Community News

Across Boundaries; The best kept secret in Toronto

Published

12 months ago

November 24, 2023

Simone Smith

Photo Credit: acrossboundaries.ca

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Despite traditional westernized counseling that can misdiagnose, or mistreat racialized individuals, and the rising costs of living limiting access to therapy and food, there is an organization aimed at dismantling these financial and cultural barriers. In this year alone, they have served well over 1,518 individuals so far, transforming their lives.

They provide daily, nourishing hot meals that include a light breakfast and a wholesome cooked lunch, and for those who are incapacitated and unable to cook for themselves, they offer hot meal deliveries to ensure food security and promote daily intake of healthy, nutritious meals.

To further support the well-being of their service users, they offer bi-weekly grocery hampers containing fresh fruits, vegetables, and essential staples, encouraging them to maintain a healthy diet. Some individuals pick up these hampers, while others receive doorstep delivery. Since many of their service users have fixed incomes, it is difficult for them to afford adequate food amidst rising prices.

Meet Across Boundaries, a non-profit providing free, holistic, mental health and addictions counseling programs and food services to racialized communities in the GTA. The team, proficient in 17 different languages, consists of racialized community members who are attuned to the current social realities of their clients.

Across Boundaries recognizes that food is a fundamental human need, and they’ve made it their mission to address this need head-on. Their journey began during the critical hours of the pandemic, and they’ve continued their efforts ever since.

As of 2022, Across Boundaries has proudly served over 11,000 hot meals and packaged meal deliveries. Their commitment to addressing this fundamental human right remains unwavering.

Celebrating her remarkable 28-year journey at Across Boundaries, Aseefa Sarang emerges as the guiding force behind an organization dedicated to providing mental health and addictions counseling programs and food services for racialized individuals in the GTA. She has been featured on CBC Radio and in The Toronto Star. Her contributions in the sector even earned her an exclusive invitation to the “Women of Influence” event hosted by the British Consul General.

Aseefa began her journey as an administrator at F.A.M.E, an organization supporting families dealing with mental health and addiction challenges. By 1995, she joined the Ethnoracial Mental Health Coalition and was involved in the discussions to open an organization specific to the needs of racialized communities. When Across Boundaries was founded, Aseefa joined the organization as the Administrative Coordinator. Over the ensuing years, she navigated diverse roles within the organization ultimately becoming Executive Director in 2009.

Using frameworks rooted in Anti-Oppression and Anti-Black Racism, her team at Across Boundaries focuses on ending socioeconomic oppression while recognizing the policies and practices of dominant and hegemonic structures of power embedded in systems of whiteness. The team, proficient in 17 different languages (including Caribbean Dialects), consists of racialized community members who are attuned to the current social realities of their clients.

Presently, Aseefa’s influence extends to supporting various boards, and committees in leadership positions to ensure voices of racialized communities are incorporated. Aseefa co-chairs the Central Region Ontario Health Team Equity Community of Practice committee. She is a member of the Toronto Region Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Committee, and actively participates in the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Advisory Committee, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to shaping the landscape of mental health care for racialized and Black communities.

I was able to snag a moment of Aseefas time, and during our engagement, she shared with me her memories and greatest joys that have come while working at Across Boundaries

“Back in 1998 there was an organization called Ethnoracial Mental Health Coalition. Research was done showing that when looking for mental health, people of racial background experienced discrimination.”

“For me,” Aseefa continued, “It was about social justice; as a person who moved here when she was eight years old from India, I knew I was experiencing something in my day to day, but I didn’t know how to describe it. It was when I went to South Africa, that I experienced what racism and discrimination really felt like. At our stopover in England, I noticed that we were not being addressed in the same way that White people were, and in South Africa, I remember seeing Whites’ Only, and Coloured Only signs.

It was the social justice aspect of this. What can we do to improve the experience for racialized people? My mom taught me to treat everyone equally; the Muslim religion speaks of this.

Over the years, Across Boundaries has grown from a small team of 4 to 44 dedicated professionals. Just this past year, Across Boundaries served 1,088 service users and provided over 11,000 hot meals and packaged meal deliveries for these service users. This is something that I can say as a team we are very proud of.

Over the years, I always wondered if my co-workers were getting tired. Sometimes you feel like you take one step forward and take 10 steps back. Another one of my colleagues felt like we were seen as an organization that was the dumping ground for other organizations who couldn’t handle their clients. I told her to embrace this; this means that we are getting through to people that other people cannot.

What I have learned over the years is that our clients do internalize these experiences of racism in a way that only they can speak too. We take the time to learn about our clients and build their trust; learn and understand their life narrative. We take a completely holistic approach, and this makes us the best kept secret in Toronto.”

Community News

Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

Published

1 hour ago

November 5, 2024

TOCaribNews

Winner of the 2023 staging of the JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition ,Joel Miller, (third from left), shares a moment with representatives of the Jamaica Cultural |Development Commission (JCDC), organizers of the event. From left are Shaun Drysdale – Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist, Andrew Brodber – Director, Arts Development and Training and Executive Director, Lenford Salmon.

