So Much for the Safety Net

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2011

The Safety Net is Like a One Wheel Ride



How many of us  have "Done the Math" or "Taken the Challenge"?

Music to Muse by while you read the links  is here: 

Xavier Rudd: Food in the Belly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d03SOMyKrGM&feature=relatedI

Welfare is supposed to be a temporary safety net.

So why do we penalize people who try to slowly work their way out of it?

You can view this story at: http://www.thestar.com/news/article/894037--porter-linda-chamberlain-s-job-was-making-her-broke

Thunder Bay writer, Joe Fiorito writes about a friend who can't escape the system in

The Toronto Star:  http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/796126--fiorito-dangerously-close-to-being-homeless

Send in your comments please. 

 As Thunder Bay's leaders, what are we doing - each of us - to contribute to the solutions?

2011: A Challenge For You & Your Family

Photo Credit Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2010

STOP!

LTB has a challenge for you.

This month's theme is "Poverty & Homelessness". 

Some of us have (or may still be) in a situation that we would term "poor" or possibly "homeless", like one of our LTB alumni.  For others, this may be a totally new experience.

What is the Challenge you ask?

A.  First, do the math. 

How much do you spend in a month? Day?

"Do the Math" will help you determine how much you think one needs to live frugally, but in dignity and in reasonable health in Ontario.

"Do the Math" will take approximately 6 minutes to complete.

You will see your results at the end,

and will be able to compare it to

approximately 5,000 others who have completed this thus far.

Take the Do The Math Survey HERE:

http://putfoodinthebudget.ca/do-the-math/

B.  Take the Challenge

Starting RIGHT NOW (ie, no prep time)...

for the NEXT SEVEN DAYS

Stop Spending $$$

•  record all of your expenditures (this should be a short list)
• do not eat out at restaurants or buy coffee or snacks
• live from the groceries you have at home without a single trip to the store
• you may go to the Dew Drop In, Shelter House, Grace Place or other shelters for food (and replace what you ate in the next 30 days through donations)
• do not purchase clothing, cleaning supplies, services (ie haircuts) or gas (cut back on your trips or ride share/take the bus)
• all gifts you give this week should be recycled/re-gifted (no new purchases)
• talk about this challenge with your children, friends and family,
• and encourage others to Do the Math
• record your thoughts and comments (see example below)

***

Excerpts from the Mihavic Family who "did the challenge" in Toronto, April 2010

Today's breakfast was the last breakfast that we had in the exercise. We had practically no food left, except for a bit of oatmeal (enough for one person), and coffee for Rosalee and me. We thought of making flatbread again but felt that enough was enough

(especially since the peanut butter ran out), and that we were close enough to lunch time, when we were breaking the diet.

The feeling in the home was frankly one of jubilation. We made it to the end abiding by the rules of the exercise.

We were hungry throughout the week but persisted. My daughters were proud that they made it, and we were proud of them for their determination and ability to stick with it.

... for many this exercise is their life and they cannot get off the treadmill.

 

There is a lot of thinking going on in my household on food, our family, who eats and doesn?t in our world, and social injustice.

Our family will never look at the folk going into the drop-in for a meal the same again.

This was a powerful exercise for us as a family, and frankly I am grateful that my daughters were a part of the challenge. It was a great learning experience for them, sensitizing them to the wider world and its inequalities. I for one want my children to be sensitized to pain of others in Toronto and not just its blessings.

 

There are a whole host of insights and thoughts I have around doing this on a broader scale. There is nothing like the experience of hunger, of walking in other?s shoes, even for a short time, to clarify and discipline the mind around what is important in our city. I want to work with others to broaden the experience for other families. I do believe that when middle class families like ours take up the challenge, that it will help to build the political and social momentum necessary to better our governments? and society's response.

 

Lastly, we are grateful to The Stop for opening our eyes, and more importantly for being there. Community organizations that work for and with the poor in our community, that advocate on their behalf are heroes in this story. How they do it every day and not burn out or get mega-angry at governments and the pace of societal change is remarkable.

More stories here:

http://dothemath.thestop.org//dothemathchallenge_updates.php

READY?

We will chat about the experience at our next LLD...



Someone Said...

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Who Said:

"The budget should be balanced.  The Treasury should be refilled.  Public Debt should be reduced.  The arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled and assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest we become bankrupt.

