St. John's LIP Newsletter: May 2020
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is a broad-based partnership designed to support the well-being and participation of newcomers in all aspects of life in the city, as well as to strengthen the city’s ability to integrate newcomer needs into municipal planning processes. The St. John’s LIP is co-led by the City of St. John’s and the Association for New Canadians and funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
In this Newsletter:

You will notice that there will be more links than usual, and if they are bolded or in colour, it means they are active and meant to be clicked . Given things are constantly evolving in our Post Pandemic response to COVID-19, please be aware that workshops and webinars will, too.

We are relying on mostly online resources during this time of physical distancing, and mean to provide the community with as much accessibility to programs, especially FREE ones, as much as possible.
 
Thank you for helping us take care of each other during this challenging time. #communitymatters #createcollaboratecare
MyNewStJohns.ca
Carte de service "Mon nouveau St. John's" - Disponible
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is pleased to promote their interactive, online and mobile-friendly services map to help newcomers easily find and access existing programs and services in both official languages.

With the support of La Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador and made possible through financial support from the City of St. John's, the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Check out BOTH sites at Mon Nouveau St. Jean AND My New St. John's

Let us know if there's anything else you would like to see
added or edited!
Did You Know? That the St. John's LIP with support from ACOA was able to translate a community package in TWO languages? Now the Arabic and French Community have access to such city services like (click current available links in colour to access):

The Real Program + Application, in both Arabic and French
Housing & Tenants Rights , Arabic and French , and
Neighbourhood Watch , also in both Arabic and French (tba)

Special Thanks to Marina Grineva, whose students in her Russian class, MUN's Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, voluntarily translated The REAL Program - we look forward to these programs to be up and running again soon, so the many kids in our community can take advantage.

If you would like access to a Russian copy, please reach out to immigration@stjohns.ca so we can send you such - it will be on the city site soon. #communitycollaboration
Partners: News and Updates
The English as a Second Language Programs (ESL) at Memorial University has switched to online classes for the remainder of the Winter 2020 semester. For updates and information on Spring 2020 programming, you can visit  www.mun.ca/esl
Meet virtually with a career advisor to chat all things career! Book an appointment via the Navigate for Students app or email careerdevelopment@mun.ca
Check out the schedule of Remote Student Experience Events from MUN Student Life at  www.mun.ca/student
These online events are open to all. 
“Evolution is Genesis’ pre-incubator program. It is an 8-week intensive program designed for early stage technology start-ups. With experiential learning at the core of the program, Evolution immerses entrepreneurs to engage their potential customers, while receiving mentorship from Genesis’ extensive advisor network.
To learn more or apply, visit:
Public Legal Information Association of NL

PLIAN has developed a part of our website specifically for COVID-19 and it’s impact on various areas of the law, legal system. Click Here

Information about how the Journey Project’s supports are being impacted is also listed there.

*Please be advised that due to COVID-19, the Journey Project team are currently working from home and suspending all in-person support. While we are engaging in social distancing and may be operating at limited capacity, we will continue to use technology to support survivors throughout our province during this challenging time.
If you need immediate support, the NL Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre’s Crisis, Support, and Information Line is available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days of the year at 1-800-726-2743.

Emma Duke, BA, BSW, RSW
(she/her)
Legal Support Navigator
The Journey Project
Office: 709-722-2805 or 1-833-722-2805

NL Sexual Assault Crisis & Prevention Centre
24 Hour Crisis and Information Line:
1-800-726-2743

Public Legal Information Association of NL
Legal Information Line
1-888-660-7788 or 722-2643

The St. John’s Board of Trade and Connector NL , Please refer to BOT's website to stay connected for upcoming online events, links and videos, and webinars, too. For More Info: Connector NL
Association for New Canadians

The new Facebook group ANC Newcomers Community Connections is a one stop shop for newcomers to access ANC programming throughout the province.

All sessions are open to newcomer adults (unless otherwise indicated) and while some sessions are offered as drop-in, most sessions can only be accessed through a link e-mailed following registration.

The majority of the ANC’s on-site programming has now moved on-line and we are regularly developing new programs to respond to user demand or interest. Interested individuals can view upcoming programming on the ANC Events Calendar or through the Facebook group.

In May, watch for an Online Cooking Class with newcomer chefs from around the province! Some confirmed sessions include:

The Business Case for Diversity. Tuesday, May 5, 1-2 p.m. This presentation maps immigration trends and explores the benefits of diversifying the workforce and recruiting internationally trained workers at all skill levels. For more information or to register, contact diversity@ancnl.ca

COVID-19 and Racism: Why Cultural Intelligence is More Important than Ever. Thursday, May 7, 11 a.m. This concise 20-minute workshop walks participants through racism in Canada, focusing on the direct and indirect impacts of racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduces the concept of “new racism.” More information and registration link at diversity@ancnl.ca

Regular sessions include:

Tuesday Conversation Circle Weekly at 2:30 p.m., participants offer their thoughts, opinions, and ask questions on a specific topic. Discussion topics are shared before the session.

