Welcome to COCo's December Community e-Bulletin!

Here's what we have in this month's release:
*COCo-Note
*Must Reads
*Site Seeing
*Community Postings

To sign up to receive COCo's Community e-Bulletin direct by email every month, email us at info@coco-net.org. If you have a community posting that you would like to submit to the January e-Bulletin, please email us 100 words or fewer by December 26th.

 

 

 

December 2008 COCo Note
LEARNING TO LEAD, LEADING TO LEARN

There sure has been a lot of talk about changing leadership lately. The federal Liberals are in the midst of a leadership race. Quebecers are due at the polls December 8, and Barack Obama promises to bring real change to America. Considering the seemingly unavoidable changes that appear to be coming down the pipe as a result of the economic downturn, it's difficult to see how any one leader will offer much in the way of social change in the near future. How realistic are we about the capacity of our leaders to lead? What has globalization done do our ideas about leadership? How do different generations' ideas about what it means to lead have an impact on our collective expectations of leaders? It seems as though changing our ideas about leadership may offer up more possibilities than our obsession with election outcomes and succession planning.

At COCo, we have been working to change our organizational structure for over two years now. Change for us has meant developing a way of working together that reflects our values and interest in supporting grassroots social change. Throughout this process, we have been preoccupied with developing a structure that will allow us to live out important ideas such as diversity, participation and equity, as individuals and as an organization. This process has slowly but surely allowed for the development of shared leadership in the organization. In the coming months we hope to share our process, challenges and reflections around this work. For now, it's fair to say that our experience shows that interesting things can happen when leadership responsibilities are held by a group of people who share a commitment to social justice and building a strong community movement.

As we found ourselves challenged by each other, tangled in task descriptions and frustrated by a shortage of examples to draw from, there was no one leader to banish or blame for our troubles. Most satisfyingly we can all be held responsible for our success as we begin to find clarity as an organization. This kind of change is slow, and it's difficult. Identifying and appreciating the gradual outcomes of slow change can, at times, be about as exciting as watching grass grow. It relies not on the leadership of one, but on actively supporting, fostering and making room for many kinds of leadership to emerge over time, through many different individuals.

In 2009, our newest team member, Mubeenah Mughal will be facilitating a learning circle for emerging leaders in the community sector, with a strong focus on folks working in ethnocultural communities. We hope to continue reflections on leadership there, and at the same time, offer resources to help emerging leaders build capacity. For more information you can contact Mubeenah at mubeenahm@coco-net.org.

MUST READS
Materials listed below are available free to community organizations for a two-week loan from COCo's Lanie Melamed Resource Centre. Thanks to Karen Brown for contributing to the Must Reads.

Gold Book: Success Stories in Nonprofit Management by the Alliance for Nonprofit Management

The Alliance is an association of organizations and individuals dedicated to building capacity of nonprofit organizations and to maximize their effectiveness and impact. Its mission is particularly to provide leadership and to strengthen management and governance of nonprofits. Gold Book is a collection of stories from its member organizations that represent the many aspects of achieving their goals, such as: strategic planning, board and volunteer development, community partnerships, and evaluation. It is not a how-to-manual but rather a collection of "vignettes" that help to illustrate its goals. Gold Book is simply organized, and is a very easy read.

Searching: The theory and practice of making cultural change by Merrelyn Emery

With an introduction that begins with the quotation, "Nothing is as practical as a good theory", Merrelyn Emery has produced a highly academic book on the subject of cultural change. Searching shows that by replacing "200 years of mechanistic assumptions" with more current and accurate concepts and principles that more readily capture human and social realities, we can release the potential for change. Part I in this book explores the theoretical framework for how people learn and how they adapt. Part II adds flesh to the theory by providing examples that illustrate the flexibility inherent within these models. Searching is a thought-provoking and challenging read.

SITE SEEING

http://ethiquette.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1813&Itemid=47&lang=en

The holiday season is supposed to bring out the best in us. And so it's natural, in this time of frenzied buying, that we stop to reflect on ways to make our choices friendlier to the earth and those we share it with. We know that slowing down and consuming less is part of the solution, now here's the rest of the solution: choosing to give great gifts that stand out for their social and environmental value. Ethiquette, an information service which brings responsible product and service choices to Canadian consumers through its website and bi-monthly electronic newsletter, has put together a list of products that aim to meet those standards.

http://www.votezsante.com

An online petition demanding that the government protect, preserve and reform the public healthcare system.

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/content/view/717/1/

An interesting article from The Nonprofit Quarterly featuring tips for nonprofits on how to serve, deliberate, advocate, and promote public goods with reduced capacity in a time of financial crisis.

