Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the Food Security Initiative: Community Garden Expansion Strategy report that Pathway to Potential will be supporting on December 14th.

Last week I had a chance to chat with Paul Born, founder and president of Tamarack – An Institute for Community Engagement, about Vibrant Canada’s “Cities Reducing Poverty” initiative. If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Paul in person, I hope this video will give you a brief glimpse into his relentless optimism about the power of communities, especially when they work and learn together, to move the needle on even the most complex issues like poverty.

Title: Community Engagement Coordinator (PDF Version & Word Version)
Employer: United Way /CentraideWindsor-EssexCounty (Administrative Sponsor)
Type of Contract:  One Year Contract, Full Time (35 hrs/week) with possibility for renewal

Position Summary:

Pathway to Potential requires a Community Engagement Coordinator who understands poverty issues and is passionate about working collaboratively to reduce and prevent poverty and ensure social and economic wellbeing in Windsor-Essex. Reporting to the Director, the Community Engagement Coordinator will work with the Collaborative Leadership Team, Working Groups, volunteers and other community partners to mobilize broad community engagement, develop and implement a communications strategy, and leverage change and action toward the reduction and prevention of poverty.

The ideal candidate has community development experience and knowledge of Windsor-Essex; is an effective communicator with strong oral and writing skills; understands the role that authentic community engagement plays in effective policy and systems change; and has demonstrated effectiveness working within multi-stakeholder community change efforts.

Tasks and Duties:

Specific responsibilities, to be determined in consultation with the Director, will include:

• Developing and implementing a community engagement plan;
• Developing and implementing a communications plan;
• Providing expertise and support, including administrative support, for the activities of the Collaborative Leadership Team and Working Groups;
• Compiling and communicating (through newsletters, community updates, annual reports, fact sheets, policy briefs, etc.) key information about poverty, the work of Pathway to Potential, and community progress on poverty reduction and prevention efforts;
• Conducting research on best and promising poverty reduction practices, including evaluation and outcome measurements, and exchanging knowledge with other community-based poverty strategies and advocacy networks; and
• Mobilizing, coordinating, and communicating regularly with Pathway to Potential volunteers.

Skills and Competencies:

Proficient knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Strengths- and asset-based community development;
• Demonstrated knowledge of issues affecting people with lived experiences of poverty;
• Demonstrated ability to develop a wide range of high quality written materials, including promotional materials, reports, and grant applications;
• Demonstrated ability to make public presentations to diverse audiences;
• Facilitation skills in a variety of community meetings and processes (for the purposes of engagement, planning, and education);
• Understanding of communication strategy, and the role of social media in community engagement;
• Understanding of the social, economic and political issues influencing the public policy environment; and
• Ability to plan and organize events, and coordinate and mobilize volunteers.

Personal characteristics and skills that include:

• Effective leadership skills, including collaborative group decision making, tact and professional judgment;
• Creative, confident and enthusiastic;
• Adaptability and openness to working within a multi-stakeholder environment;
• Ability to prioritize and work independently with minimal supervision and make independent judgments in a variety of situations;
• Ability to develop partnerships and build consensus within and across diverse communities and sectors;
• Effective listening and interpersonal skills;
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; and
• Strong problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in a relevant field or related work experience equivalent to education in a relevant field
• Graduate degree an asset
• Minimum three (3) years’ community development experience
• A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is necessary in order to travel throughout the County

Other:

• Flexible work hours possible
• Benefits available

Annual Salary: To be negotiated
Posting Date: December 8^th, 2011
Closing Date: January 6^th, 2012
Commencing Date: To be negotiated
Send Application to: Adam Vasey, Director

Email: avasey@cogeco.net

Please include “Community Engagement Coordinator” in the subject line of the email.

Information about Pathway to Potential is available at: www.pathwaytopotential.ca

NewHome workshop is a learning event for settlement and community workers. The workshop will focus on Human Rights Code and rental housing, tenant rights under the Residential Tenancies Act, and cultural competency. The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, January 17th, 2012 from 1pm to 5pm at Windsor Central Library (850 Ouellette Avenue).

This session is being organized by the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, and COSTI Immigrant Services with the assistance of Legal Assistance Windsor.

Please contact John Fraser at CERA to register. He can be reached at 1-800-263-1139 ext 28 or john@equalityrights.org. We hope you can join us.

The Windsor-Essex County Drug Strategy has been under implementation since May 2009 under the guidance of the Drug Strategy Implementation Group. The community developer is responsible for bringing partners together to work on priorities/initiatives as identified by the community. The community developer is someone who has extensive knowledge of the stakeholders involved in reducing the harms of substance misuse/abuse and is committed to partnership development among diverse stakeholders.

Full job description and requirements are posted at www.weareunited.com

Submit applications by December 2, 2011

This week I attended Policy Link’s (www.policylink.org) Equity Summit (www.policylink.org/Summit) in Detroit. Here’s a short video with my initial thoughts on a few of the Summit’s key themes and how these tie in to the work we’re doing locally.

I’d love to hear from you if there are local people, issues, or ideas you think I should know about.

Thanks,

Adam Vasey

Director Pathway to Potential

Click here to view the embedded video.

Homelessness Awareness Week. Click here to view the official flyer.

(November 12-20, 2011)

Sunday November 13 – Windsor Spitfires Hockey Game against Sault Ste. Marie (2pm)                                                     

-Puck drop

-Toonies for Operation Backpack, WFCU Centre

 Tuesday November 15- “Walking in the Shoes of Hunger and Homelessness”(2pm and 5pm) Click here to view official flyer.

 -RSVP: Melanie Banks 519-256-1831

Wednesday November 16- Rotary Club of Windsor

-The Gourmet Emporium, 1799 Wyandotte St. E  (5:30pm)                                                     

-Presentation on Operation Backpack

Thursday November 17- Join us for Dinner at the Ryegate (After 5pm)

-1640 Lesperance Roadin Tecumseh

- 15% of the nights proceed will be donated to Operation Backpack

Friday November 18- Homeless Coalition Meeting (9:30am)

-Join us for an open meeting and see the work the Coalition does in the community

-Meeting: United Way (300 Giles Blvd. East)

Monday November 21- National Housing Day: Thinking Beyond the Bricks and Mortar (9am-1pm)

-Foglar Furlan (Windsor Room): 1800 North Service

-Toonies for Operation Backpack

-RSVP: Julie Hovsepian   jhovsepian@city.windsor.on.ca 519-255-5200 Ext. 6240

For more information contact Melanie Banks at 519-256-1831