Laura Jennings Pitt’s Post

Catherine Hernandez's novel, "Scarborough," provides a stark depiction of community resilience amid systemic adversity. Set in the Kingston/Galloway neighbourhood, this book emphasizes the vital role of a local community centre that strives to support vulnerable families from marginalized communities. Hernandez highlights the vulnerability of support systems due to shifting governmental priorities, affecting workers and the community. The narrative, which also received acclaim as a film at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), focuses on three children growing up with the odds stacked against them. To elaborate, it focuses on the coming-of-age of three young children living in a low-income neighbourhood and how they form bonds in a community centre despite the hardships they and their families face. It showcases how community centers can be crucial safe havens that foster bonds and support amidst hardship. A particularly moving episode involves the struggle of an Indigenous mother, Marie, to obtain an autism diagnosis for her son, Johnny. The scene reveals systemic barriers preventing access to care for marginalized families, calling for greater empathy and action in healthcare and social services. Scarborough" serves as a powerful call to professionals to advocate for policies that strengthen community support structures and ensure equitable service access. This story is more than a tribute to community center workers; it's a prompt for ongoing dialogue about inclusivity and the creation of resilient communities in the face of institutional challenges. Scarborough' is more than a story; it's a call to action. Let's commit to fostering empathy, and enhancing community support systems. Learn more by reading our newsletter through this link: https://lnkd.in/gVhRMjf7 #BIPOC #POC #bipoccontentcreators #spinningforward #microinfluencers #smallcontentcreators #toronto #canadianhealthcare #indigenous #torontonovel #tiff #torontointernationalfilfestival #scarborough

Catherine Hernandez's novel, "Scarborough," provides a stark depiction of community resilience amid systemic adversity. Set in the Kingston/Galloway neighbourhood in east Toronto (City of Toronto) ,this book reminds us about the vital role of a local community centre that strives to support vulnerable families from marginalized communities. Hernandez highlights the vulnerability of support systems due to shifting governmental priorities, affecting workers and the community. The narrative, which also received acclaim as a film at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFF), focuses on three children growing up with the odds stacked against them. To elaborate, it focuses on the coming-of-age of three young children living in a low-income neighbourhood and how they form bonds in a community centre despite the hardships they and their families face. It showcases how community centers can be crucial safe havens that foster bonds and support amidst hardship. A particularly moving episode involves the struggle of an Indigenous mother, Marie, to obtain an autism diagnosis for her son, Johnny. The scene reveals systemic barriers preventing access to care for marginalized families, calling for greater empathy and action in healthcare and social services. “Scarborough" serves as a powerful call to professionals to advocate for policies that strengthen community support structures and ensure equitable service access. This story is more than a tribute to community center workers; it's a prompt for ongoing dialogue about inclusivity and the creation of resilient communities in the face of institutional challenges. ‘Scarborough' is more than a story; it's a call to action. Let's commit to fostering empathy, and enhancing community support systems. Learn more by reading our newsletter through this link: https://lnkd.in/gkSF6BdZ #BIPOC #POC #bipoccontentcreators #spinningforward #microinfluencers #smallcontentcreators #toronto #canadianhealthcare #indigenous #torontonovel #tiff #torontointernationalfilfestival #scarborough

This #PrideMonth, we celebrate the diversity and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. It's a time to reflect on our progress and the work still ahead to ensure everyone feels safe and included in our communities. NLC has put together a guide for local leaders to learn more about how we can work together to build safer, more inclusive communities for all: https://lnkd.in/gN_Grew5

Check out a recap of our Youth Summit at Cornell Tech!

“There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves.” — Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States Today, we commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, a pivotal piece of civil rights legislation that has been instrumental in forging a society rooted in equity. Enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this Act stands as a bulwark against housing discrimination, ensuring no individual is denied housing on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status. The Fair Housing Act transcends a mere legal directive; it embodies a profound pledge to guarantee the fundamental right of every American to obtain housing free from the shadows of bias. As we honor this significant milestone, we reflect on the persistent battle against housing inequity and the vital necessity of persisting in our quest for universal fair housing rights. In tribute to this historic day, we reaffirm our dedication to the ethos of the Fair Housing Act. We pledge to deepen our understanding of the legacy of housing discrimination, champion policies that foster fairness, and bolster the endeavors of entities championing inclusive housing. First Bank’s Pledge to Fair Housing: We stand resolute in our commitment to the communities we serve, bolstering our neighborhood allies through our Community Reinvestment Act First Awards Program. Our initiatives have culminated in an infusion of $269 million into community development loans and philanthropic endeavors over the last three years, benefiting in excess of 400 organizations. We are steadfast in our belief in the transformative power of unity and our collective capacity to actualize fair housing for everyone. We invite you to join us in saluting the enduring spirit of the Fair Housing Act and in our collective pursuit to fulfill the aspiration of fair housing for each citizen. #FairHousingAct #Equality #HousingRights #CivilRights #FirstBank #EqualHousingLender

