Webinar: All Kids are VIPs: Immigrant Integration at School
2012-03-07
March 7, 2012
10:00 EST in Toronto, New York
15:00 GMT in London
16:00 CET in Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona Check your timezone
Free Event!
Join Cities of Migration for an international webinar to learn about an exciting school-based program from Germany that empowers immigrant youth, educators, and ‘celebrity’ ambassadors to raise awareness about cultural diversity in school while inspiring a new generation to think about the positive contributions of immigrant integration.
Successfully replicated across Germany (Alle Kids Sind VIPs) and Spain (Eres joven, ¡triunfarás!), here is a simple idea that delivers big rewards – practical strategies for inclusive schools and the recognition of local heroes from sports, media, music and more. This 60-minute learning event will outline core program activities and outcomes, and then examine the process of adapting the program in schools across Spain.
Participants will learn about:
A Good Idea! In Germany, the “Alle Kids Sind VIPs” (“All Kids Are VIPs”) is an exciting student-led program that was founded by the Bertelsmann Stiftung where it was a runaway success. The “All Kids Are VIPs” campaign invites German students between grades 5-12 to submit project ideas on how they could improve integration at their schools. Motivated by the chance to have their favourite celebrities and role models (who are of migrant backgrounds) visit their schools; students are prompted to find the move innovative ways to create welcoming environments for newcomers in their schools.
The benefits of replication! Replicated in Spain, the Eres joven, ¡triunfarás! (You are young, you will succeed!) program builds on the success of its German counterpart, (All Kids are VIPs) with new multi-prong strategies that not only raise awareness about the role of youth in the integration of migrants, but use this celebrity-supported campaign to demonstrate to parents and policy-makers the importance of cultural diversity
Discover how you can make this Good Idea work for you! Good ideas about integration practice, like all good ideas, travel. They can be replicated in your city, adapted by your organization and making positive changes in the neighbourhoods you live in. Participants are invited to imagine this Good Idea ‘traveling’ to their home city.
No cost to participate. You will need a computer with internet access and a landline telephone. Pre-test System Requirements (may require Flash Player 10.0 to run system testing).
Watch it later! Register now and receive an email notification when archived presentations are online
Webinar: Living Together: City Strategies for Social Inclusion
2012-02-08
Learn about strategic city-led initiatives in Antwerp (Belgium) and Waltham Forest (London borough, UK) that strengthen the capacity of city councils, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens to work together for more inclusive communities and strong democratic institutions. This webinar is supported by Open Society Foundations’ At Home in Europe Project.
In Antwerp, the city council invited Minderhedenforum (‘Forum of Ethnic Cultural Communities’) to facilitate consultations with the city’s ethno-cultural federations, community groups and local residents to encourage dialogue and participation on local policy issues. With an eye on the upcoming local elections, the Forum promotes civic engagement through voter education and training sessions on how government works.
In Waltham Forest, a diverse borough in east London, the city council was awarded the Beacon status for building “cohesive and resilient communities.” In a time when councils are facing tough cuts, Waltham Forest Council is finding innovative strategies to work with local voluntary organizations, minority communities, and youth leaders to accomplish their wide-reaching social cohesion agenda.
Speakers
Claire Witney, Community Engagement Manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest
Naima Charkaoui, Director, Minderhedenforum (Forum of Ethnic Cultural Minorities)
Leen Verbist, Alderman, Antwerp City Council
Speaker BIOs
Claire Witney Community Engagement Manager, London Borough of Waltham Forest
Claire started her career in local government managing large, high-density, social housing estates and delivering physical and community renewal. She has worked in local government for over 20 years in a variety of roles. As part of the team that responded to the terrorist arrests in Waltham Forest in 2006, she led on key projects and now has responsibility for the Council’s work on community cohesion and its relationship with the local voluntary and community sector (NGOs). She also manages the Council’s corporate mechanisms for resident involvement and participation including youth engagement.
Naima Charkaoui Director, Minderhedenforum (Forum of Ethnic Cultural Minorities)
Naima Charkaoui is the director of the Forum of Ethnic Cultural Minorities. The Minority Forum regroups most grassroots organisations of minority groups (people from migrants background, refugees, trailer dwellers) in Flanders and Brussels (Belgium). Its 16 member associations regroup some 1.500 self-organisations. The organisation aims to strengthen the position of ethnic cultural minorities in society. The Forum takes up advocacy on a wide range of antidiscrimination policy issues affecting minority ethnic cultural communities in Belgium. It also actively encourages participation of ethnic and cultural minorities in society through a number of empowerment projects with young people and adults interested in taking an active role in society and/or politics. 10 years ago Naima was one of the first to be employed at the Forum. Naima is responsible for developing strategic and advocacy frameworks at national level. She holds a master in International politics from the University of Ghent.
Webinar: Dialogue on Diversity: Setting the Stage for Business Growth and Innovation
2011-12-05
Big Ideas @Cities of Migration
Cities of Migration hosted an online conversation with Jane Allen, Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, Deloitte (Toronto) to talk about why diversity is important and what organizations can do to successfully integrate skilled, internationally-trained workers and fuel economic growth. Interview host:Justin Treagus, CEO, OMEGA (Auckland, New Zealand)
Deloitte is a global leader in accountancy and audit and the second largest professional services network in the world. Deloitte Canada was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2011.
To learn about the New Zealand perspective, read The OMEGA Diversity Perception Audit 2011, OMEGA’s inaugural diversity report highlighting the views and perceptions of New Zealand CEOs and HR Directors in relation to the diversity landscape of New Zealand
Jane Allen Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, Deloitte, Toronto
Jane has a long history of tackling diversity issues. While at Ontario’s Ministry of Energy, she was seconded to the Ontario Women’s Directorate, a group established by the premier to focus on women’s issues. In 1992, as Assistant Dean for Executive Education at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Management, she co-founded of the Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Jane joined Deloitte’s Consulting practice in 1996, became a partner in 2001 and national leader for the firm’s Power & utilities sector in 2004. She was named Deloitte’s Chief Diversity Officer, the first role of its kind in Canada, in 2008.
Justin Treagus CEO, Opportunities for Migrant Employment In Greater Auckland (OMEGA), Auckland
Justin brings a range of experience in Leadership, Learning, Organisational Development and Change Management to OMEGA. He has led HR projects in six countries across Europe and Africa and understands the value in managing and leveraging diversity. As a member of a global Learning and Development leadership team at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, he developed and delivered induction and leadership development programmes aimed at maximising the benefits of diversity. He joined OMEGA as its Programme Director in January 2008, and has been responsible for its strategic direction, as well as developing the programme from inception to an independent organisation. In November 2009, OMEGA became an independent, not-for-profit organisation, and he was appointed CEO. He has been living in Auckland for the past 5 years and holds a BCom Honours from the University of Cape Town.
Good Ideas from Toronto: an Exchange of Immigrant Integration Practices
Cities are the destination of choice for most immigrants. The welcome cities provide to their newest residents is key to successful integration and, in the end, vital to their social and economic health. It’s also essential to the ongoing prosperity of the cities themselves. It’s not surprising then that cities world-wide are eager to learn from each other about what works in integrating immigrants.
In each city, the delegates will also have an opportunity to visit with staff of German projects to learn about local immigrant integration practices.
Watch the video of the Toronto delegate presentations from Berlin (at the Heinrich Böll Stiftung).
This exchange of ideas is organized in partnership with the Canadian Embassy in Berlin. We also thank our German partners, the Robert Bosch Foundation and the City of Stuttgart in Stuttgart, the Körber Foundation in Hamburg, the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin, and the Bertelsmann Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Integration and Social Affairs, North Rhine-Westfalia, in Cologne.
Webinar: Closing the Gap: City Leadership on Employment and Workforce Diversity
2011-11-23
Good Ideas from Hamburg and Copenhagen!
Like any well-run organization, city governments need smart strategies to effectively recruit, develop and retain a diverse workforce to remain competitive in the marketplace and be reflective of the constituencies they serve.
Learn about employment strategies from two municipalities, Hamburg and Copenhagen, who have built a strong campaign and delivered results in their commitment to workforce diversity. International presenters from Hamburg and Copenhagen. This webinar is co-hosted with Open Society Foundations’ At Home in Europe Project.
In Copenhagen: the City Council is pursuing a new policy of inclusion and diversity aimed at closing the diversity gap in city government. Key to its success is engaging local businesses and NGOs in its efforts to end discrimination and provide equal opportunities for all. To do this, the City Council has developed a diversity charter and founded a diversity board representing major companies, educational institutions and cultural organizations.
Video Clip: Watch and listen below to Anna Mee Allerslev, Mayor of Integration and Employment, City of Copenhagen share strategies and lessons about the city’s Diversity Charter
In Hamburg: The City of Hamburg introduces a smart and savvy marketing campaign, “We are Hamburg! Won’t You Join us?” (The Wir sind Hamburg! Du bist dabei?) to recruit diversity into local government while promoting inclusion across the city.
