Zahra Mahdi for the Toronto Star writes, “a Vancouver-based not-for-profit settlement organization recently received $213,250 from the government to help newcomers enter into volunteer leadership positions within the boards of directors of community-oriented non-profit organizations. According to a press release, MOSAIC, which serves immigrants and refugees, will be using the funds for a “newly expanded project to increase access to social and civic board positions for racialized newcomers, while fostering equitable social and civic engagement.”
MOSAIC has also found, through a 2019 survey, that while 100 per cent of newcomer clients want to be civically engaged, only 30 per cent of them are. Respondents highlighted a lack of access to information and opportunities as the main barriers. The funds for the new program come from the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Anti-Racism Action Program, itself a part of the federal government’s Anti-Racism Strategy. MOSAIC will use the money to host training sessions for racialized newcomers through the Social and Civic Opportunities: Pathways to Equity (SCOPE) program.”
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