Four years ago, we started the Neighborhood Leadership Council (NLC) at Local Motion. It's intention was to create true and just relationships with community leaders who either have or work with folks that have transportation barriers. Throughout it's existence, this has consistently been a group across social identities: women, folks with disabilities, BIPOC folks, and people who are low income. We pay the NLC $25 / hour for up to 10 hours a month for their time, provide childcare and food at our meetings, and transportation to the meetings. The program started at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. We started out doing trainings on transportation equity and organizing and then moved to trying community events. I'm going to be honest, it's been a constant struggle - to create group cohesiveness, to get folks to show up, to keep the group going and motivated. I feel like I've failed them and the program. I've been asking myself these questions lately: ❓How can we get folks to have the self-determination to participate? ❓Is paying folks overshadowing that self-determination? ❓What are the other barriers to participating that we're not seeing? ❓How do we transition from hand-holding to self-ownership? ❓When your house is on fire, how could you possibly have the time and energy to come to a group meeting about advocating for something abstract that might not actually change for years to come? We know that advocating for yourself (and your family, friends, community) is a privilege. How do we, as organizers and community engagement folks, facilitate groups to have voices and ownership over the work? To learn and grow as we do?

The Center for Independent Living and the Ed Roberts Campus have released their position statement regarding the City of Berkeley and BART’s transit-oriented development at the Ashby BART station. Our statement was informed by months of meetings with cross-disability communities, community activists, and grassroots organizations in South Berkeley. To read the statement in its entirety, go to thecil.org/press-releases [Image Description] Graphic with gradient background, and a dark box with white text that reads "The Center for Independent Living’s Position Statement Re: Ashby BART Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Project". A smaller white box has dark text that reads "See the Press Release on our website". #CIL #CenterForIndependentLiving #Berkeley #BayArea #Disabled #Disability #DisabledCommunity #Accessibility #NonProfitOrganization #DisabilityServices #DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #IndependentLiving #IndependentLivingMovement

We’ve just updated our Page. Visit our Page to see the latest updates. Our Mission The Freddi T. Lane Empowerment Alliance Inc. supports community development by providing people with disabilities access to accessible travel, education, and business development services. Core Values Courage We believe that all Leadership, Staff, Partners, and Volunteers of the Freddi T. Lane Empowerment Alliance Inc., have the courage and willingness to positively advocate to promote inclusivity for people with disabilities. Inclusivity We believe in creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and celebrates diversity and ensures that people with disabilities have equal access to our programs and services. Empowerment We believe in providing access to information that can help empower people with disabilities to travel, gain education, and encourage them to build businesses. Collaboration We believe in building alliances with partners to achieve our mission and encouraging a culture of collaboration and teamwork. Innovation We believe in embracing technology, innovation, and creativity to develop new solutions and approaches to addressing the challenges of people with disabilities. Accountability We believe in being accountable to our donors, partners, and stakeholders, and in ensuring that our resources are used effectively and efficiently to achieve our mission.

I haven't posted in a while, but Iʻm ready for a new one. Hereʻs a simple language reframe that I think we need: itʻs COMMUNITIES, not community. Like, in Black communiTIES. Native Hawaiian communiTIES. LGBTQIA+ communiTIES. So on, and so forth. Because statements like, "We need to know what the ____ COMMUNITY thinks" is to assume we are all one monolithic group of people, with the same shared experiences, same perspectives, same ideas, needs, strengths, and hopes for our futures. And it is to deny us of our humanity as the blend of unique peoples that we are. While, yes, there are shared lived experiences that a community, living in a geographic space or period of time or under specific circumstances can express, I think it serves us better to assume that each "community" has within it multiple, sometimes smaller, communities, that just 15 minutes down a windy gravel road might feel and look completely different. So next time we embark on "community engagement", "community outreach", "community surveys", "community talks", "community focus groups", etc. remember that we are communiTIES. #peoplefirst #alohaatwork

Exciting News from the National Community Association (NCA) - We are thrilled to share that the NCA is making significant strides in community development and empowerment across the United States! Our Mission: Empower communities through education, resources, and advocacy, promoting sustainable development and inclusivity. We believe in the power of collaboration and collective action to drive positive change. Join Our Network: Connect with community leaders, businesses, and organizations. Share ideas, collaborate on projects, and be part of a movement that's reshaping community engagement. What's New: - Upcoming Workshops: Join our expert-led sessions on sustainable practices and community leadership. - Advocacy Efforts: We're amplifying community voices in policy-making for equitable and sustainable growth. - Collaborative Projects: Witness how our members are driving impactful community initiatives. We're Inviting You! Become part of a community that values innovation, unity, and resilience. Whether you're an individual passionate about local issues or an organization seeking broader impact, the NCA is your platform for change. Stay Connected: Follow us for the latest updates, success stories, and ways to get involved in community development. Together, let's build a future where every community thrives! #CommunityDevelopment #NCA #Empowerment #Sustainability #InclusiveGrowth #JoinUs #BeTheChange