Video Clip: Watch and listen below to Stefan Müller, Project Manager “We are Hamburg! Won’t you join us?” share strategies and lessons about the city’s smart recruitment campaign
Anna Mee Allerslev, Mayor of Integration and Employment, City of Copenhagen
Anne Mee Allerslev is the Mayor of Employment and Integration at the City of Copenhagen. She was the former President of DJØF Studerende at The Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists (DJØF) and Member of the Board at The Social Liberal Party of Denmark. She has served as the AGA-Consultant for the Local Government Denmark (March 2007 – September 2008) and the PA for Margrethe Vestager, the leader of The Social Liberal Party of Denmark. She was the Vice President of The Social Liberal Youth from 2006 to 2007. She has a degree in political science and law from the Københavns Universitet. Stefan Müller, Project Manager “We are Hamburg! Won’t you join us?”, Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Authority for Staff Matters, Centre for Education and Further Training, Germany
Stefan Müller, who holds a degree in public management from the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration in Hamburg, is responsible for the conception and leading of marketing tasks as well as selection procedures aiming at trainees’ recruitment in terms of training programs and studies. Furthermore he is the project manager of the umbrella campaign “We are Hamburg! Won’t you join us?” starting in 2006, when the Hamburg Senate agreed a package of measures to raise the proportion of migrant-origin youngsters training for the Hamburg public service (general administration, tax authority, judicial authorities, authorities for the execution of criminal sentences, police and fire brigade) to a target of 20 per cent by 2011.
Nazia Hussain, Director, Open Society Foundations, At Home in Europe project
As part of the Open Society Foundations on-going work on minority rights and non-discrimination in Europe, Nazia is directing research and leading advocacy efforts on integration policies/practices in various EU cities and the impact of these policies on identity and belonging.
Prior to joining the Open Society Foundations, Nazia worked for over eight years in various post-conflict countries. She was deployed as a human rights officer with the United Nations in Afghanistan, with the OSCE in Kosovo and Croatia and the EU Monitoring Mission in Macedonia. She also worked for a number of years at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International as their researcher on Afghanistan. Nazia holds an MSc in political theory and political sociology and a BA (honours) in English literature.
Marketplace of Good Ideas, Seattle, US
2011-10-25
You’ve heard about the Cities of Migration Marketplace of Good Ideas, but do you know what it really is? Watch our latest video that recounts our October travels to the 4th annual National Immigrant Integration Conference in Seattle. It’s a live showcase of ten of the international practices that we have profiled at Cities of Migration.
Participants had the opportunity to learn from a series of 30-minute sessions where two presenters (US and international) spoke and answered questions about their practices. The workshop format offers the audience up to four pairs of presentations – a true whirlwind trip with US E Pluribus Unum Prize winners and international practices from Toronto, London, Barcelona, Kerpen, and Auckland. The marketplace, co-presented with the J.M. Kaplan Fund, demonstrates the power of local initiatives to make immigrant integration a success.
San Francisco, United States – Welcome Back to a Healthier Community Training and support to link culturally diverse health care professionals to employment and healthier communities
New York City, United States – Language-Wise in the Global Classroom An innovative urban high school invites immigrant youth back to the classroom to learn from one another
Nashville, United States – Shelbyville’s Ambassadors of Welcome Community ambassadors use traditional American values of hospitality to improve perceptions of immigration
To learn more about the E Pluribus Unum Prizes, read the Cities of Migration interview with Margie McHugh, the Co-Director of the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy, which coordinates the prizes.
October 4, 2011 – Cities of Migration hosted an international webinar with two city-led programs in Helsinki and Vienna that are boosting the local economy by providing practical tools and services that help new immigrant entrepreneurs turn good ideas into business success.
Creating opportunities to start and grow small businesses is important to a city’s entrepreneurial culture and a healthy, resilient economy. Immigrants bring talent, energy, a wealth of innovative business ideas and investments to our cities. How is your city supporting new immigrant entrepreneurs?
In the City of Vienna, The Vienna Business Agency has set up Mingo Migrant Enterprises which offers new immigrant entrepreneurs smart business advice and support in their own native languages.
Listen the presentation by Dr. Gabriele Tatzberger, Department Manager, Mingo Migrant Enterprises
The City of Helsinki’s Economic and Planning Centre and Business Development offers EnterpriseHelsinki, a proactive and practical business-counseling service to help new immigrant entrepreneurs launch their ideas with confidence.
Report: Immigrant Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship in the GTA by Dr. Sarah Wayland explores whether self-employment and entrepreneurship is a viable option for lifting new Canadians out of poverty in the Greater Toronto Area
Gabriele Tatzberger studied Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Technology in Vienna and did her doctor’s degree at the University of Technology in Delft/NL in 2008. Since 2000 she worked at the Austrian Institute of Regional Studies and Spatial Planning as project manager and from 2003 was member of the board. She joined the Vienna Business Agency in 2008, and is now head of department for Mingo, an initiative for small business, start-ups and special support for entrepreneurs with migrant background, and managing director of Vienna Region GmbH and ARGE Centrope.
Elie El-Khouri works for the City of Helsinki (The Economic and Planning Centre) as the Business advisor and also as Project Manager Regional Business Services for Immigrants (EnterpriseHelsinki). Elie El-Khouri graduated with a Building Engineer degree, is also authorized as a business advisor from Aalto University School of Economics in Helsinki. Elie El-Khouri is a member in the Advisory Board on Immigration and Integration represent (NCP) National Coalition Party.
What’s Next? You tell us!
2011-07-28
The Learning Exchange takes a break before launching a new programming season in September. Thank you to everyone who joined us online, asked questions, found the chat box or connected post-event for a private screening. And a special thanks to the incredible presenters who shared their valuable time and expertise with us.
We’ll be back in September with a new program calendar, and a special focus on how local authorities contribute to successful immigrant integration .
Please tell us what webinar topics interest you! Pick your top themes by taking our 1 minute survey
Webinar: Raising the Curtain on Cultural Diversity: Integrating Inclusion into the Arts
2011-07-19
Good Ideas from Auckland and Toronto!
July 19, 2011 Cities of Migration hosted a webinar to learn about successful strategies for community engagement, creative mentoring, and promoting immigrant integration through the arts. Presenters from Auckland and Toronto share innovative ideas about how music, performance and new literary voices are building stronger communities through the arts and changing the way we see ourselves in the city.
In Toronto, Diaspora Dialogues, a literary organization supports the creation and presentation of new fiction, poetry, and drama of culturally diverse artists by creating meaningful opportunities for artistic mentorship, performance and by building new audiences for newcomer voices
In Auckland, People in Your Neighbourhood, a project of the British Council New Zealand, puts aspiring artists and performers from diverse communities on stage. The project involves capacity building workshops, online and face to face collaborations and master-classes in creativity and performance.
Listen to the presentation of People in Your Neighbourhood
Webinar Presenters
Gareth Farry New Zealand Business Manager, British Council
Gareth Farry is currently working for the British Council New Zealand as the National Arts Manager, and runs the PIYN project. He is a Lebanese New Zealander, born in Dunedin and currently living in Auckland New Zealand. He has law and anthropology degrees from Otago University (LLB, BA). He has been involved in the Music industry for 20 years, and co-created one of New Zealand’s most famous clubs in Auckland called Khuja Lounge in 1997. In 2001 I established the Pacific Soul Record label Sugarlicks Records, which he still runs today.
Ingrid Leary New Zealand Country Director, British Council
Ingrid is currently employed as the Country Director for cultural relations agency The British Council, Ingrid’s work entails public speaking, organizing arts events and promoting British arts in NZ. Ingrid is currently the Chair of the Pacific Islands Aids Foundation, and has directed and produced eight documentaries profiling HIV+ women – these have broadcast in NZ and in 11 Pacific Island nations A qualified lawyer (LLB Hons) with a Masters in Sociology, Ingrid has also worked as journalism lecturer at the University of the South Pacific (Fiji) News Director (Fiji One News) and as the youngest person to have been a press secretary for a NZ parliamentary Minister (Hon Maurice Williamson, 1989 – 92.) Previously a freelance journalist/television presenter/producer, she was given the Prime Minister’s Award for Bravery (NZSSM) for her coverage of the Banda Aceh Tsunami in 2004.
Julia Chan Artistic Director, Diaspora Dialogues
Julia has been working for Diaspora Dialogues since 2007 and has recently assumed the role of Artistic Director. Diaspora Dialogues supports the creation and presentation of new fiction, poetry and drama the reflect the complexity of the city through the eyes of its richly diverse writers. Julia is also active in the film industry as a freelance reader and story analyst. She holds an MFA in Screenwriting from York University and is a graduate of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre’s Writers’ Lab. As a screenwriter, her short film In Shadow (produced through the CFC’s Short Dramatic Film Program) was screened at the Sundance Film Festival, among others, and garnered an award for Best Short Screenplay at the International Cherokee Film Festival. Julia’s other writing work has been supported by the Toronto Arts Council and recently appeared in subTerrain.
Webinar: Opening Doors: Innovative Strategies for Immigrant Student Success
2011-06-22
Good Ideas from Malmö and Frankfurt!