COMMUNITY POSTINGS

If you have a community posting that you would like to submit to the January e-Bulletin, please email us 100 words or fewer by December 26th.

1. FUNDRAISING GALA: SANTROPOL ROULANT
2. EVENT: MAISON MOSAIK
3. EVENT: AVANTE WOMEN'S CENTRE
4. CHRISTMAS EVENTS: SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY PARTNERS NETWORK
5. EVENNEMENT: LE CENTRE D'AIDE AUX FAMILLES LATINO-AMÉRICAINES (CAFLA)
6. LAUNCH: OTESHA PROJECT'S 2009 CYCLING AND PERFORMING TOURS
7. WORKSHOP: THE BUREAUCRATIZATION/ PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SOCIAL CHANGE OR WHAT THE F**K ARE WE DOING?
8. JOURNÉE DE FORMATION ET DE RÉFLEXION SUR LES PRATIQUES D'INTERVENTION ADAPTÉES À LA DIVERSITÉ RELIGIEUSE DE LA CLIENTÈLE: CSSS
9. FREE WORKSHOP: DEALING WITH DEBT
10. CONFERENCE:WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
11. UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS: Q-TEAM, STE-EMILIE, THE PRISONER CORRESPONDENCE PROJECT AND NAUGHTY NORTH
12. DEMONSTRATION: END SECRET TRIALS AND TORTURE DEPORTATIONS
13. NOUVELLE RECHERCHE: "LES HOMMES IMMIGRANTS ET LEUR VÉCU FAMILIAL: IMPACT DE L'IMMIGRATION ET INTERVENTION"
14. NEW BLOG: GREATER MONTREAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (GMCDI)
15. JOBSEEKERS' HANDBOOK: YES Montreal
16. REQUEST FOR DONATIONS: QPIRG CONCORDIA RESOURCE LIBRARY
17. PARTICIPANTS WANTED: NDG FOOD DEPOT
18. SUPPORT GROUPS AND EVENT: AMI-QUEBEC
19.PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN RETAIL SALES AND WAREHOUSE: TYNDALE TREASURES
20. JOB OFFER: PROGRAM MANAGER, INTER PARES
21. OFFRE D'EMPLOI: L'ASSOCIATION COOPÉRATIVE D'ÉCONOMIE FAMILIALE (ACEF) DU SUD-OUEST DE MONTRÉAL
22. JOB OFFER: THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT CANADA (TCPC)
23. JOB OFFER: GIRLS ACTION FOUNDATION
24.JOB OFFER: CENTRE FOR LITERACY OF QUEBEC
25. JOB OFFER: CANADIAN JEWISH CONGRESS, QUEBEC REGION (CJC-QR)
26. VOLUNTEER: THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

1. FUNDRAISING GALA: SANTROPOL ROULANT
Santropol Roulant's Fundraising Gala " LA MASCARADE VÉNITIENNE " is less than a week away! When: Sunday December 7th at 6 PM. Where: Just for Laughs Museum (2111 St. Laurent Blvd, corner Sherbrooke). Dress to impress - join us for a funky elegant red-and-black masquerade! The evening will include…

* Hors d'oeuvres and a delicious dinner buffet
* A Raffle and chance to win Montreal Canadiens hockey tickets
* A silent art auction with works by Peter Krausz, Kevin Sonmor, France Jodoin, Yechel Gagnon, Alex Masino, Olivier Longpre, Katia Longpre and more
* Murray Lightburn and Natalia Yanchak of The Dears

Tickets are available at $25 or $45 or $65 or $100 (5 raffle tickets included in $100 tickets).
Tax receipts will be issued for tickets over $25.
Tickets are going fast! Call to purchase yours today at 514-284-9335!
All proceeds go to Santropol Roulant's meals-on-wheels and volunteer programs.

If you are unable to attend the gala and would like to make a donation or if you would like more information on Santropol Roulant please visit http://www.santropolroulant.org/2006/E-home.htm.

2. EVENT: MAISON MOSAIK
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 3 P.M.
*Neiges et Sortilèges (short film) followed by
The short film Neiges et Sortilèges tells the story of Vassilissa, a highly imaginative young girl who can't wait for the first snowfall (Anthony Ferro, Les Productions Vassilissa, 2007).

* Woânda (young audiences -puppet theatre, ages 5 to 9)
Then,what can happen when a frog takes up residence in the pipes under your bathroom sink? That's the starting point for Woânda, a play about Laura, a little girl whose mother is seriously ill. Thanks to her special friendship with the frog Woânda, Laura learns to handle all the emotions associated with losses, large and small. Patricia Bergeron, script and director, Mariève Bibeau, Pascal Rolin, Isabelle Payant and Maryse Poulin, performers.