People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Was it: 

(a) Barack Obama

(b) Stephen Harper

(c) Cicero

Who said that poverty and homelessness make him feel:

Humility

Degraded

Worthless

Shame

Anger

Guilt

Hopeless

Anxious

Disgrace

Trepidation

Helpless

Stuck

Burdensome

Upset

Desperate

Alienated

Trapped

Alone

Onerous

Stigmatized

Isolated

Courage

Indignity

Misunderstood

Disgust

Labeled

Stressed

Controlled

Embarrassed

Judged

Belittled

Fearful

Humiliated

Blamed

Worried

Demeaned

Useless

Lost

Empty

Displaced

Resourceful

Dependent

Foolish

Denial

Defeated

Loathed

Weak

Stupid

Apathy

Defaced

Grouped

Demoralized

Wounded

Resilient

Durable

Vulnerable

Why!

Overwhelmed

Untrusting

Prideless

Unworthy

Disrespected

Forever?

Was it:

(a)  Mother Teresa

(b) Ron Hell

(c) Someone who's living it

If you're the first one to answer both questions correctly, a donation will be made in your name to your choice of a Thunder Bay Shelter or Food Bank.  Click on "Comments" at www.xowhat.blogspot.com

In the next few weeks, we'll be discussing

Asset Based Community Development.  

At it's core, it's about:

• generating authentic citizen communities of care...

You'll be introduced to the seminal work of John McKnight who said:

After 40 years of work in the urban neighborhoods of Canada

and the United States, McKnight paints

a scathing picture of

"how competent communities have been invaded, captured, and colonized by professionalized services" with devastating results.

Reciting a litany of lethal effects produced by service providers:

 families collapsing,

schools failing,

violence spreading,

prisons swelling

he charges them with eroding the very soul of community.

"The enemy is not poverty, sickness, and disease," McKnight writes.

"The enemy is a set of interests that need dependency, masked by service."

In your "community leadership" journey,

what do you say?

How does your style of leadership impact the community and those you lead?  What have you learned so far (with LTB) that can influence your leadership style in the future?

How are the GOALS you set at the Opening Retreat progressing?  Is it time to "reflect" and review your options?

....and there's so much more to come!

Until We Walk A Mile...

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

When Does Reality Really Hit Home?

"People who are homeless are not social inadequates.  They are homeless."  -  Sheila McKecknie

April in San Francisco is more like early spring in northern Ontario, rather than the hint of summer in the rest of California.  I hadn't done my weather-homework and had only packed a light jacket expecting tropical temperatures and sun-soaked days under the Golden Gate.   With the damp ocean breezes blowing briskly, I was freezing, wishing I'd brought along a pair of gloves and my favourite scarf. No matter, the Hard Rock Cafe would warm me up and then the sightseeing would continue.  Fun atmosphere, cool folks at the bar, souvenir hurricane glass to bring back home... on with my tourist type adventure.

Little did I know at that point, that I would finally come face to face with a new understanding of one of our society's most ignored scenarios.

Belly full and admittedly a little tipsy, I turned and headed up one of San Fran's famous hills.  My face to the bright sun, and not really paying attention to what was ahead, I was startled to bump into a shopping cart.  It was driven by a craggy faced man with very gentle eyes almost hidden by a mane of eyebrows.  He smiled; I think I may have said hello.  He kept going. So did I.

I remember that moment of "shift" in my thinking from my personal expectations of my experience to what was happening on the streets.  Under stairwells, on stinky sewer grates, anywhere away from the wind, lived communities of people.  They understood each others' language, asked no questions about past lives, and shared secrets of survival.  Cardboard boxes and chunks of plastic wrap were their castles.  And, as I found out later the municipal library was their "salon", offering showers, private areas for grooming and the luxury of real toilets.

My goose bumps and failure to pack the right attire seemed so miniscule in comparison to the reality of living on the streets.  Why had I never really seen these people before?  How harshly I had judged.

Let's explore the realities of homelessness and poverty together over the next 3 weeks.  Watch for next week's "Challenge" for you and your family.  Perhaps you won't need to travel all the way to the west coast, and will "Find your heart (in San Francisco)" if you haven't already.

"We think that poverty is only being naked, hungry and homeless.  The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty.  We must start in our own homes to remedy all poverty."  - Mother Teresa

***

Where is this mural and who is the famous artist?  Be the first with the correct comment to win a Canadian book!

For a Few Pennies More

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

It's Not Just About the Bagel

The Hunger Report came out in December from the Ontario Association of Food Banks and reflects figures until September 2008.