June 22, 2011 – Cities of Migration hosted a webinar to learn about winning educational strategies and practical lessons for immigrant student success. Learn how educators in Malmo and Frankfurt are testing new ideas in and outside the classroom and unlocking opportunity for academic achievement.
In Malmö, municipal authorities have customized a national education strategy for city classrooms that meets local needs by investing in teachers to deliver academic success. Nominated for the 2008 Carl Berlesmann Prize for Integration in Education.
Listen to the presentation about the Malmö education program by Anna Karin Hedenskog:
In Frankfurt, the Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft has developed a scholarship program for immigrant children and their families. The Diesterweg-Scholarship aims for academic success in the classroom while building bridges to full participation in German life for all members of the family.
Listen to the presentation about the Diesterweg-Scholarship by Dr. Roland Kaehlbrandt and Gisela von Auer
Webinar Presenters:
Anna-Karin Hedenskog Principal, Mother Tongue Education Department, City of Malmö
Since 1992, Anna-Karin Hedenskog has been the Principal of Mother Tongue Education department in the City of Malmö. The department is responsible for providing educational support in native languages for immigrant students enrolled in compulsory primary and secondary schools, as well pre-schools. Anna-Karin Hedenskog has been teaching Swedish as a second language and tutoring teachers in bilingual classes for the past 30 years. She graduated with a teacher’s degree at the University of Lund, Sweden, 1971.
Dr. Roland Kaehlbrandt Chairman, Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt am Main
He studied at Cologne and Paris University. He holds a degree in Romance and German studies and Ethnology as well as a doctorate title in Linguistic studies. He worked as a lecturer for German language and literature at the Sorbonne and headed the “German Foundation Heinrich Heine” in Paris. For 6 years, he was the spokesman of Public Relations for the “Bertelsmann Foundation” in Gütersloh, Germany. From 1999 until 2006, he was managing director of the “Hertie-Foundation” in Frankfurt. He developed several projects with the focus on Integration of Migrants and Education for Democracy and started a nationwide Youth Debating Competition. Since August 1st, 2006, he has been a member of the managing board of the “Foundation Polytechnische Gesellschaft” and responsible for topics, projects and communication. Since December 1st, 2008, he was the chairman of the “Foundation Polytechnische Gesellschaft”. Dr. Roland Kaehlbrandt is a member of the board of directors of the “National Council of German Foundations” (BVDSt) and heads the “Initiative of Foundations in Frankfurt.”
Gisela von Auer Project Manager, Diesterweg-Stipendium
Since 2008 she has been delegated by the Ministry of Education of the Federal State of Hesse to the foundation “Stiftung Polytechnische Gesellschaft” to be project manager for the “Diesterweg Scholarship for children and their parents.” She studied in Frankfurt to become elementary school teacher with the specialist disciplines: German language and teaching methodology of Math and Physics. She was teaching in Frankfurt from 1975 until 2008 at the Hellerhof-School, an elementary school with a share of almost 90% of migrants in a socially deprived quarter of Frankfurt. As part of her school activities, she was engaged in various committees focusing on children’s promotion of language skills (particularly with regard to German as a Second Language), New Media in school, work with parents and school development in the district.
Webinar: Listen up! Media Strategies for Diverse Cities
2011-05-17
Good Ideas from Barcelona and Toronto!
On May 17, 2011 Cities of Migration hosted a webinar on diversity in the media and shared successful strategies used by local radio broadcasters in Barcelona and Toronto to improve audience ratings. Find out how responding to changing demographics can help you share your city’s immigrant experience and boost station performance.
In Barcelona,COMRàdio is a regional network that dedicates two radio stations to immigrant integration, in both Spanish and Catalan. To recognize the increasing diversity of local audiences, COMRàdio creates ‘village squares’ across the airwaves for more than 140 local stations.
Listen to the presentation of COMRàdio by Nuria de Jose:
In Toronto, CBC Radio’s Business Case for Diversity combines their audience growth strategy with effective diverse hiring and recruitment practices to become the top rated morning show in the city.
Listen to the presentation of CBC Radio by Susan Marjetti:
Webinar Presenters:
Susan Marjetti, Managing Director, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio, TV, Online
Susan Marjetti is the Managing Director of CBC radio, TV and online in Toronto. In addition to running the Toronto operation, Ms. Marjetti is responsible for overseeing 3 smaller stations across Ontario, Canada. For 20 years she was an award winning journalist and programmer in small, medium and major market radio, before moving into management at the CBC in 1998. In 2001, Ms. Marjetti took the reins of CBC radio 99.1 Toronto, and set forth to ensure that the public broadcaster looked and sounded like Toronto in all its richness and diversity. As a result, the CBC Toronto morning show, Metro Morning, has been number one over 31 times since Ms. Marjetti and her team implemented their plan. For the past 5 years, she has been a member of CBC’s English Services diversity committee- an oversight group which advises on strategic direction for the corporation on issues pertaining to diversity.
Núria de José, Contents Manager, COMRàdio
Núria de José Gomar is the contents’ manager at COMRàdio since 2008. Between 1995 and 2007, she was the general manager of Ràdio Premià de Mar, a local radio station in Barcelona. She has previously worked in several local media: the newspapers Mar Diari and Crònica de Mataró, in Mataró TV, and in the information services of Ràdio Premià de Mar. Núria de José Gomar graduated in Journalism at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Webinar: Community Policing: Finding Common Ground with Immigrant Communities
2011-04-13
Good Ideas from Cardiff and Newport News!
On April 13, 2011, Cities of Migration hosted a 60-minute webinar to learn about successful outreach strategies in community policing from Cardiff, UK, and Newport News, US, that build confidence and promote public safety within diverse communities. Building an open and informed relationship between local police and immigrant communities increases trust and promotes better understanding of local laws and culture while empowering new immigrants to feel safe in their own cities. This webinar was co-sponsored by the National Leagues of Cities’ Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration (MAII) program.
In Cardiff (Wales, UK),The Cardiff E.S.O.L. Police Project puts its officers in the classroom to teach English-as-a-second-language classes, community legal information and build trust within the immigrant community
In Newport News (Virginia, US), the Police Department started its Hispanic Outreach Initiative in response to a growing vulnerable population within the city. The program includes outreach to the immigrant community, cultural training for officers, and regular appearances on the local Hispanic radio station.
Listen to the presentation about the Hispanic Outreach Initiative by Sergeant Xavier Falero:
Webinar Presenters:
Vince Donovan
Police Constable, South Wales Police Service (Cardiff, UK)
Police Constable Vince Donovan has served in the South Wales Police Service, United Kingdom, for the past twenty six years. He has worked in all major departments within the police service, from roles as a Community Beat Officer, to Criminal Investigation and public order intervention. He was a Community Safety Officer in Cardiff for ten years, tasked with the primary role of assisting with the integration of asylum seekers (and more recently, European Union members) into the communities of South Wales. Police Constable Donovan is now employed as a Counter Terrorism, Community Engagement Officer, providing interventional support services with statutory partners and community organisations.
Xavier Falero
Sergeant, Supervisor for Special Operations Unit, Newport News Police Department (Newport News, US)
Hispanic Outreach Initiative was formed in 2004 by Sergeant Xavier Falero in an effort to build trust and reduce crime in the growing Hispanic Community. Sergeant Falero helped create the City’s first Hispanic Advisory Committee to the City Manager’s Office (HAC). As part of his outreach program, Sergeant Falero has conducted numerous meetings in the community and organized soccer games to develop relationships and trust with the Hispanic Community. He has also been part of a morning radio program on Selecta 1050 AM, that airs on a weekly basis and serves this growing community. Sergeant Falero had served as a Firefighter and Police Officer in New Jersey prior to his appointment as a Newport News Police Officer in July of 1998. After seven years of dedication and hard work, he was promoted to Sergeant in June of 2005.
Webinar: The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) III
2011-02-28
February 28, 2011- The Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) released new data which compares and ranks Canada to the rest of the world – and the results will surprise you.
A recording of the event and the MIPEX III report now available online
About MIPEX III – Migrant Integration Policy Index
MIPEX, published by the British Council and the Migration Policy Group, compares immigrant integration policies in all European Union Member States, plus Norway, Switzerland, Canada and the USA, and ranks how well these countries provide opportunities for legal migrants to participate in society across 148 policy indicators. This rich, multi-dimensional picture of immigrant integration will be presented in a reference guide and as a fully interactive, online tool to assess, compare and improve integration.
MIPEX covers seven policy areas which shape an immigrant’s journey to full citizenship:
Labour market access
Family reunion
Long-term residence
Political participation
Access to nationality
Anti-discrimination
Education
Maytree is one of the 39 partner organizations of MIPEX III. MIPEX is led by the British Council and Migration Policy Group as part of the project: Outcomes for Policy Change, co-financed by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals.
