Tuesday, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
C1 - Building a Creative Climate for Evaluative Thinking & Learning
Language: English
Executive Directors and Managers are often managing a number of programs and services in a sector that is constantly changing. It is very difficult to meet the needs of clients, manage the constant changes in the sector and curve out time to reflect on the impact of the organization they lead. This workshop will enhance Executive Directors’ and Managers’ capacity to engage their staff and board in building a culture of evaluative and creative thinking in their organizations to better adapt to sectoral changes as well as improve organizational effectiveness. The workshop will examine the evaluative thought processes and the creative climate needed to develop evaluative thinking processes in the organization. A case study will be used to illustrate the concrete steps that are essential for building a culture of evaluative thinking in organizations.
Facilitators: Randah Taher has 8 years experience working in youth leadership, social enterprise, and community revitalization projects. She manages a youth leadership program and trains groups in creative thinking, problem solving, design thinking, creative climates, and change leadership. She has a Masters of Science in Creativity, Innovation and Change Leadership from New York State University – Buffalo College, and a degree in Management and in Education.
Yonatan Ghebray received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from York University and studied in the Community Worker Program at George Brown College. He has many years of experience working in the community health sector where he was grounded in a solid understanding of the social determinants of health and community development strategies. Yonatan has led the development and implementation of program planning and evaluation, and provided staff training in program outcome evaluation and logic models. He has deployed coaching and mentoring to support a multi-disciplinary staff on program planning and evaluation. He has contributed significantly to services improvement for clients by evaluating service delivery strategies as well as fostering a culture of evaluation and learning in organizations. In his current capacity as Evaluation and Learning manager at United Way of Greater Toronto, Yonatan works to strengthen UWGT’s capacity to promote a culture of evaluative reflection and learning.
C2 - Migration and Mental Health
Language: English
The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate a dialogue among the Executive Directors on the ‘facts & myths’ regarding mental health and issues faced by settlement agencies. Participants will examine the roles of settlement service sectors in addressing mental health issues related to migration. Workshop participants will generate ideas and increase awareness of:
- The connectedness between mental health and mental illness;
- The impacts of migration on mental health;
- The transformation process of the Health Care System in Ontario and the role the Settlement Sector can play;
- Innovative approaches in partnership or cross sectors ‘shared care’
- ‘Health Disparity’ and its impacts on newcomers;
- Principles on a Cultural Competent approach in mental health;
- Building capacity of the settlement sector in addressing mental health issues;
- Input in the design of the upcoming Mental Health Training series
Facilitators: Raymond C.Y. Chung, MSW RSW, received social work training at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Toronto. He went on to work in the Child Welfare system for over 26 years. He is a co-founder of Hong Fook Mental Health Association and was a Member of Scarborough Board of Health 1993-1996, and a Board Member of Hincks Dellcrest Centre from 1994-2000. He is a member of the Central East Local Health Integration Network Scarborough Collaborative. Currently, he is the Executive Director of Hong Fook Mental Health Association.
Angela Tse, MSW RSW, is currently the Program Director of Hong Fook Mental Health Association. Angela has over 16 years’ of experience in the mental health field, with over 5 years as a social worker in a hospital setting and 11 years in the community mental health field. Angela obtained her Social Work education at McMaster University and University of British Columbia. She then worked as a social worker at a family service agency in Hong Kong before migrating to Canada in 1990. She has a strong interest in mental health, particularly in the area of working with ethno-racial communities. She is a member of the Steering Committee, Mental Health and Addiction Network - Central East Local Health Integration Network.
C3: Identifying and Pursuing Funding Sources
Language: English
Today, getting the funding required for your continued operation and future goals is about doing your research, preparing a plan and building long-term relationships with funders based upon a mutual win strategy. This workshop will help you to better understand the current fundraising climate for Canadian non-profits and the ‘how to’ of identifying your organization’s funding needs, your best options in meeting those needs and an approach to building successful relationships with funders. We will explore the various funding types available from public, private and corporate options and the role that each could potentially play in the overall funding strategy for your organization. Then, by better understanding the current thinking of today’s funders, we will identify ways for you to build strong, long-term relationships with select funders and position your organization as a preferred investment.
