My time at Immigration Partnership (IPW)

By Fiona Slota, 1st year MDP student

Where I am working:

My name is Fiona (She/Her), I’m currently completing my field placement at Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW), located within the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. IPW has a strong commitment to our Winnipeg community. There is a strong focus on improving and strengthening Newcomer-Immigrant inclusion and engagement. With an emphasis on local partnerships. IPW recognize that community engagement has a significant impact on the livelihood of people in our communities.

My Role & Projects:

My role involves analyzing and visualizing statistical data from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) into infographics that will communicate and advocate key information, like where Permanent Residents are residing in Manitoba. How many Permanent Residents are there in Manitoba? This is with the intention of supporting Permanent Residents’ rights to vote in local elections in Manitoba.

• I am actively learning about the impact of data and its potential as a tool to empower communities and advocate for additional rights.

• I am making an active connection between my program of study in Indigenous Development and working in the community as a partners and advocate for the Rights of Peoples.

Activities I have been active in:

• Creating Infographics

• Participating in the Newcomer Welcome Fair (a yearly event)

• Attending weekly/monthly meetings within the organization and sharing updates on my progress

• Building relationship with interns from other universities also working at IPW

• Engaging in conversations with community members and partnership/ing organizations.

What I am Learning:

• I am actively learning about the impact of data and its potential as a tool to empower communities and advocate for additional rights.

• I am making an active connection between my program of study in Indigenous Development and working in the community as a partners and advocate for the Rights of Peoples.

My placement with IPW has been an amazing experience. I learn to find my voice and build my confidence. I became part of a community that is doing amazing work in Winnipeg. Often it is easy to talk about data. And using statistics to categorize people. But behind each statistic is a very human and personal story.