Speaker Biographies
Jan Niessen is the founder and director of the Brussels-based Migration Policy Group, an independent policy institute on migration and diversity. He designs policy oriented research on anti-discrimination legislation in the individual EU Member States and for many years, he chaired the Starting Line. Among his current activities are the writing of a report on new challenges for the integration of immigrants and minorities, the promotion of proposals for European immigration policies, and the establishment of a network for ethnic entrepreneurs. Dr. Niessen has published widely about migration, anti-discrimination, and diversity and is a member of the editorial board of the European Journal of Migration and Law and of the Board of Directors of the Journal of International Migration and Integration. He is also co-editor of a book series on migration and law.
Howard Duncan is the Executive Head of the Metropolis Project, an international forum for research and policy on migration and cities. He has concentrated on increasing the project’s benefits to the policy community by creating effective opportunities for direct and frank exchanges between researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, increasing Metropolis’ geographic reach, and expanding the range of issues it confronts. He is also the head of the Metropolis International Secretariat. Before joining Metropolis, he had various leadership positions within the federal government.
Jack Jedwab is the Executive Director of the Association for Canadian Studies (ACS). From 1994-1998 he served as Executive Director of the Quebec Region of the Canadian Jewish Congress. He holds a doctoral degree in Quebec history from Concordia University. From 1999-2002 Dr. Jedwab taught a course entitled “Canada’s Official Language Minorities: History and Demography” at the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada. From 1989-96 he was Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology at McGill where he taught a course on ethnocultural minorities in Quebec. He has published essays in books, scholarly journals and in newspapers across the country, notably in the Montreal Gazette, La Presse and Le Devoir. His particular interests include demographic and linguistic issues, national identity and multiculturalism and diversity.
On February 23,2011, Cities of Migration hosted a 60 minute webinar to explore innovative strategies for connecting internationally trained health workers and immigrant patients to the health care system. Staying healthy means knowing when and where to go for medical help and having access to experts who can speak your language, culturally and linguistically. Find out how programs in San Francisco and Hannover are actively connecting internationally-trained health care professionals to employment and training diverse cultural mediators to improve health literacy within immigrant communities.
In Hannover (Germany): “MiMi- With Migrants for Migrants”program trains cultural mediators from within local ethnocultural communities to promote health literacy and improved health outcomes
More resources:
In San Francisco (USA): “The Welcome Back Initiative”seeks to close gaps in immigrant access to healthcare by connecting internationally-trained health care professionals to employment.
More resources:
Ramazan Salman
Executive Managing Director and Co-founder, Ethno-Medizinisches Zentrum
Mr. Salman is a leading expert in health care in Germany and Turkey, who founded Ethno-Medical Centre (Ethno-Medizinisches Zentrum – EMZ) in Hannover in 1990 while studying sociology and medicine. Key to Mr. Salman’s vehicle to pursue his vision of integration is a system of nationwide networks called “MiMi- (Migrants for Migrants)” which are led by socially integrated immigrants who reach out to assist other new immigrants. For his innovative and entrepreneurial work in creating MiMi, in 2006, Ramazan Salman was awarded the Ashoka Fellowship as Social Entrepreneur of the Year. In December of 2008, he was named Germany’s “Social Entrepreneur” in a competition organized by the Schwab Foundation.
José Ramón Fernández-Peña
Founder and Director, Welcome Back Initiative
José Ramón Fernández-Peña, MD, MPA is an Associate Professor of Health Education at San Francisco State University. Here, he is focused on health workforce diversity and cross cultural communication in health. Dr. Fernández-Peña is the founder and director of The Welcome Back Initiative” (WBI) a programme developed to assist internationally trained health professionals successfully navigate the requirements needed for them to enter the US workforce. The WBI currently includes centres in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington, Maryland, New York, and Texas. Previously, Dr. Fernández-Peña worked at the Mission Neighborhood Health Center in San Francisco as the director of Health Education. Before arriving in California, he was an Associate Director for quality management at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. Dr. Fernández-Peña has a degree in medicine from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and a masters’ degree in public administration from New York University.
Kristina Mason
Director, Puget Sound Welcome Back Center
Kristina H. Mason has an MA in Adult Ed/TESOL from Seattle University. She has 20 years of experience in marketing and communications and 15 years of experience in Adult Education, with an emphasis on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. In 2007, Ms. Mason was introduced to the Welcome Back Initiative and was able to help replicate a Welcome Back Center for Washington State. She is now Director of the Puget Sound Welcome Back Center hosted at Highline Community College. As Director, she conducts trainings for the Welcome Back Initiative, supervises teachers of English for Medical Professionals and Welcome Back Center staff, coordinates educational interventions for her Welcome Back participants, and acts as a consultant for other local programmes helping immigrants and refugees transition into the healthcare workforce.
Webinar: Ballot Box to the Podium: Mobilizing Immigrant Voters and New Leadership
2011-01-25
Good Ideas from Boston and Toronto!
Whether as voters, organizers, or political leaders, immigrant communities represent a powerful and growing political constituency. How do smart cities bring new voices and new ideas to the decision table? Find out what cities like Boston and Toronto are doing to mobilize new voters and advance civic leadership in under-represented communities.
In Boston, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition’s (MIRA) shares success tips for organizing immigrant communities for political participation, running a tight campaign, and how to use smart tools and leverage media contacts
Resources:
Listen to MIRA’s presentation by Eva Millona, Executive Director, MIRA:
In Toronto,School4Civics reinvigorates the political process by identifying, training and mentoring emerging new leaders to run for elected office and manage election campaigns. Insider strategies from an expert faculty of political strategists, campaign managers and former candidates bring frontline experience to the magic of a successful campaign.
Resources:
Listen to School4Civics’ Presentation by Alejandra Bravo, Manager, Maytree
Webinar Presenters
Alejandra Bravo Manager, Leadership Programs, Maytree Foundation
Alejandra Bravo is Manager of Leadership Programs at the Maytree Foundation, where she trains emerging leaders from diverse communities to participate in civic life. A long-time political activist and former candidate for Toronto City Council, she developed and directs School4Civics. As a volunteer, Alejandra is a member of the Toronto Board of Health and board chair Etobicoke-York Local Health Committee. She is also board chair of Art Starts, using the arts for community development in underserved areas of Toronto. She volunteers as a mentor and trainer with a number of organizations that focus on youth, violence prevention and civic participation. Eva Millona Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
She has been with the organization for over ten years, working as the director of Policy and Advocacy and as Deputy Director. Prior to joining MIRA in July, 1999, Eva directed the resettlement program at the Friendly House, Inc in Central MA. In her native Albania, she practiced civil and criminal law. From 1989-1992, Eva served as a judge in Tirana’s District Court. Outside of MIRA, Eva is also the co-chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants and also sits on the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. Eva is a graduate of Clark University and of Tirana University, School of Law. She is the recipient of the 2009 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Outstanding American by Choice Award, the 2007 Political Asylum Immigration Representation Project (PAIR) Detention Attorney Award, and the 2007 National Lawyers Guild Legal Professional Award.
Webinar: Ballot Box to the Podium: Mobilizing Immigrant Voters and New Leadership
Whether as voters, organizers, or political leaders, immigrant communities represent a powerful and growing political constituency. How do smart cities bring new voices and new ideas to the decision table? Find out what cities like Boston and Toronto are doing to mobilize new voters and advance civic leadership in under-represented communities.
Good Ideas to learn about:
In Boston, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition’s (MIRA) shares success tips for organizing immigrant communities for political participation, running a tight campaign, and how to use smart tools and leverage media contacts More Resources:
Listen to MIRA’s presentation by Eva Millona, Executive Director, MIRA:
In Toronto,School4Civics reinvigorates the political process by identifying, training and mentoring emerging new leaders to run for elected office and manage election campaigns. Insider strategies from an expert faculty of political strategists, campaign managers and former candidates bring frontline experience to the magic of a successful campaign. More Resources:
Listen to School4Civics’ Presentation by Alejandra Bravo, Manager, Maytree
Webinar Presenters
Alejandra Bravo Manager, Leadership Programs, Maytree Foundation Alejandra Bravo is Manager of Leadership Programs at the Maytree Foundation, where she trains emerging leaders from diverse communities to participate in civic life. A long-time political activist and former candidate for Toronto City Council, she developed and directs School4Civics. As a volunteer, Alejandra is a member of the Toronto Board of Health and board chair Etobicoke-York Local Health Committee. She is also board chair of Art Starts, using the arts for community development in underserved areas of Toronto. She volunteers as a mentor and trainer with a number of organizations that focus on youth, violence prevention and civic participation. Eva Millona Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) She has been with the organization for over ten years, working as the director of Policy and Advocacy and as Deputy Director. Prior to joining MIRA in July, 1999, Eva directed the resettlement program at the Friendly House, Inc in Central MA. In her native Albania, she practiced civil and criminal law. From 1989-1992, Eva served as a judge in Tirana’s District Court. Outside of MIRA, Eva is also the co-chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Refugees and Immigrants and also sits on the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. Eva is a graduate of Clark University and of Tirana University, School of Law. She is the recipient of the 2009 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Outstanding American by Choice Award, the 2007 Political Asylum Immigration Representation Project (PAIR) Detention Attorney Award, and the 2007 National Lawyers Guild Legal Professional Award.
