Join the rally and call for real protection and immediate status for All Temporary Foreign Workers.

Sunday, July 5, 2009
1:00 p.m.
Wellesley Street East and Ontario Street

Music, performers and speakers!
Refreshments served

For more information call the Caregivers Action Cente at 416-361-6319

In April 2007, Social Planning Toronto (SPT), in partnership with Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre, The STATUS Campaign, and the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Immigration Campaign released the Toronto Community Services Resource Guide.

The resource guide was created to help immigrants residing in Toronto without Canadian immigration status to access essential community and social programs and services (education, health care, housing, legal advice, etc) safely and without fear of having to divulge their immigration status, or having their status disclosed to immigration officials. This multi-lingual tool also functions as a referral guide for community workers and front-line staff, so that they can better assist their clients without status.

Provincial funding to support community access to schools is making a difference – but barriers continue

TORONTO – The Community Use of Schools (CUS) program is approaching its 5th anniversary of sustained and enhanced provincial investments to lower fees and help open up access to schools as ‘hubs’ of community activity and support. The new study Progress and Pitfalls, by Social Planning Toronto and the SPACE Coalition, finds that while access to schools is improving, more action is required.

Outlining research and recommendations for strengthening Ontario’s CUS programs and increasing access to municipal space, the 2009 report titled Progress and Pitfalls: A Review of Community Use of Schools & Access to Municipal Spaces will be released today.

On Tuesday, March 3, Social Planning Toronto hosted its 2009 Research Roundtable: “Research for Social Change”. The event brought together more than 125 community-based, government and academic researchers, policy analysts and activists to share information on current research initiatives, discuss opportunities for collaboration, and exchange ideas for using research to advance social change and challenge poverty in Ontario. The Roundtable provided an opportunity to share perspectives on poverty-reduction research from our various vantage points – inside and outside of government – broadly focused around Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

Download the full proceedings in Microsoft Word format (39 pages)

The SPACE Coalition and Social Planning Toronto are releasing the research bulletin Progress and Pitfalls: A Review of Community Use of Schools & Access to Municipal Spaces.

Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Time: 9:30 am
Place: Kensington Community School - Library | 401 College Street | East of Bathurst

This new research from Lynn Eakin and the Wellesley Institute provides a troubling picture of the financial and regulatory burdens facing the third sector.

Announcing the launch of The Urban Hero Awards!

We invite you to nominate your own Urban Hero for Etobicoke.

This exciting awards program – a Toronto Community News initiative – looks to recognize grassroots heroes (14 years and up), groups and businesses who make a real difference in Etobicoke in the categories of Education, Community, Sports, Health & Sciences, Environment, and Arts & Culture.

The top 25% of donors provided 82% of total donations, and the top 25% of volunteers contributed 78% of the total unpaid work.

News from People Plan Toronto

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since you have heard from us, but we have not been idle! We have a few new developments to tell you about, but we want in particular to ask your help on a new and important project.

PPT's New Project: A Community Planning Resource Centre

In our 2007 and 2008 forums, you told us loud and clear that you felt disenfranchised from the planning process. You said that you wanted to participate, but found the public consultations inadequate and the City's process confusing and complex. In response, PPT has been hard at work on a new project for a centre that would help break down the barriers between people and the planning process, foster a more collaborative approach between communities, developers and the City, and, we hope, lead to better planning and stronger neighbourhoods across the City.

The Ontario Nonprofit Network had a two day forum a couple weeks ago. News from that as well as their other projects are highlighted in the June newsletter.