Facilitator: Gina Vergilio is a senior level manager, analyst, planner, educator, and consultant. Her extensive career of over 26 years includes experience in a wide range of service-based organizations, both from non-profit and for-profit sectors. Gina operates an independent consulting practice, G. Vergilio & Associates that focuses on analysis, planning, evaluation, and support for non-profit agencies including; interim management services, financial management, strategic planning, funding strategies and proposals, organizational reviews, training, and facilitation. G. Vergilio & Associates has worked with agencies in the following sectors: VAW, Immigrant/Refugee, Housing, and Human Services. Consulting services are performed in a manner that is socially responsible and consistent with an anti-oppression/anti-racism framework.
C4 - Strategic Planning for Community Organizations
Language: English
Strategic planning can be challenging in a changing environment, but it is more important than ever for immigrant service agencies. The evolution of Ontario’s immigration and settlement sector requires leaders and managers to look at their organizations strategically and with a wider view of the trends and changes in their sector, community, clients, and stakeholders.
This two hour workshop is for leaders and managers looking to help their organization get the most out of strategic planning. Jack Senechal and Joanne Cox from the Dijon Group will lead an interactive discussion exploring:
- What are the opportunities and challenges in leading your organization through long term planning.
- What are the key success factors for strategic planning.
- How to make your strategic plan more than just another report.
- How to turn your strategic plan into an action plan for your organization that can grow and evolve with you.
- How to engage your funders, board, managers, staff, clients and communities.
- When to seek strategic planning help and how to best manage them.
Facilitator: Jack Senechal is the founding partner of Dijon Group, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, change management and communications. Jack focuses his time and efforts on strategic and organizational analysis and design, leadership capacity building, and working with leaders to develop strategies for sustainable growth and good governance in both social, not-for-profit and private organizations. Clients look to Jack to supply insight and sound advice on how to best grow and achieve their organization’s potential. Jack delivers by providing creative perspectives, inclusive approaches and practical action plans that help his clients reach their goals.
Over the last twenty years, Joanne Cox has helped clients develop the operational, tactical, and strategic approaches and perspectives that engage staff, clients and communities in developing sustainable solutions. Clients value her gentle and effective interpersonal and facilitation skills that complement her insightful analysis and writing expertise. She has led and held team roles in a wide variety of change, strategy, and communications projects with a broad and diverse client base. Joanne has extensive experience with social service organizations including immigration service agencies, community health care centres, youth and homeless drop-ins and shelters, and women’s services agencies as well as in business, educational and association environments.
C5 - Building an Effective Board: An Overview of Roles and Board Models
Language: English
This interactive workshop will provide participants with definitions of governance for non-profit organizations, an overview of factors that influence governance practices (size, complexity, mandate, legal structure), techniques to identify board strengths and governance challenges, and exercises to define roles and responsibilities of board members. Participants will also examine a variety of board governance models – both traditional and contemporary.
Facilitator: Jan Campbell, Managing Director of StrategiSense Inc. has over 15 years of experience working with a broad range of non profit agencies on issues of governance, planning and evaluation. Jan’s experiences with boards have exposed her to the impressive impact that a small group of dedicated people can have. Jan has enjoyed contributing to boards in several capacities, including as a board member, a committee volunteer, a staff member, management, and as a consultant. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, public policy analysis, facilitation, stakeholder consultation, governance assessment and development, strategic alliances, partnerships and joint ventures, organizational reviews, and program evaluation. Jan has worked with dozens of organizations at the local, provincial and national levels, on a range of governance issues and looks forward to sharing some of her lessons learned during this workshop.