The 2010 International Cities of Migration Conference, Oct. 3–4
2010-10-03
Migration to Integration: An Opportunity Agenda For Cities
The 2010 International Cities of Migration Conference, Oct. 3-4, 2010 (The Hague, Netherlands), brought together 170 migration experts, practitioners and city leaders from over 50 cities across 22 countries. Over a short day and a half, we shared stories, debated the issues, and explored good ideas about immigrant integration, diversity and city leadership. We imagined how these ideas might travel home with us and make a contribution to the prosperity and wellbeing of our own cities of migration.
Conference feedback has been exceptionally strong. Overwhelmingly, what we heard was an endorsement of the politics of optimism: positive messages about the value of diversity and practical lessons based on the success of local integration initiatives by police, health professionals, municipal leaders, educators, activists and media –and many other city actors.
Conference Recordings and Media Reports coming soon!
Whether on the field, in play or as enthusiastic supporters, team sports have a unique ability to rally the whole community behind local champions and celebrate the hero amongst us. Sports participation inspires confidence and a sense of belonging in the individual team player, builds bridges across cultural differences, and contributes to community cohesion long after the winning goal has been scored.
Good Ideas to Learn About:
In Auckland, New Zealand, Refugees as Survivors is using soccer to help integrate young people from refugee backgrounds into New Zealand society.
In Melbourne, Australia, the North Melbourne Football Club has found a home at the newly re-developed Arden Street Learning and Life Centre where education and sport work hand-in-hand to bring all of North Melbourne’s youth into the city mainstream and wider Victorian community.
Webinar Presenters:
Dr. Arif Saeid
Community Services Manager, Refugees as Survivors – New Zealand
Arif served as a medical doctor in Afghanistan for Medecins Sans Frontieres and has led the Community Services Team and worked with RAS since June 2001. He identifies health and other special needs at the grassroots level within different refugee communities and initiates response. He works with refugee communities in employment, health and other initiatives which improve lives and advance resettlement.
He identifies sports as one of the areas to help refugee youth in integration and to overcome the resettlement challenges. In 2006 he initiated the Refugees In Sports Initiative and helped youths from refugee background to enroll with mainstream sports clubs specially soccer. Apart from soccer, the programme now facilitates refugee youth involvement in other sports such as cricket, tennis and martial arts.
Dr. B Hass Dellal OAM
Executive Director, Australian Multicultural Foundation
Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal OAM was appointed Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation in 1989, an organisation established to promote a strong commitment to Australia as one people drawn from many cultures. Between 2002-2004 he was also appointed a part time Special Adviser for the Australasian Police Multicultural Advisory Bureau by the Conference of Commissioners of Police, Australasia and the South West Pacific Region.
He has also co-prepared and managed numerous research, reports and programs on community relations, social cohesion, cultural and religious diversity on behalf of Government and the private sector these include the Religion, Cultural Diversity and Safeguarding Australia report 2004, Scanlon Foundation report and Roundtable on Mapping Social Cohesion 2008, 2009/2010 the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century and the Lexicon of Terrorism for the Commonwealth government, Victorian Government and Victorian Police.
Sash Herceg Manager Community Programs, North Melbourne Football Club, The Huddle
Sash was appointed to his role at the North Melbourne Football Club in October 2009, which coincided with the establishment of the Learning and Life Centre- The Huddle. Prior to this role, Sash worked for the Australian Football League (AFL) as a Multicultural Development Officer, and was based at Western Bulldogs Football Club. In the past few years he has worked with numerous migrant and refugee communities in Melbourne and regional Victoria and has considerable experience promoting sport as a tool of integration.
Sash migrated to Australia with his family as a refugee in 1996 from Croatia and has experienced first hand how sport, in particular Australian Football, can play a positive role in resettlement. In 2009 he was added to the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record for his work with migrants and refugees in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.
James Demetriou Chair, Sports Without Borders (SWB)
James is the Chair of Sports Without Borders (SWB), a non for profit organisation auspiced by The Australian Multicultural Foundation trust, that he co-founded in 2006 with his son Tom Demetriou. SWB connects newly arrived Australians through sport. He was heavily involved with the AFL’s peace team, a collaborative project between The Peres Centre for Peace and the AFL, aimed at uniting young Palestinians and Israeli’s on the sports field.
He is also the former Executive officer of the North Melbourne Learning and Life Centre at Arden Street, a project connected to the North Melbourne football club, which promotes education, health, life learning and sport as a means to enhance community spirit and social cohesion. He was the former Managing Director of The Acquis group which provides corporate strategy and M and A advice to large SME’s seeking to grow.
Webinar: Making Integration Count: Local Gateways to Citizenship
New gateway cities like Fort Wayne, Indiana (US), and Oslo, Norway, are helping transform the immigrant experience of dislocation and exclusion into a celebration of new community where everyone counts -and is counted.
Good Ideas to Learn About:
In Fort Wayne, the CITYzenship Community Initiative, is a customized program of the US National League of Cities that includes a training curriculum that helps municipal officials establish working relationships with immigrant communities and organizations. This year’s program includes a special focus on US 2010 Census outreach -stand up and be counted!
From Oslo, learn about the OXLO campaign and its policy-fuelled slogan –Oslo, a city for all– and how the Norwegian capital and new immigrant gateway has transformed “10,000 years of fjords and mountains” into a city where diversity counts, intercultural competence is a core organizational value, and 20% of the city’s elected officials are now from minority backgrounds.
Webinar Presenters
Palermo Galindo
Planner-Hispanic and Immigrant Liaison, City of Fort Wayne
As the Planner-Hispanic and Immigrant Liaison, Galindo builds a direct line of communication and bridges gaps between the City’s divisions and departments by serving residents who may not have the language proficiency of or the cultural knowledge to navigate through City government. This position advocates and maintains appropriate relationships with other state, national organizations, local agencies and to private businesses that will implement or improve policies, programs and procedures focusing on specific needs of the Hispanic/Latino and Immigrant communities. The Planner Hispanic and Immigrant Liaison is reaching out to the populations that are hard to count through the Complete Count Committee Co-Chair by working hand in hand with service providers, community organizations, religious and community leaders. Galindo spearheads the Municipal Action of Immigrant Integration (MAII) program from the National League of Cities as a catalyst to help integrate emerging immigrant and established communities. The MAII is based on dual components such as the NEWCITYZEN and CITYZENSHIP.
Toralv Moe Senior Adviser, Oslo City Hall, Department of Education and Cultural Affairs
Toralv Moe is a Senior advisor on integration and diversity to the vice major of education and cultural affairs, Oslo, Norway. He has 20 years of experience in the field – Municipalities of Oslo and Tromsø, State Agency of Integration and Migration, Master degree in social anthropology, economics and history. He is responsible for coordinating initiatives and measures for integration and diversity, the OXLO-policy (Oslo Extra Large) and the work on Standard for integration nand divetsity. He has experience in benchmarking, both local and international, through the Diversity Mirror, Eurocities / Charter on Inclusive Cities, and Intercultural Cities / Intercultural City Index
Jamie Durana
Program Associate, National League of Cities
Jamie Durana’s work at the the National League of Cities is focused on immigrant integration. She was previously a research intern at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, DC. Ms. Durana holds a Master of Arts degree in Nationalism and Identity from University College London and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.
Webinar: The Price of Admission: Financial Inclusion Strategies for Migrants
InLondon, where the “door-step” lending market is worth £2billion, Fair Finance has stepped in to address unethical lending practices. Find out more about the financial products and services Fair Finance has developed to meet the needs of people who are financially excluded -whatever their gender, race or postcode.
At Barcelona Activa, the city’s dynamic business development hub, entrepreneurship is the recognized “engine of city activity and employment.” Learn about how Barcelona Activa and the ODAME Program are working with migrant communities in Spain to support ethnic entrepreneurship and a booming SME sector.
Webinar Presenters
Josefa Sánchez García Barcelona Activa
Josefa Sánchez García is a graduate in Chemistry by The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and has an MBA from the University of Navarra’s IESE. She is a founding member of the GRUP 7 and the E.E.P. (European Enterprises Partnership), founder and vice-chairwoman of the Odame Association and chairwoman of the CEDEL (Centre for Local Development Studies) a non-profit-making organisation working nationally to develop the spirit of enterprise in different groups, but in particular amongst women and the young.
In 1986, Mrs. Josefa Sánchez designed and planned the first business training programme DONES EMPRENEDORES-ODAME in Spain, carried out by the Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Activa,S.A. Since then, Mrs. Sánchez has led the programme as it has evolved and grown to meet the changing needs of businesses. She has worked together with other European countries and forms part of numerous European support networks for women entrepreneurs and local employment initiatives. For her work at the head of CEDEL, Mrs. Sánchez was awarded the “Best Director of the Year” prize in 2000 by the Spanish Association of Management.
