Enhancing the ‘Welcoming Capacity’ of Windsor Essex

Partners/Community Support

Outline Welcoming communities project overview Research objectives and methodology Timeline Outcome Next steps

Welcoming Communities Project Emerged from the activities and strategic goals of the Windsor-Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WELIP Action Plan 2013-2014) Strategic Objective 3: Strengthen Local Awareness & Capacity to Integrate Immigrants Welcoming Community Initiative MCC and SECC were identified to provide leadership

Definition of Welcoming Community “A welcoming community can be conceptualized as a collective effort to create a place where individuals feel valued and included.” Esses, V. M., Hamilton L, Bennett-AbuAyyash, C & Burstein, M.;Characteristics of a Welcoming Community; March 2010 This is the definition by Esses; by the operational definition of LIPs tend to be quite varied—some more social justice focused than others.

Definition of Welcoming Community A welcoming community moves beyond services to address issues of participation, representation, engagement, and connection. A welcoming community promotes a broad and open vision of immigrant inclusion.

Overview Welcoming Communities Project Collaborative model. Encourage engagement and mobilize the resources that are available through Windsor Essex County. Includes new and emerging immigrant communities, businesses, non-profit organizations and the broader community.  

Research Objectives—A Holistic Approach A sense of belonging is based on more than available language or settlement ‘services’. Rather, belonging is based on inclusion into activities and events which represent the heart of a community. Belonging includes substantive participation, representation, engagement, and connection.

Research Objectives—Action-oriented Benchmark the ‘welcoming capacity’ of Windsor Essex. 2. Identify best practices in enhancing community belonging. Recommend policies, activities, or initiatives to improve the welcoming. Initiate activities and actions aimed at enhancing welcoming capacity.

Methodology Document Analysis Interviews with organizations, immigrants and newcomers Analysis of local media Online survey of ‘mainstream’ organizations Focus groups with immigrants and newcomers A. Content analysis In-depth interviews with ‘mainstream’, ethno-cultural, settlement sector organizations In-depth interviews with immigrants and newcomers Online survey aimed at assessing organization practices among mainstream organizations with respect to diversity and inclusion. Focus groups Systematic document analysis Local media analysis Participant observation of community events

Timeline June-September In-depth interviews with ‘mainstream’ organizations; document analysis; local media analysis; observations October-January In-depth immigrant interviews and focus groups; document analysis; local media analysis; observations January-April Data analysis and results May Community Forum May 13, 2014; Report June Community Action Projects June – September: In-depth interviews with ‘mainstream’ organizations (60 interviews); document analysis (policies, WCI across municipalities) October – January: In-depth immigrant interviews and focus groups; (50 new Canadian interviews and 5 focus groups with 44 participants) January – April: Data analysis and results – early themes include new comer engagement and connection is limited; participation and representation minimal May: Community forum June: Community Action Projects

Outcome Plan and host community forum May 13, 2014 Develop a community strategy – initiatives led by stakeholders Finalize New Canadian interviews and focus groups Analyze data and develop recommendations

More Information For more information about the Welcoming Communities Project contact: Lisa Kolody, Director of Programs and Operations The Multicultural Council of Windsor and Essex County 519.255.1127 ext. 217 lkolody@themcc.com Carolyn Warkentin, Executive Director South Essex Community Council (Leamington, ON) 519-326-8629 CWarkentin@secc.on.ca