*13 h 30 : Special activity for children An interractive workshop about light and shadow theatre given by two performers of the Woânda show in wich the children will learn how to make puppets out of shadows behind a curtain. Snacks will follow. Passes available starting November 30.
For details contact maisonmosaik@bellnet.ca

3. EVENT: AVANTE WOMEN'S CENTRE
AN EVENING WITH DR. LALLA
As part of the "Ask The Expert" program, Dr. Daniel Lalla has agreed to come to Avante to answer general questions about women's health issues: osteoporosis, heart disease, menopause, diabetes, and other conditions that concern women in particular. Due to availability however, the evening will be on Monday, December 8th , from 6 - 8pm . Please take advantage of this rare opportunity that Dr. Lalla has given us to get answers directly from an expert with an open and simple format of questions & answers.
For more information, contact: (450) 248-0530 or avantenancy@bellnet.ca

4. CHRISTMAS EVENTS: SOUTH SHORE COMMUNITY PARTNERS NETWORK
Check out upcoming SSCPN events at: http://groups.msn.com/southshorecommunitypartners/mayevents.msnw
Over this holiday season if you are aware of seniors or others who would benefit from an evening out at anyone of the enclosed list of Christmas concerts and events , please invite them to join you.

SSCPN frequently gets requests from seniors and their families seeking help with transport to do their shopping and assistance in doing small jobs around their homes. While there are volunteer help services for medical appointments the number of requests far outnumber the number of drivers who offer their services. If you are willing to offer help in transporting seniors (often they are will to cover gas) please pass on your contact information to: communitypartners@sympatico.ca.

5. EVENNEMENT: LE CENTRE D'AIDE AUX FAMILLES LATINO-AMÉRICAINES (CAFLA)
Rencontre organisée par le Centre d'aide aux familles latino-américaines (CAFLA), le mercredi, 10 décembre à 17h. Il s'agit d'une soirée d'échange entre les membres des communautés québécoise, latino-américaine, haïtienne, arabe et asiatique. Il y aura également des témoignages d'intégration, des kiosques et des goûters typiques. Et le tout est gratuit !

Centre communautaire Lajeunesse
7378 rue Lajeunesse, Salle 317
Places limitées. Inscription obligatoire le plus tôt possible
514-273-8061
info@cafla.ca

6. LAUNCH: OTESHA PROJECT'S 2009 CYCLING AND PERFORMING TOURS
The Otesha Project is a youth-run organization that uses theatre to mobilize young people to make local and global change through their everyday consumer choices. The cycling and performing tour offers participants the chance to live in a mobile sustainable community while giving performances to high school students and community groups about how to make sustainability a part of everyday life.
Learning tours, bilingual tours, one month, two months - the possibilities are endless! If you or someone you know is interested in applying to go on a tour, now is the time.
http://www.otesha.ca/

7. WORKSHOP: THE BUREAUCRATIZATION/ PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SOCIAL CHANGE OR WHAT THE F**K ARE WE DOING?
In this workshop, we will examine the role of community-based organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) in limiting social change processes.

Short Introductions by Aziz Choudry, Nik Barry-Shaw, Anna-Louise Crago, Eric Shragge. Followed by Discussion. Pot Luck Dinner. Please Bring Something!

Thursday, December 11, 2008
East Asian Studies
McGill University
3434 McTavish
6:00 to 9:00 PM

For more information
theradschool(at)gmail.com

8. JOURNÉE DE FORMATION ET DE RÉFLEXION SUR LES PRATIQUES D'INTERVENTION ADAPTÉES À LA DIVERSITÉ RELIGIEUSE DE LA CLIENTÈLE: CSSS
Le Centre de recherche et de formation (CRF) du CSSS de la Montagne organise pour 2009 une journée de formation et de réflexion pour tous les employés de différents CSSS montréalais ainsi que d'organismes communautaires partenaires sur les pratiques d'intervention adaptées à la diversité religieuse de la clientèle.

L'objectif de cette journée est de participer à la réflexion sur l'adaptation des pratiques d'intervention à la diversité religieuse. Les activités de cette journée se dérouleront principalement sous la forme d'ateliers de réflexion et de formation inspirés de situations que vous ou vos collègues avez rencontrées.

Afin d'alimenter ces ateliers, nous vous invitons donc à nous faire parvenir des exemples de situations que vous avez rencontrées dans votre travail en lien avec la différence religieuse (avec la clientèle). Si votre proposition est retenue, un membre du CRF vous contactera afin de documenter et d'élaborer votre étude de cas.

Cette journée de réflexion fait partie du projet de recherche " Diversité religieuse et intervention de première ligne " dont l'objectif général est d'explorer le point de vue des intervenants sur les défis et enjeux posés par la diversité religieuse dans l'intervention de 1ère ligne. De cet objectif général découlent les objectifs spécifiques de recherche suivants : 1) dégager les manifestations de la religion dans l'intervention; 2) dégager les différentes questions soulevées par ces situations; 3) dégager les stratégies et solutions proposées ou adoptées par les intervenants.

Date limite pour la soumission d'un cas : début janvier 2008

Les programmations complètes de ces journées vous seront communiquées dans le courant de l'été 2009. Merci de votre collaboration.
Pour toute information supplémentaire, veuillez contacter Amélie Normandin, coordonnatrice du projet : 514-731-1386 #7628.

Visitez notre site Web au http://www.accesss.net

9. FREE WORKSHOP: DEALING WITH DEBTS
Now offered in English! Are you in debt and you are finding it hard to cope? In this free workshop you will learn about different solutions to better understand your situation…and take action! WHEN? Monday DECEMBER 15 - 6:30 to 9:00 PM. WHERE? ACEF South-West of Montréal, 6734 Monk (corner Allard). HOW MUCH ? FREE! Registration mandatory at (514) 362-1771. Welcome to all!

10. CONFERENCE:WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY IN CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Montreal, January 19th and 20th, 2009.
In the light of the current context largely influenced by the aid effectiveness agenda, this conference will provide a space to discuss the following questions and promote a renewal of good practices, to highlight initiatives for collective action and to mobilize different actors involved in promoting women's rights and gender equality.
* How is Canada situated in its commitment to gender equality and women'sempowerment?
* How is CIDA's gender equality policy reflected in the development programs andprojects, particularly those implemented by Canadian international cooperationorganizations?
* How can we renew Canada's international cooperation commitment to gender equalityand women's rights?

Bilingual event with simultaneous interpretation. Details to come!
Information: Rita Soares Pinto : conference.egalite@gmail.com
Fréda Thélusma: fthelusma@aqoci.qc.ca (514) 871-1086, ext. 207
This event is organized by the Global Youth fellowship program of the Walter & Duncan Gordon Foundation and the AQOCI's Women and Development Quebec Committee in collaboration with the CCIC, SUCO and with the financial support of CIDA, Canadian Heritage, the Ministère des relations internationales (Quebec), and the CSN.

11. UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS: Q-TEAM, STE-EMILIE, THE PRISONER CORRESPONDENCE PROJECT AND NAUGHTY NORTH
SILENCE(STILL) = DEATH :
An evening of queer short films showcasing early personal and political
responses to the HIV/AIDs crisis.

In an era of AIDS profiteering, the deepening criminalization of HIV positive communities, and being told AIDS-is-over, this event is an effort to revisit this history of radical queer activism across the US and Canada, to honour queer struggle against HIV/AIDS, as well as to incite action in the present.

Thursday December 11th at 7PM
Concordia's EV Building, room 1.605
1515 Ste-Catherine O. (corner / coin Guy)
* BY DONATION 1-5$ SLIDING SCALE *

Featuring films by: ACT UP, DIVA TV, James Wentzy, John Greyson, archives of Montreal-area AIDS organizing, and more!

12. DEMONSTRATION: END SECRET TRIALS AND TORTURE DEPORTATIONS
Action in solidarity with Adil Charkaoui
Wednesday, 10 December at Noon. Outside Federal Court, 30 McGill St. (Square Victoria metro), Montreal. Please come early if you are participating in the creative action.
Part of a Cross-Canada day of action against security certificates AND the fifth 'Torture Canada' action
As Canada marks International Human Rights Day this December 10, secret rendition-to-torture hearings will be continuing in Ottawa. The public face of those secret hearings, show trials in which the individual is supposed to show that it isn't reasonable to believe that they have the profile of a potential threat, without knowing the case against them, have already begun in some of the security certificate cases.
For more information: http://www.adilinfo.org/en/node/483

13. NOUVELLE RECHERCHE: "LES HOMMES IMMIGRANTS ET LEUR VÉCU FAMILIAL: IMPACT DE L'IMMIGRATION ET INTERVENTION"
Rédigée par Stéphane Hernandez , travailleur social au PRAIDA, CSSS de la Montagne.

Cette publication présente une étude inspirée directement d'un stage en service social effectué au CLSC de Côte-des-Neiges, dans lequel l'auteur était chargé d'assurer le suivi psychosocial de familles immigrantes et de réaliser une activité de groupe. Ce stage fut une occasion d'explorer des perspectives moins connues des réalités des familles immigrantes : celles des pères et des conjoints.