Stephanie Mestrallet Fair Finance
Stephanie has a background in development; she completed a Master degree in Urbanisation and Development at the London School of Economics in 2006 after a year in Cambodia where she was a Communication Officer for a local NGO.
Prior to joining Fair Finance’s team, Stephanie worked for several years for a Microfinance Institution in Madagascar where she held various positions such as Branch Manager and Operation Coordinator. In addition, Stephanie attended a field training program at the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.
She joined Fair Finance as Head of Business in 2009 and is working on Fair Finance’s development in the following fields: operations management, information systems, staff management, geographic expansion and organisation growth.
Webinar: Making the Grade: Integration Through Education in Toronto and Zurich
Watch a 60-minute discussion on integration strategies that generate equal opportunities in education and accelerate improved academic outcomes for immigrant and second-generation students.
Good Ideas to Learn About:
Learn about The Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the 2008 winner of the international Carl Bertelsmann Prize, and their grade-A success in responding to the challenge of migration and demographic changes in the culturally-diverse city of Toronto, Canada. Moving beyond traditional instructional models of second-language learning, discover how a public school system can partner with settlement agencies, community organizations, and government partners to transform diversity into an educational opportunity.
From Zurich, learn how Quality in Multicultural Schools (QUIMS) tackled inequality of education at school with a flexible, multi-strand approach that included the student’s most important allies –her teachers and parents. Language support, parent councils, intercultural mediators, and systematic additional teacher training all combined to transform a pilot school program in the Canton of Zurich into core school legislation since 2008.
Webinar Presenters
Lloyd McKell
Executive Officer, Student and Community Equity,
Toronto District School Board
Lloyd McKell has been an educator with the Toronto District School Board for over thirty years where he currently holds the position of Executive Officer for Student and Community Equity. In this position, he is responsible for providing leadership and direction for the implementation of policies and practices which promote inclusive schools and which reflect the Board’s Equity policies. In 2008, the Toronto District School Board received the Carl Bertelsmann International award for excellence in Equity and Inclusion. Lloyd McKell has been an active contributor to many initiatives in the African Canadian community of Toronto for many years and in 2005, Lloyd received the African Canadian Achievement Award for excellence in the field of education.
Selin Öndül
Quality in Multicultural Schools (QUIMS) Programme Officer
Ministry of Education, Canton Zurich
Selin Öndül is a programme officer of QUIMS in Zurich. She coaches and consults schools that take part in the programm. She also contributes to further development of the programme. Coming form a multicultural family she migrated to Switzerland in 1997. She has a MSc in educational psychology from Zurich, as well as a BSc in teaching mathematics from Istanbul. She worked for 8 years in public schools in Zurich teaching Turkish to children of immigrant families. She has been active in several projects related with migration in Switzerland. Before taking her present position in the Ministry of Education, she worked for the Red Cross in Canton Zurich and coordinated an exchange programm aiming a better integration of migrant children.
Webinar: Municipal Action on Integration: Exploring Public Private Partnerships
January 19 - Cities of Migration and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) discuss integration strategies for municipal leaders.
Good Ideas to Learn About:
Learn about the Chicago Community Trust’s partnership with municipal governments in the larger Chicago region. The Chicago Community Trust funding model is designed to address the needs of growing newcomer communities while securing wider investment from community and private sector stakeholders that can help build local capacity for the long-term..
From the the City of Turin, you will learn about The Gate Project at Porta Palazzo, an urban regeneration initiative that uses a flexible, participatory approach to community development. With a wide platform of public and private participation and support, the city of Turin has transformed The Gate from a pilot project into a local development agency that integrates social inclusion, poverty and crime reduction and sustainable urban renewal
Webinar Presenters
Daranee Petsod
Executive Director, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)
Daranee Petsod has worked on social and economic justice issues for the past 22 years. Prior to joining GCIR in December 1998, Daranee was a consultant working with foundations and nonprofits on program planning and communications. She previously served as interim executive director and development director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and was a program officer for the Sophia Fund and the Field Foundation of Illinois, Inc. She has also worked as a policy analyst for the United Way, a social worker at a child-welfare agency, and an outreach worker for a refugee women’s services program. Daranee’s areas of expertise include immigrant integration, immigrant and refugee grantmaking, and building the capacity of immigrant-based organizations. Daranee has authored and co-authored a number of publications, most recently Investing in Our Communities: Strategies for Immigrant Integration in 2006. Daranee holds a master’s degree in social policy from the University of Chicago.
Clare O’Shea
Senior Planner, Village of Mount Prospect, Chicago
Clare O’Shea is the Senior Planner for the Village of Mount Prospect, Illinois. In her current role, Ms. O’Shea is responsible for long range planning, grant writing, and economic development activities. Ms. O’Shea recently served as the project leader of implementation and construction of Mount Prospect’s Community Connections Center. The Center benefits the community by bringing services to a previously underserved population and is the result of multiple grants awarded to the Village of Mount Prospect from the Chicago Community Trust. The Center opened in August 2009 in collaboration with the Mount Prospect Public Library, District 214 Community Education, Northwest Community Hospital, and Community Consolidated School District 59.
Luca Cianfriglia
Director, “The Gate Project”
Since 2006, Luca has been the director of “The Gate Project”: public- private local development agency born to create, develop and manage specific regeneration projects on the area of Porta Palazzo in Turin. Luca has also been the director of “Parco Dora Committee”: public- private local development agency born to follow the physical and social transformation from industrial area to a new district (13.000 new inhabitant, 1 milion sqm) in Turin. Since 2007 he has been the collaborator with the Deputy Mayor of immigrants integration and urban regeneration policies of the Municipality of Turin. He has also been the project advisor for public organizations in the field of integration, urban regeneration, innovative reusing of abandoned areas, and empowerment of the local communities.
How do migrant youth deal with living inside and between two cultures?
On December 1, 2009, Cities of Migration hosted a 60-minute webinar on projects from Oldham, Paris, London and Lisbon that looks at the active participation of young people in community development and their views on identity and belongingYoung people make up a significant percentage of international migrants and an increasing proportion of today’s urban populations. Yet, a recent UNFPA report laments that relatively little is known about the young migrant experience: “Young people remain largely invisible in research, public debates and policy about international migration.”
Good Ideas to Learn About:
Peacemaker, Manchester-based organization, works with young people from different communities and ethnicities to help formerly deeply segregated communities move towards a new, integrated “commonsense vision of Britishness.”
Manifesta, in London, will describe the Belonging project (Manifesta)a transnational initiative that uses intercultural dialogue and video to explore identity and belonging in London/Newham, Lisbon suburb/Casal da Boba and Paris/20th arrondissement.
UN AoC frames the discussion with opening remarks on the youth project PLURAL+ and tell us why the UN Alliance of Civilizations has developed special youth programming; Helen Walsh, Executive Director, Diaspora Dialogues (Toronto) launches the Q&A.
Webinar Presenters
Florence Laufer Migration/Integration program officer, United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC)
Florence Laufer is the Migration/Integration program officer for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC). In this field, the UNAoC challenges polarization by addressing intercultural tensions in cooperation with migrant populations – those exposed to divisive issues on a daily basis. The UNAoC will launch soon an online Migration/Integration clearinghouse, promoting good practices as tools to build cultures of inclusiveness and social cohesion.After working for a non-profit organization on the integration of migrants and on asylum seekers’ rights in Switzerland, Florence Laufer managed development programs and emergency response in the Middle East. She developed several projects building bridges across cultural differences, acting as a mediator in the negotiation and implementation of the activities. Florence Laufer has studied Human Geography in the University of Geneva, focusing on Cultural and Migration Geography.
Marion Vargaftig Founder and Co-director, Manifesta
Marion Vargaftig is founder and co-director of Manifesta, leading/producing European programmes and media initiatives. Her expertise is in developing projects associating media and culture as a catalyst for social change. Marion has a particular interest in putting youth and other marginalised voices (migrants, refugees, cultural and ethnic minorities) centre stage, using video as a trigger for creative expression and providing multiple platforms for these voices to be heard.Recent projects include:-
- Video ART (Anti-Racist Trails) Postcards – uncovering sites related to historical racism in the West India Docks area of London and interpreting this heritage creatively;
- the trans-national initiative Belonging, working with mixed group of urban youth in London, Paris and Lisbon and exploring their own sense of belonging (43 short films available for viewing on www.manifesta.org.uk and on project partner’s Runnymede, www.runnymedetrust.org;
Marion is also European Consultant and Media advisor; since 2003, she has advised the European Cultural Foundation, on www.theoneminutesjr.org and more recently www.strangerfestival.com; she has also worked on Media and Minorities/ Diversity in Europe, having previously led research projects leading to publications including with/for UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
Raja Miah, MBE
Former Chief Executive, PeaceMaker
Raja Miah has been leading PeaceMaker’s work since 1997. First developed to tackle local issues in Oldham, PeaceMaker soon found itself supporting the government in responding to issues of community conflict across the country. Raja’s experience through PeaceMaker has helped inform and develop the community cohesion agenda. In particular, Raja has supported in the development of practice with children and young people, helping them to find long-term solutions to issues of community conflict and equipping them with the skills necessary to challenge and overcome prejudice, both their own and that of the communities where they lead their lives.Raja has led PeaceMaker to become recognised by the government as a lead organisation in developing the Community Cohesion agenda.