Temporary Foreign Workers Information Session Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., which explores important topics with a representative from Service Canada.

Listen and Learn Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., follow along as we read a book that will help you learn about friends from around the world. (For young children!)

Wednesday Conversation Café (Part 1). Weekly at 6:30 p.m., chat, try new activities and practice English with the Corner Brook staff.

Wednesday Conversation Café (Part 2). Weekly at 7:30 p.m., Labrador West staff will host a topic for discussion. Open to all residents of the province.

Online Interactive Activities Thursdays at 2:30 p.m., join in for fun: trivia, crafts, storytelling – something different every week!

Newcomer Women’s Conversation Café Fridays at 2 p.m., newcomer women from around the province make new friends and chat in a safe, comfortable environment.

Newcomers Online Yoga Saturdays at 12 noon, Namaste Yoga Studio, Corner Brook, leads this beginner-level class. The event is for newcomers province-wide.

Programs & Initiatives: Online Learning
techKNOWtutors offers free digital literacy training for the community! We are now offering our sessions as Zoom Webinars! Click all things in RED to access the MORE!

Join us for our upcoming virtual sessions:

How to Use Zoom ( every Tuesday at 10am ): We are welcoming learners to join us for an hour of Zoom exploration! These sessions are primarily to help you log in and feel comfortable with Zoom before attending our regular sessions!

Virtual Drop In Sessions ( every Thursday at 10am ): Come chat with us one on one about your personal internet questions! Ask about your new devices, about different apps, how to access privacy settings, etc.


Need support joining our webinar? Click here!
 
Please note that all sessions are ESL Learner Friendly!

We welcome anyone to register with us and join our webinars!
Contact us on Facebook or at techknowtutors@cscnl.ca or
709-753-9860 to register and for more information!
 Community Engagement
Our Newest Partner from Corporate Dynamics is offering FREE Spanish Classes!
Our libraries are closed but Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries' Digital Library is always open! Find books, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers by visiting https://digitallibrary.nlpl.ca/

Sign in with your NLPL library card and PIN. If you don't have a library card, sign up for one at https://getthecard.nlpl.ca/

For more information, visit the NLPL homepage at https://nlpl.ca/

Happy Reading!
Community Garden Support Program Accepting Early Applications with No Deadline
Funding applications for the 2020-21 Community Garden Support Program are now available to help eligible municipalities and community groups establish and enhance new and existing community gardens. There is no application deadline until further notice.

As part of the $2.25-million Provincial Agrifoods Assistance Program, the Provincial Government will invest $100,000 into the Community Garden Support Program. Last year the program funded 101 projects to help establish 23 new community gardens and enhance 78 existing community gardens.

Applicants reported that more than 3,500 people participated in and benefited from the community gardens including youth, seniors, and Indigenous groups. More details are available in the backgrounder below and online  here .  

Quote
“Last year a wide range of people availed of the Community Garden Support Program to establish or enhance truly community-minded gardens that were both a source of fresh, local food, as well as gathering places for all ages to work and learn together. Right now we are facing uncertain times as we deal with Covid-19, but I encourage municipalities and community groups to avail of this popular program and look forward to the coming growing season and better days ahead.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources
Updates from the Office of Immigration
and Multiculturalism

For Employers:   Link HERE

For Provincial Nominees/Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program/Applicants to both programs:   Link HERE

Continued Updates about COVID-19: Click Here

F AQ's about Immigration and COVID-19: Click Here

Food Security and Sustainability
The evolving COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has the potential to seriously impact food security in Newfoundland and Labrador, both through its economic impacts on people and through its logistical impacts on community food programs.

With that in mind, Food First NL has partnered with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a COVID-19 Community Food Program Support Fund to provide immediate resources to community food programs in the province.

A total of $500,000 to support this effort is being provided by the Departments of Children, Seniors and Social Development, Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, and Municipal Affairs and Environment.

This includes $275,000 from the Labour Market Partnerships program, funded under the Canada-NL Labour Market Development Agreement, to support community food providers in addressing staffing issues.

Food First NL has agreed to administer and disburse these funds.
This fund will be used to provide support to community food programs that are continuing to safely offer services across the province. Organizations who operate multiple food programs may apply more than once - one application per program.


UPDATE : The @sjfm has now been transformed into a distribution hub for more that $300,000 worth of food from @SchoolLunchAssn
Great to see this initiative emerge from the hard work of many people these last few weeks!

Submit Your Events and Get Involved

Do you have an upcoming event the community should know about? Would you like us to highlight a successful program or initiative? Get in touch if you wish to have your organization's work or event included in our newsletter. We send out a monthly newsletter, so please send your June updates by May 27, 2019!

The St. John’s LIP also has many opportunities for you to get involved. It is comprised of over 60 volunteers who participate through involvement on the Partnership Council or on one of our three working groups: Welcoming + Wellness, Employment + Skilled Labour, and Education + Training - we welcome your passion in one of these areas to help us uplift and empower our newcomer community.

Contact sgardner@stjohns.ca for more information or to get involved.

Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsLIP