COCo is Pulling Out of the Commission on Systemic Racism

Following considerable deliberation among our staff, Board, and partners, COCo has decided to pull out of the governmental commission on systemic racism- or rather, as it is now called, the “Forum Validating Diversity and the Fight Against Discrimination.” That change is one of many that have been put in place in the past several weeks, including a change of Minister, moving the formerly independent commission from the purview of the Human Rights Commission into the direct control of the Ministry of Immigration, and significantly changing the structure and objectives of the project.

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An Update on Community Sector Strike Activities

For the past 2 years, COCo has participated, alongside thousands of other organizations, in strike activities demanding an adequate level of funding for community organizations in the province. The concept, and execution, of a community sector strike is novel and unique, and we’ve been excited to see the FRACA taking on this question with such fervour.

This year, FRACA is consulting with community groups in an online survey and during an inperson forum on November 23rd on the different concerns, needs and questions community groups have about strike activities moving foward. On the table are multiple proposals, including one of a rotating strike throughout different regions of Quebec during the time the provincial budget is being debated, and increasing strike activities if the demands are not met. All of the different proposals on this issue can be found here, in French.

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Base-building for Social Justice Organizing: Getting Our Communities Involved in the Fight!

This month, in partnership with the Office of Community Engagement at Concordia, and the Imani Community Centre, which is operated by Muslim Association of Little Burgundy, COCo is excited to announce a workshop with members of Movement for Justice in El Barrio. 

This workshop focuses on doing effective outreach and building strength and analysis to different sectors of your community to build your organization and the movement for social justice. Attendees develop a toolbox of effective methods and messages to reach people in their communities and build the base of their organizations. The discussion for this event will focus on building connections between diverse parts of our communities with very different needs and interests, and making connections between the different organizations and people of Little Burgundy.

You can sign up for free, here, on our eventbrite page.  

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The ABCs of Learning Organizations

Our partnership project with Centraide, ateliers/C, has announced it’s fourth workshop, on November 24th. Facilitated by COCo, along with a presentation from the McConnell Foundation, “L’ABC de l’organisation apprenante!” is open for registration to Centraide- funded organizations. In addition, COCo reserves 2 spots for it’s own members, and we encourage organizations who are interested to contact veronicav@coco-net.org.

This workshop will try to untangle certain pillars, characteristics and practices that help promote the development of a culture of learning in community organizations, so that they can become stronger and more open to their surrounding environment.

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Innoweave announces discontinuation of the Cloud Computing module: next round will be the last

Innoweave, an initiative of the McConnell Foundation that helps community groups assess and implement new and innovative social change approaches through a series of innovative modules, has announced that they are calling to a halt the popular Cloud Computing module.

This module allows interested community groups the chance to work with a Cloud Computing expert to help evaluate and develop a Cloud Computing solution to a technological or organizational issue they are faced with. Cloud computing can mean any kind of cloud-based platform or system to help with file management, contact and / or donor management, project / time tracking, etc.

Fortunately, Innoweave is giving organizations one last chance to apply in the upcoming and final funding cycle. The deadline to submit an expression of interest is November 15th; pending approval, the grant application must then be submitted by January 3rd, 2018. 

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Guide for Community Workers: Immigrants’ and Refugees’ Access to Social Benefits and Programs in Quebec ! 

The Community Legal Services of Point-St-Charles and Little-Burgundy are launching the second version of the Guide for Community Workers: Immigrants’ and Refugees’ Access to Social Benefits and Programs in Quebec !

We have also created popularised pamphlets on this topic, they will be available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Creole and Chinese (Simplified).

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