Webinar: It’s Not Just Getting a Job: It’s Building a Career
Today’s global economy is characterized by unprecedented levels of labour force mobility and growing levels of international trade. Cities that are able to harness the competitive advantage of diversity are able to reach into new markets, internationalize their customer base, and benefit from skills and talent that fuel innovation and drive high performance. ‘Mentoring’ and ‘networking’ are two key strategies HR professionals most often cite when discussing the professional development of new –and existing– staff. These strategies are critical to immigrants seeking to enter new labour markets where language and cultural differences create additional barriers to workplace entry.
On October 20, 2009, Cities of Migration hosted guest speakers, Sherazade Langlade, from New York’s Upwardly Global and Beatriz Hernandez de Fuhr, from Copenhagen’s KVinfo, internationally recognized experts in the fields of mentoring and labourforce integration, for a 60-minute international webinar on human resource strategies that recruit, retain and result in the successful integration of skilled immigrants and increased diversity in the workforce.
Sherazade Langlade
New York Managing Director, Upwardly Global
Sherazade’s extensive background in program management and corporate partnerships include previous roles as Manager of the Nonprofit Leadership Development Institute at the United Way of New York City and Director of Volunteer Programs for Habitat for Humanity where she created new programs focused on creating community value, individual impact and engaging the corporate and academic sector to partner in solving society’s challenges. She was a National Urban Fellow, Class of 2005. Sherazade was born in Paris, France to parents of French and Algerian heritage. She moved to the United States in 1984. Sherazade’s native language is French.
Beatriz Hernández de Fuhr
Mentor Network Program Coordinator, KVINFO
Beatriz is a journalist and a researcher with KVINFO, The Danish Centre for Information on Women and Gender, a modern self-governing institution dedicated to bringing women’s politics and women’s research to the forefront of cultural debate in Denmark. Beatriz has worked many years with building partnerships for international cooperation and program development, and now she is part of KVINFO’s national Mentor Network for women from all ethnic backgrounds, a program which has more than 4000 members representing over 125 nationalities – the largest of its kind in the world. Beatriz was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and her mother tongue is Spanish. She has been living in Copenhagen for the past six years.
14th International Metropolis Conference, Copenhagen Denmark, 14-18 September 2009
2009-09-16
Wednesday, September 16th, 16:00-17:30
From Cities of Migration to Open Cities: travelling with diversity towards prosperity
Join Cities of Migration and the Open Cities initiative (British Council) at the 2009 International Metropolis Conference in Copenhagen for a lively exchange of ideas about ‘why cities matter’ under the larger conference theme of “Migration and Mobility, National Responses to Cultural Diversity.”
In this session participants will hear about two separate but connected initiatives that predicate a city’s success in its ability to internationalise its markets, culture, institutions and people. Open Cities will present a paper on city leadership and governance strategy, drawing on lessons from Auckland, Dublin, Los Angeles, Stuttgart and Toronto. Cities of Migration will examine the example of Toronto in greater depth and demonstrate how leadership, diversity, and prosperity are correlated.
Presenters:
Carolina Jiménez (Open Cities, British Council, Spain)
Mark Kleinman (Open Cities, United Kingdom) in personal capacity
Ratna Omidvar (Maytree Foundation, Canada)
Chair: Kim Turner, Cities of Migration (Maytree Foundation, Canada)
Maytree’s Ratna Omidvar will also be presenting at another session hosted by the Stiftung Mercator:
Wednesday, September 16th, 14:00-15:30
Ventured and gained! Innovative ways that foundations influence integration policy
At the 13th International Metropolis Conference 2008, Ratna Omidvar explained why “foundations are more than money”. In this workshop, representatives of foundations who have launched outstanding projects in immigration and cultural diversity will discuss their strategies with researchers in the sciences and humanities. Presenting examples from different countries, this workshop highlights the wide variety of strategies foundations have in responding to immigration, high mobility and cultural diversity, as well as influencing national politics.
Phoebe Griffith (Barrow Cadbury Trust, United Kingdom)
Dr Holger Kolb, (Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration, Germany)
Registration to this conference is still open if you didn’t register already. For more information please visit www.metropolis2009.org.
Fulfilling the Promise: Integrating Immigrant Skills into the Urban Economy
2009-07-28
On July 28, Elizabeth McIsaac, Executive Director, of the internationally recognized Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council, spoke about TRIEC’s multi-sector approach to labour market integration and how corporate leadership can help you and your city benefit from the so-called “immigrant advantage”; with Justin Treagus, Program Director, OMEGA at the Committee of Auckland, New Zealand, and corporate partner and moderator Nick Main, Chairman, Deloitte New Zealand.
Today’s global economy is characterized by unprecedented levels of labourforce mobility and growing levels of international trade. Research and common sense tells us that urban prosperity and well-being depends on the quality of welcome the newcomer receives and the relative success of the settlement and integration experience.
New Zealand City View
Cities that are able to harness the competitive advantage of diversity are able to reach into new markets, internationalize their customer base and benefit from skills and talent that fuel innovation and drive high performance. So how do successful cities do it?
Elizabeth McIsaac
Executive Director, Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC)
Elizabeth McIsaac is the Executive Director of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), a multi-stakeholder collaboration that identifies and implements local and practical solutions that lead to meaningful employment for skilled immigrants. Elizabeth has worked with TRIEC since it was launched in 2003 as a project of The Maytree Foundation. She has also held various positions at Maytree, most recently as the Director of Policy.
Before joining Maytree, Elizabeth was the Executive Director of the Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and also worked in direct service with immigrant and refugee communities, as well as holding various roles in research and teaching.
Justin Treagus
Programme Director, OMEGA
Justin joined the Committee for Auckland as Omega’s Programme Director in January 2008. Justin brings a diverse array of experience in Leadership, Learning, Organisational Development and Change Management. His experience includes roles in Corporate, Consulting and Non Profit Organisations, with his work varying from developing E-Business capability within a global corporation, to piloting and developing a best practice adolescent peer leadership programme in Africa.
His passion for cultural diversity developed from living and working through South Africa’s transformation into a multicultural society and being part of a global organisation in Europe that actively pursued cultural diversity. Married to a Kiwi, Justin moved from Cape Town to New Zealand four years ago.
Working Solutions: Lessons from local communities on integration strategies
2009-06-09
Today’s global cities are challenged by the rapid pace of urbanization and migration. The successful integration of immigrants is key to urban prosperity and quality of life for all city residents. What is your city or town doing to face the challenge of developing an approach to integration that is effective, accepted by long term residents and can endure over time?
On June 9, 2009 Cities of Migration and the Bertelsmann Foundation (Germany) hosted a 60 minute online seminar on developing sustainable integration strategies for local governance. The webinar described the participatory approach Bertelsmann has developed for helping local communities learn how to structure integration policy and programming in a way that is both inclusive and focused. The presentation included an outline of the recent activities of the Transatlantic Council on Migration on the theme of “Learning from the World, ” and introductory remarks from the distinguished Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, former President of the German Bundestag, reknowned for her contribution to the migration field.
Recommended for: Community-level policymakers in decision-making positions ; Public administrators at all relevant levels; Immigrants and members of organizations representing immigrants who are active in community life.
Webinar Presenters
Prof. Rita Süssmuth, Dr. Dr. h.c.mult former President of the German Bundestag (1988-1998)
Rita Süssmuth is former President of the German Bundestag (1988-1998), former Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Women, Youth and Health, and former Chair of Germany’s Independent Council of Experts on Migration and Integration. Prof. Süssmuth is renowned as an international expert on migration and integration and for her international comparative educational research. Her distinguished political and academic career includes: Global Commission on International Migration (UN), former Chair of the EU High Level Group on ‘Social Integration of Ethnic Minorities and Their Full Participation in the Labor Market; OECD Development Center Project ‘Gaining from Migration’ Advisory Board; chair of ‘Independent Commission on Migration to Germany’; and former vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Prof. Süssmuth has been the President of SRH Berlin University since 2005; former academic posi in addition to former posts as Director of the Research Institute “Woman and Society” and Professor, International Comparative Educational Science, Universities of Bochum and Dortmund.
Claudia Walther, Bertelsmann Stiftung Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh (Germany) Claudia Walther is Project Manager at the Bertelsmann Foundation with the Programme Integration and Education, responsible for Integration and Local Communities. Claudia direct’s Bertelsmann’s Integration Workshops for Communities project, and has participated in the development of the superb web resources, Demographie-Konkret.de and Wegweiser-Commune.de. Claudia joined the Bertelsmann Foundation in 2001 with a special focus on local governance issues.
