Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk Workshop Summary

March 15, 2003 - Simcoe Public Library

Prepared by: Voices Unlimited Self Advocates Group

With assistance from:

We gratefully acknowledge the funding provided by Health Canada in support of this initiative

Background

The Social and Economic inclusion Initiative (SEII) is funded by Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch. In co-operation with the Social Planning Network of Ontario, a project was implemented in the Central West region of Ontario with the direct involvement of three local Social Planning Councils. These include the Brant Community Social Planning Council, the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries and the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo.

The aim of the SEII project in the Brant Community has been to help mobilize communities to develop healthy public policies and practices that "close the distance" socially and economically for youth and seniors including persons with disabilities who live within the project's regional catchment areas. The March 15th workshop was a first step in a process aimed at engaging these individuals with community leaders, service providers, government officials and other professionals from the Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk County area. The session was held at the Simcoe Public Library.

The full day session explored how traditionally marginalized groups experience social isolation and exclusion within their communities. Invitations were specifically directed to individuals or groups with these backgrounds or experiences. A total of 66 participants, from communities throughout the tri-county area, registered and attended the event.

With the assistance of guest speakers from municipal government, media and the community at large, the day examined how local decision-making processes both government and community based can become more inclusive in their approaches. Through a series of individual presentations, then large group discussions and 'buzz' group conversations, people began to share their own experiences their frustrations, their challenges, and their joyful moments. In the course of their story telling, many ideas were voiced about what can be done to change our communities and make them more inclusive.

Another objective for the day was to involve a small group of persons with intellectual and physical disabilities Voices Unlimited in the visioning, planning and facilitation of the day. Their involvement in shaping the day's activities and directly participating in the implementation of the agenda represented a new challenge and an opportunity for group members to directly engage with many new people from the community. This engagement has been a long-term goal for the group.

The Brant Community Social Planning Council also assisted in the planning and facilitation of the workshop. In collaboration with the members of Voices Unlimited, a self advocates' group, the following is a summary of the March 15th Forum activities.

Morning Session

The morning began with a welcome from Brad Campbell, a self-advocate involved with Voices Unlimited. Brad spent a few minutes explaining the work of Voices Unlimited and then provided participants with important information regarding the day's timeframe, facilities and the most important requirements of accessible washrooms and food!

Caroline Ball, who has been working with the Voices group on social inclusion activities for the past 9 months, then took participants through a brief review of the day's agenda.

What is Social and Economic Inclusion Anyway?

Susan Gow, Project Co-ordinator for the overall Central West SEII project, spent some time presenting her thoughts on the concept and practice of "social and economic inclusion". Specifically, what is social inclusion and what are we learning about inclusion and inclusive practice over the course of the Central West project?

Drawing on the learnings from previous Central West project activities, Susan discussed the basic elements of 'mobilization' and 'transformative change' as key processes and outcomes of social inclusion activities. She then shifted her comments towards the specific focus of the March 15th event to be a jumping off point for mobilizing and supporting transformative change for seniors, youth and persons with disabilities living in the Brant, Haldimand or Norfolk area.

Purpose of the Day

The purpose of the day was to inform and, where possible, begin to mobilize individuals around shared issues. It was to serve as an important information and engagement opportunity for people seeking to connect with others. For many, this connection might be only on a social or personal engagement level. For others, it might represent an opportunity to meet other people who share the same concerns about a common issue.

Community Panel on Inclusive Decision Making

The remainder of the morning session was dedicated to learning about what contributes to inclusive decision making that closes the gap between those in decision making positions and those typically affected by such decisions. A panel of local "experts" was invited to speak to participants about their own backgrounds and experience in this regard.

There were three guest speakers in attendance. They included a community development staff person from the Haldimand County Parks and Recreation Department, a recent mayoral candidate who ran in Norfolk County, and a print and television journalist from Brant County. Each speaker spent ten minutes commenting on the following guiding questions:

  1. Who typically gets left out of community discussions, processes and structures?
  2. What is your own story of involvement?
  3. Is there anything being done in your own community to make processes/structures more inclusive?
  4. What more do you think can be done to make these structures and processes more socially and economically inclusive?

Following the presentations, the floor was opened to a moderated discussion from the full participant group. Susan Gow moderated the session. Many people in the room some of whom had never attended a workshop of this nature before spoke to some of the points made by speakers. Some of the comments provided by participants suggested that hearing from the speakers was a worthwhile experience. Many asked specific "how to" questions about things like accessing the municipal process, connecting with local media as a vehicle for voicing or acting on community concerns, or getting directly involved in community decision making via political activities (e.g. running for elected office).

Afternoon Session

The afternoon session was devoted to smaller group discussions and sharing of strategies for social and economic inclusion. Four "buzz groups" were formed with a facilitator assigned to each group. The groups were intended to be low key and open discussion activities. Three guiding questions were posed for each group to tackle through discussion. They included:

  1. What did you hear this morning that was new?
  2. Do you think you could do something new (encourage or support social inclusion)? What would that be?
  3. If you were to set a goal for making a change, when and how would you get started?

What Was New?

Many participants commented that discussing and sharing new ways or strategies for accessing decision-making structures was new for them. They also learned that showing an interest in an issue or community concern can make a difference. Finally, it was recognized that people who are traditionally isolated or excluded from community process are not always alone in their concerns. There will often be many other people in our community who may share the same concerns as us. Reaching out to or otherwise engaging these folks can help us to speak for ourselves, or with them together, on issues and accomplish a lot more in terms of mobilizing the community.

What Can We Do? Getting Started

The responses to this question were primarily focused on specific issues. For example, one group used a participant's concern about their experiences at a local high school as a person with an intellectual disability. The group then focused its discussion around a specific strategy to establish a co-op school program for persons with disabilities as a means for mobilizing and empowering himself and others who may share the same concern.

Make a direct connection. Developing information and materials (flyers, hand-outs, etc.) that document a concern was also recommended as a useful strategy for engaging decision makers on an issue.

Another suggestion included finding informed people on the issue and building a relationship with them. Also, finding out whether there are groups in one's community with a similar focus or interests can make a difference in being able to speak out as a person or with others using "one voice". Start with close networks for example, family, friends, or neighbours. Where these other groups may not exist, participants were encouraged to consider starting their own group.