Pour commander la publication, contactez le (514) 731-8531, poste 2526. Une version en ligne est disponible gratuitement sur le site du CSSS de la Montagne http://www.santemontreal.qc.ca/csss/delamontagne (onglet centre de recherche et de formation/publications du CRF).

14. NEW BLOG: GREATER MONTREAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (GMCDI)
Check out our new blog! With the creation of the GMCDI Blog - - we have planted the seed for a creative and dynamic space for interaction between English-speaking community leaders.
We want to know more about what you think about the issues that are affecting the English-speaking community of the Greater Montreal area. Do you have a really great success story, or an event you want the larger community to know about? Let us know and we will promote it for you!
We also want to keep you posted on the latest developments of the GMCDI project!
Topics discussed in the blog will range from civic engagement, arts, culture and heritage to education and employability issues and what the GMCDI is doing in those areas. It will be updated approximately once a week, but you can make comments to any previous posting, even if it is not the latest one on the blog. There is an RSS feed which you can subscribe to for notification of the latest postings. Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone you feel might want to contribute to the conversation!
http://www.community.gmcdi.ca/blogs

15. JOBSEEKERS' HANDBOOK: YES Montreal
Are you an employment or self-employment services provider? Are you looking for a reference guide with useful tips, resources and contact information in Quebec to give to your clients? YES Montreal will be launching the Making Your Way Survival Guide, specifically designed for job seekers, entrepreneurs and artists in Quebec. This pocket-size handbook is ideal to give to clients as it provides a wealth of information and best of all, it is FREE! The Making Your Way Survival Guide will be made available on February 7, 2009, but you can pre-order copies by calling YES Montreal at 514-878-9788 ext 322.

16. REQUEST FOR DONATIONS: QPIRG CONCORDIA RESOURCE LIBRARY
The QPIRG Concordia Resource Centre is a free library that is committed to fulfilling the QPIRG Concordia mandate, which aims to promote social and environmental justice. Our mission is to be an accessible information provider and community resource. We strive to provide alternative books, magazines, films and audio materials which cannot be easily found in regular libraries and to hold materials which are representative of the issues, concerns and interests of marginalized communities.

Our library carries hundreds of books, magazines, zines and audio-visual items, mostly in English. Our resources specialize in social and environmental justice covering subjects such as anti-racism and colonialism, queer issues, economics and globalization, sexuality and gender, (un)popular history, media, art and culture, prison issues, labour, environmental issues and more. We have an on-line, searchable database, shared with the 2110 and QPIRG-McGill, and including the collection of the Union for Gender Empowerment, which can be consulted to view all our current holdings.

Library membership is free and open to all, including non-students. To become a member of the library, and get your library card, come visit us from Monday to Thursday between 1 to 6 pm.
What we're looking for:
*A small screen television - we want one that will take up less space in the library and that can be easily stored and moved. something around 12".
*A toy chest (or something that can be used as one) - we have a small collection of toys, but need something good to keep them in.
*Toys - particularly preschool aged toys that are easy to maintain and that are not broken and perhaps some games or cards to entertain older kids. art supplies are also always useful
*Plants - we're always looking for plants to brighten up our space and improve the air quality.
*Resource materials - and, as always, if you have books, films, zines, etc, kicking around that you think would fit into our collection and that you no longer have a use for, get in touch with us about donating them to our library

To get get in touch about donations, please contact us at library@qpirgconcordia.org

17. PARTICIPANTS WANTED: NDG FOOD DEPOT
The Pre-employability project of the NDG Food Depot is looking for female participants over the age of 35 to participate in its January 2009 project. In order to participate you must be an immigrant or visible minority, have legal status in Canada, live in the NDG/Cote des Neiges area and be low-income (priority given to welfare recipients). For further information, please call Brent or Sandy at 514-258-7801

18. SUPPORT GROUPS AND EVENT: AMI-QUEBEC
* Free Support Groups for people living with mental illness: caregivers, family, friends, consumers (Depression, Bipolar, OCD, Schizophrenia). December 1, 8, and 15.
*Holiday Party, Sunday, December 7, 2 to 4 PM. Fun filled afternoon of live music, refreshments and great company. Win a door prize! Bring a wrapped prize and enhance your chances of winning! Location: Monkland Community Centre, 4410 Westhill, NDG (North of Monkland) Bus 162 from Villa Maria Metro get off at Nenny Street, walk east 1 block
* For location or more information, call 514-486-1448 or visit www.amiquebec.org