• Home
• Overview
• Promising Practices
• Volunteering
• Resources
• Professional Development

Promising Practices and Toolkits > Settlement and Integration Services Organizations (SISO)

in conjunction with the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI)

The Settlement and Integration Services Organizations (SISO) in partnership with the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) proposes to share their experiences in working with clients, immigrant community volunteers, other community-based organizations, mainstream organizations and different levels of government in the creation of structures that allows for the meaningful participation of immigrants and refugees in many levels of public policy, decision making and social change.

In partnership with OCASI, the following initiatives have taken place and/or are available to those interested:

• Access to training and resource materials to be shared with OCASI member agencies or other interested organizations, such as the Train The Trainer Manual: A Resource for Mobilizing Communities - PDF format (4.7 MB, 242 pages).
• Development and implementation of the following training sessions
  
  • Coalition and Capacity Building. An in house session for participant from one organization that have not been involved in community development work in a structures fashion
    
  • Social Engagement and Inclusion: Essential aspects of immigrants' settlement and integration. A session to provide immigrant service providers with the skills and information necessary to mobilize and train others to become civically, socially and politically engaged within their various communities.
    
  • Policy Development and Advocacy: A session for several organizations from the same city that have been involved in community participation and development activities that are interested in taking it to a higher level, such as involving other organization, municipal government, etc.

The Hamilton's Centre for Civic Inclusion has also prepared materials and a power point presentation for the following sessions.

• Challenging and Overcoming Systemic Barriers - PPT format (211 KB)
• Understanding and Implementing Civic Inclusion and Engagement - PPT format (414 KB)
• Understanding Community - PPT format (183 KB)
• SISO Workshop Plan – Using an Anti-Racism Lens - PDF format (38 KB, 2 pages)

The following the following workshop was presented at OCASI Professional Development Conference, October 17-19, 2007,:

Social Engagement and Inclusion: Essential aspects of immigrants' settlement and integration

This session focused on the roles and responsibilities of active citizenship. It explored civic engagement from an action perspective acknowledging the constraints immigrant and refugee social activists encounter, while trying to effect change. Issues addressed included:

• understanding and implementing social inclusion civic & political engagement
  
• creating a sense of community
  
• individual and community empowerment
  
• building inclusive communities through social inclusion and civic engagement
  
• challenging / overcoming systemic barriers

This session is designed for participants that are interested in implementing innovative programs that address immigrants' settlement and integration needs and who want to improve their ability to strengthen their communities and address issues of racism, diversity and inclusivity.

The session provides participants with insights, tools and resources to create strategies that facilitate participation of immigrants and refuges in Canadian society. It also equips service providers with the skills and information necessary to mobilize and train others to become civically, socially and politically engaged within their various communities.

Contact May-Marie Nuyaba, Hamilton's Centre for Civic Inclusion, e-mail mnuyaba@hcci.ca if you are interested in participating in future trainings or offering the training in your organization or community.

SISO and HCCI Background Information

Settlement and Integration Services Organization (SISO) is an anti-racist, community-based, client-centered organization which exists to provide programs and services to immigrant and refugee communities in the Hamilton area, and which advocates for/ supports the rights of all people to fully participate in the social, economic, political and cultural life of society.

SISO's mandate is to provide culturally sensitive, language appropriate, anti-racist programs and services to culturally and racially diverse immigrants and refugees communities; to remain responsive to the needs of communities; to advocate for equity and change and to facilitate empowerment through improving access to knowledge and information.

The work of SISO is fundamentally about breaking down barriers, which often prevent immigrants and refugees from reaching their potential to fully participate in the social, economic, political and cultural life of Canadian society and contribute to the country’s prosperity and growth.

SISO’s objectives includes the provision of education, counselling and other support services for immigrants and refugees in need, including language instruction, employment training, job search programs, translation services and information programs on Canadian culture and life; the development of an active volunteer network to complement the work of Committees and to assist in the delivery and evaluation of services and programs as well as representing the interests of and advocating for the rights and entitlements of immigrants and refugees to government, the public and the media.

In the year 2003, SISO adopted the recommendations of an Strategic Plan, which  focused on two major initiatives. The first was the development of the now functioning Hamilton’s Centre for Civic Inclusion.

Hamilton’s Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) is a community-based civic resource centre, committed to working as a catalyst for anti-racist change across Hamilton. HCCI will initiate and support transformative processes that promote equity and create racism-free and inclusive environments in all areas of civic life.

HCCI vision includes a united community that respects diversity, practices equity, and speaks out against discrimination. Its goal includes the creation in every sector, effective and sustainable ways of integrating all Hamiltonians into the civic life of the community, using their contributions to create a strong and vibrant city.  Based on community dialogue, the HCCI will work towards the development of community-based leadership and civic participation, and transforming diversity from a source of disabling conflict into forms of transformative processes.

HCCI strategic directions includes the development of  broad-based strategies to eliminate racism and hate, fostering inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding and respect as well as civic leadership across the diverse communities, particularly with youth and the facilitation of youth leadership and engagement.