main Library every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm.
The peer worker can be found on the upper level at the desk beside the non-fiction large print books. Please ask staff at the Information Desk if you need help locating the Eviction Prevention Peer Worker.