Prior to joining Bertelsmann, Claudia worked with EUREGIO Maas-Rhein, a European Region connecting Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, where she led a project on migrants and border crossing in Aachen. From 1994 to 1996, Claudia worked on youth-related projects for an international NGO in Vienna, and from 1993-1994 she worked in a federal Ministry of North Rhine Westphalia, Germany. Claudia s interest in politics is ongoing; she is involved in various local political activities on a voluntary basis. Claudia Walther studied political science in Aachen, Germany, where she completed her Magister Artium.
Christal Morehouse, Bertelsmann Stiftung Bertelsmann Stiftung, Gütersloh (Germany) Dr. Claudia Walther is Program Manager for the Bertelsmann Stiftung in the field of migration and integration. She is responsible for managing the Stiftung’s integration programs at the European and Transatlantic level.
From January to December 2006 she was the Head of Office for Prof. Dr. Rita Süssmuth, the former President of the German Bundestag. Christal has also conducted research for the Global Commission on International Migration (2005) and participated in the German Independent Council of Experts on Migration and Integration in Berlin (2003-2004). Christal has advised various European and American multinational institutions on policy matters. She was among the experts whose advice on integration issues was sought by the German EU Presidency in 2007. In 2004 she was a consultant to the Organization of American States for anti-trafficking research in Europe. Christal has published widely in the area of integration, migration and citizenship policy; most recently on Combating Human Trafficking Policy: Gaps and Hidden Political Agendas in the United States and Germany (2009).
Webinar: Dealing With Diabetes and Other Everyday Dilemmas: The Maslaha Project
2009-04-29
Some of the greatest integration challenges occur during the essential transactions of everyday life: a visit to the doctor, a meeting at your child’s school or paying a bill in a bank. Established by the Young Foundation and one of our featured Good Ideas, the Maslaha Project provides practical information to help the Islamic community navigate cultural issues to do with healthcare, education, family life, finance, and civic and democratic engagement.
On April 29, 2009, From the city of London,Raheel Mohammed, Project Lead, Maslaha Project, and colleague Natalia Chan presented innovative approaches used by Maslaha to provide culturally sensitive and practical information about Islam, and to open dialogue on some of the most pressing social issues of the day. Videos, audio recordings and a unique design combined with active engagement with local communities all help deliver effective practical solutions to the daily challenges faced by minority communities.
From the City of Chicago, home to the largest Muslim population in the United States, moderator Alya Adamany, joined from The Chicago Council on Global Affairs; with questions and commentary from Kyle Ismail from The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN).
For an introduction to the health strand of Maslaha, have a look at the Diabetes in Tower Hamlets website. Maslaha’s pilot project looks at health issues in Tower Hamlets, a London borough with one of the highest levels of religious diversity in the UK. The interactive website offers advice on diet, exercise, and Ramadan both from a medical and Islamic perspective and is used by both medical staff and patients to help advise on diabetes.
Raheel leads on the Maslaha project, which focuses on promoting a greater understanding of Islam for Muslims and non-Muslims and finding practical solutions for Muslim communities and public services in areas such as health and education. Maslaha’s health strand is currently leading the way in the UK in combining faith and medical advice in helping to change patients’ behaviour. Raheel has also been profiled in The Guardian newspaper, in a supplement focusing on social pioneers. He was selected for the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow Conference in Doha, as well as taking part in the Religion and Democracy in Europe Initiative, the US International Visitor Leadership Program and the UK Race and Europe Network’s project on ‘Muslim Youth and Active Citizenship’. He has also spoken on a number of issues: at the Royal Geographical Society about global citizenship and and democracy; and at the 2008 NHS London conference – ‘Innovating for a World City’.
Natalia Chan is Research Associate for Maslaha. She has previously worked at the Young Foundation in a variety of roles, including external affairs, developing the Young Foundation website to a high standard, as well as providing in-depth research on a range of issues such as leadership and penal reform. as well as working in a variety of roles at the Young Foundation, including providing in-depth research on a range of issues such as leadership and penal reform. Her experience of creating new opportunities and developing innovative strands of work with the Sudan Associate Parliamentary Group have proved invaluable in developing Maslaha’s health work and relationships with potential partners. She has used film to enhance parliamentary relations between the two countries, including producing a film on the political status of women in Sudan, and has organized a visit from a delegation of representatives of Sudanese Parliament and civil society to the UK. Natalia has also worked with organizations such as the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and London Youth to build organizational capacity.
Alya Adamany, Senior Program Officer The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Chicago (USA)
Alya Adamany is a senior program officer for studies at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. A staff member since 2003, Alya is responsible for research, planning, and the logistical execution of task forces and study groups, including the Council’s 2007 Task Force on the Civic and Political Integration of Muslim Americans and the 2006 Chicago-Birmingham Dialogue “Muslim Communities in Domestic and Foreign Policymaking in the United States and United Kingdom: Empowerment and Engagement.” In addition, she cochaired the Council’s GOAt initiative (Globally Occupied Attention) in 2005. She also currently serves on the auxiliary board of Teach for America’s Chicago Chapter. Alya received her B.A. in political science with a focus on International Relations from Yale University and her M.A. in international relations from the University of Chicago, with a specialization in the Middle East and security studies. Alya previously held internships at the U.S. House of Representatives and Amnesty International.
Kyle J. Ismail, Associate Director Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN), Chicago (USA)
Kyle Ismail has a B.A. in Communications/Journalism and an M.A. in American history from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he lectured in American and world history and an M.A. in Human Resources Management from University of Illinois at Urbana Champagne. He is a long-time volunteer with IMAN ’s Project Restore focusing on education and outreach. Ismail was certified by the Lincoln Foundation for Business Excellence in quality management of government and non-profit organizations
Webinar: Routes to belonging: the role of cities in the civic and political integration of immigrants
2009-03-24
The first event in our 2009 series is on the role of cities in accelerating the civic and political integration of immigrants, with city representatives from Dublin and New Haven, Connecticut. On March 24, Cities of Migration hosted a webinar about successful municipal integration strategies, introduced by Howard Duncan, International Metropolis project, and hosted by Ratna Omidvar, Maytree.
Both of these cities are featured in our Good Ideas in Integration collection for their groundbreaking work: Dublin for its recent immigrant voting campaign, and New Haven for its brave “Elm City ID” card for non citizens, the first of its kind in the USA.
Webinar Presenters
Kica Matos Community Services Administrator
City of New Haven, Connecticut
Kica Matos is the Community Services Administrator with the City of New Haven, Connecticut. Ms. Matos is formerly the Executive Director of Junta for Progressive Action, New Haven’s oldest Latino, community based organization. She is also a clinical visiting lecturer in law at Yale Law School. For most of her adult life, she has devoted herself to advocacy in the area of human rights and civil rights, working in non-profit organizations including Amnesty International and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. In 2005 she was the recipient of the national “New Frontier” award.
Cormac O’Donnell, Strategic Policy Manager, Intercultural Unit
Dublin City Council
Cormac O’Donnell is the Strategic Policy Manager of the Intercultural Unit of Dublin City Council. He has undertaken and overseen an array of research and consultative work in the areas of housing, social inclusion, new community development, interculturalism and integration and led the development of policy and practice at local government level. In 2008 Cormac coordinated Dublin’s 2008 Migrant Voters Registration Initiative. Cormac’s was awarded a 2008 ‘Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Award’ for his work with the Central-Eastern European Network.
Howard Duncan Executive Head, International Metropolis Secretariat
Ottawa, Canada
Howard Duncan is the Executive Head, International Metropolis Secretariat, Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Metropolis is an international network for comparative research and public policy development on migration, diversity, and immigrant integration in cities in Canada and around the world. In 1997, Howard joined the Metropolis Project as its International Project Director and became the Executive Head of International Metropolis in 2002. He has concentrated on increasing the Project’s benefits to the policy community by creating effective opportunities for direct and frank exchange between researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, increasing Metropolis’ geographic reach, and expanding the range of issues it confronts.
Ratna Omidvar President, Maytree
Toronto, Canada
Ratna Omidvar is President of Maytree. Maytree is a private Canadian charitable foundation established in 1982, committed to reducing poverty and inequality in Canada and to building strong civic communities. Maytree is Canada’s only private foundation that focuses on the acceleration of immigrant and refugee settlement. Maytree has developed well-recognized in-house expertise on creating and implementing practical solutions through its programs, policy insights and grants. As an independent voice, Maytree has demonstrated its capacity to raise public awareness and to speak on the issue of immigrant inclusion from a basis of fact and substance, and in the interest of nation building. Ratna also serves as a director of the Toronto City Summit Alliance. She was the first executive director of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC) and is its founding chair. In 2006, Ratna was appointed to the Order of Ontario.
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Gareth Farry
Anna-Karin Hedenskog
Dr. Roland Kaehlbrandt
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On May 17, 2011 Cities of Migration hosted a webinar on diversity in the media and shared successful strategies used by local radio broadcasters in Barcelona and Toronto to improve audience ratings. Find out how responding to changing demographics can help you share your city’s immigrant experience and boost station performance.
Susan Marjetti, Managing Director, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio, TV, Online
Kristina Mason
In Boston, 
In Toronto, 
