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.

 

It is a Wrap!

By Gloria Makafui Dovoh, 2nd year MDP student

It is a wrap and I can safely say I have completed a big chunk of my principal deliverables for my field placement and it feels so exciting to see the light at the end of the tunnel- firstly, for my placement and secondly for the entire Masters in Development Practice program. I have looked for funding opportunities for the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba-Stronger Together Incorporated (ECCM-ST Inc.) and written at least four grant applications.

Anti-racism campaign poster

I have also assisted with the planning of event(s), participated in several virtual meetings with different partner organizations including Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW), ECCM-ST Inc, Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties, Elmwood Community Resource Centre and various anti-racism sector tables made up of representatives from not-for-profit organizations, government and academic institutions. I have also participated in other duties including; developing a debunking racist COVID-19 myths & misconceptions sheet and promoting and attending IPW’s anti-racism summer lunch and learn held at various locations.

Through my placement with IPW and ECCM-ST Inc., I have built relationships and networks that I believe will assist me on my career path. It has also provided me with exposure to know and deeply understand issues of integration and social inclusion. I can confidently say that even under this global health crisis, my placement has been excellent and the opportunities I have been privileged to receive have been tremendous. Concerning best practices and lessons learnt, I will continue to be grateful for the process and opportunities I have and look forward with a positive mind-set both professionally and personally.

Participants at a Summer Lunch & Learn event

Learning the second time

By Gloria Makafui Dovoh, 2nd year MDP student

Home office

My placement(s) have been nothing short of interesting, for which I am thankful. For my (local) second field placement, I have the opportunity of working with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW) hosted by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

IPW brings collaborations at the community-level, to newcomer settlement and integration. The IPW, in turn, hosts the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba-Stronger Together Inc. (ECCM) which is the second organization I work with. ECCM is a place where various Ethnocultural, refugee and immigrant communities' in Manitoba meet to generate collective knowledge, ideas, information, resources, strategies and inspiration to create communities where all people are valued and welcomed.

Some of my roles with both organizations have been to: 

• Apply to two major grants accruing to $53,750.
• Collaborate to plan the Multiculturalism Day Celebration on June 27, 2020. 
• Work as part of various working groups including anti-racism campaign working group for which I developed a tip sheet on the facts and myths about COVID-19 and collaboratively managed a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram called Don’t Discriminate Manitoba (social media handle @don’tdiscriminatemb).
• Host virtual meetings and take notes.
• Volunteer to take up other roles when they come up.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have gone through various activities; you name a fun activity…. I have attempted it (social media challenges, dance videos, dressing up to go nowhere, cooking food that I never had time to cook, sitting outside and relaxing just because there’s nowhere to go).

I would say being open-minded and thankful for the learning opportunities even in these difficult times and not always complaining have helped me a lot in these past months. As I come to the end of my studies in fulfilment of a Master’s in Development Practice-Indigenous Development, I am very grateful for growth, exposure, knowledge and opportunities that I have obtained.

Gloria at the Multiculturalism Celebration Day