"When children are removed from the equation, we can see that over one in four Ontarians served by food banks are working.

In addition to these figures, there are also many Ontarians turning to food banks that have recently lost their jobs and are receiving Employment Insurance.

When taking these figures into account, 19.7% of those served by food banks in Ontario are employed or have recently lost their job.

There are also many Ontarians served by food banks that are not currently employed.

43.1 per cent of all Ontarians including children report general social assistance (Ontario Works) as their major source of income.....

Over 20 per cent of all persons served by food banks in this province are persons with disabilities. This figure is well beyond the population average which reports that 13.5% of Ontarians are living with disabilities."

38% per cent of Ontarians forced to turn to food banks are children.

A Challenge for you and your family?

We read the statistics, we understand how mill shut downs along the north shore and in TBay are affecting our communities. But what's it like to live the circumstances, instead of being the bystander?

Here's the challenge...

Could you and your family live for 5 consecutive days:

a. without spending an extra dime? Eat what's in your pantry and fridge - no trips to the grocery store, no stops for bagels and coffee, no dog treats...and when you're out of gas, you hitch a ride

or

b. recording every dime you spend?

Bring the results of your experience to the next Learning Day on March 12.

Read "A Gathering Storm" http://oafb.ca/assets/pdfs/A_Gathering_Storm.pdf

- Maggie

Walk A Mile

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine iCopyright 2009

Walk a Mile in My Footsteps
Where Does Our Journey Start?

This month, our leadership journey takes us to the core of community and the examination of sustainable livelihoods...vulnerability...resilience perhaps? What are the questions that emerge from this complex base of poverty, homelessness, gender issues and inclusiveness?

A. Let’s start with definitions:

1. Poverty: From the Canadian International Development Agency: “…the lack of human, physical, and financial capital needed to sustain livelihoods, and inequities in access to, and control of, and benefits from political, social, or economic resources.”

2. Poverty Reduction: The process of not only relieving, but actually reducing, the depth of people’s poverty by ensuring access to political, social or economic resources by building and engaging community.

Poverty Reduction attacks the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms.

3. Community Engagement: people working collaboratively, through inspired action and learning, to create and realize bold visions for their common future.

4. Multisectoral collaboration strengthens a community’s capacity to address important issues by weaving together the skills, resources, networks and knowledge of the government, business, voluntary sectors and low-income leaders.

Multisectoral collaboration is based on 6 key principles:
i. Everyone is the solution and the problem.
ii. Together we can do more.
iii. We do not have answers - only a commitment to learn, change and grow.
iv. We take on issues that no one sector can take on alone.
v. Together we create increased Credibility, Capacity and Capital for the work.
vi. The synergy is magic!
Source: Tamarack Community



B. Quotes to Think About...or talk about with family and friends...

“The trouble with being poor is that it takes up all your time.” ~Willem de Kooning

“Affluence creates poverty.” ~Marshall McLuhan

“It would be nice if the poor were to get even half of the money that is spent in studying them.” ~Bill Vaughan

C. Read About... (your readings for this month)

Strategy 6, Build A Culture of Excellence in 7 Strategies for Master Leaders (sent by email)

Whole Brain Book: CEO’s, Chapters 15 & 18

Tamarack Community: Poverty at http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g3s3_35.html

• See the Canadian Council on Social Development report for a good overview of the different perspectives of poverty and the history of the ‘poverty definition’ debate.
• The Fraser Institute on measuring poverty in Canada
• Great stuff and links... what are you curious about?

D. Engage in a Teleconference on Thursday February 26:

The Caledon Institute for Social Policy and the Vibrant Communities movement bring practitioners and government policy makers together to reduce poverty and improve the prosperity of all Canadians. Learn what elements are key to any poverty policy, what roles communities and governments can play in policy development, and what tools are available to help place-based initiatives create lasting change.
Sign in at Tamarack events here: http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g1_events.html

Also: Wednesday March 4 at 1 pm: Partnering with Business to End Homelessness (sign in as above).


E. CAP TEAMS Presentations for March 12.09:

• The theme for your 12 minute presentation is: “What we’ve learned so far”.
• Discuss your team and individual learnings, challenges, observations and aha moments about your project, your host organization and leadership strategies.
• There’s theory, and then there’s reality!
• Your presentations will tie in with this month’s key leadership skill: Operational Excellence

As always, if you need help, just ask!

- Maggie