BY RUSHANE FERRON

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has received an unprecedented number of submissions for this year’s FiWi Short Film Competition. Launched earlier this year, the competition drew an impressive 47 entries. Currently, 17 shortlisted films are available for public viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel, with winners set to be announced on October 24^th.

Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, expressed pride in the competition’s growing success, stating, “This record number of entries reflects how Jamaicans are embracing the programmes offered by the JCDC. While the Commission is well known for preserving and showcasing our culture, we also recognize the importance of using technology to engage, particularly with our youth. The FiWi Short Film Competition is a perfect example of how we can bring our culture to life in the digital age. The fact that it’s four years old and already experiencing this level of growth is a promising sign for the future.”

Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Mr. Shaun Drysdale, attributes this year’s spike in entries to the increasing interest in filmmaking, fueled by the proliferation of social media platforms that support storytelling through visuals.

“We are living in a digital age. Filmmaking is now in the hands of the average person on the street via his, or her cell phone. Add to that the inherent creativity of Jamaicans and you are left with a potent combination, which when given the correct environment, can reap tangible rewards. That is what we are experiencing at this time,” Mr. Drysdale said.

The JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition seeks to promote Jamaican culture through the production of films ranging from 3-5 minutes in duration. The films must be based on set criteria, and primarily centred around a Jamaican proverb.

This year’s proverbs are: “Sweet mout fly follow coffin go a hole”; “Puss nuh hab han, but him tek him foot wipe him face”; “Keep clear a ole house, les dem fall dung pon you”; “Rockstone a riber bottom nuh feel sun hot”; and “Finger tink, yuh cyan cut eh trow ‘wey”.

In addition to the proverbs, participants were also given two special themes around which to build the treatment of their films, based on concepts provided by two sponsors. These are: “SEAS IN FOCUS: Uniting for marine managed areas”- National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) and “Need a passport quick, Get it with just a click”- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Mr. Drysdale further noted that this year’s shortlisted films represent a variety of the possible genres with eleven dramatic works, two animation films, one comedy, one documentary and two science fiction films. Three of the participants are from the youth category, which is for filmmakers between 12-18 years old and the remaining 14 from adult category.

In addition to viewing the short films online, the public will have an opportunity to view at a special screening to be held on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 21^st, 2024, as a feature of JCDC National Heritage Fest and Family Fun Day being held on the south lawn at Devon House in St Andrew.

The FiWi Short Film Competition was started by the JCDC in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is the brainchild of the JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit and encourages Jamaican amateur filmmakers to examine selected Jamaican proverbs and based on their interpretation create the treatment for a short film.

Community News

York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

Published

1 hour ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments across Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), recently released the 2024 results. For many schools across the province, EQAO results are a snapshot of how students are doing compared to their peers in other schools at the same grade level.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has maintained a high level of consistency with respect to the outstanding performance of its students on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). In a media release on Wednesday, October 9^th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26^th, 2024. The focus was, “Mathematics Achievement Remains an Area of Focus but Sees Gradual Growth Over Time with Some School Boards Showing Significant Increases; Literacy Achievement Remains High but Shows Some Decline.” The data was based on the 2023-2024 school year during which over 570,000 students wrote the EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels on the English and French-language school systems.

For students who wrote the Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

71% met the provincial standard in reading compared to 73% in 2022-2023, and 73% in 2021-2022.
64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 65% in 2022-2023 and 65% in 2021-2022.
61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 60% in 2022-2023 and 59% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

82% met the provincial standard in reading, compared to 84% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.
80% met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 84% in 2022-2023, and 84% in 2021-2022.
50% met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 50% in 2022-2023 and 47 % in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics:

54% met the provincial standard, compared to 54% in 2022-2023 and 52% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

85% of first-time eligible students were successful, compared to 85% in 2022-23 and 82% in 2021-2022.
52% of previously eligible students were successful in 2023-2024, compared to 63% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.

John De Faveri, Interim Director of Education of the YCDSB writes, “We are always looking for ways to provide a better school experience, but today is a time to celebrate our students and staff for their excellent academic achievement. I want to particularly highlight the incredible work that is being done in mathematics, which we see in these results. Mathematical literacy is such an important life skill and we are happy to share a love of numbers with our students.”

Results from the Grade 3, 6 and 9 EQAO Mathematics results show improvement in Mathematics compared to 2023. In addition, with respect to reading and writing results for Grade 6 there has been a consistent steady upward rise in the performance of students as 89% and 90% of students met or exceeded provincial standards when compared to the province’s average of 82% and 89%.

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees for YCDSB states, “EQAO results are just one of the ways we see how York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement. As a Catholic learning community, we want to see every child succeed and EQAO results help us measure our progress toward that noble goal.”

Overall, the percentage of students who participated from YCDSB in Grade 3 and 6 EQAO were 97% and 98%, respectively. For Grade 9 Math assessment there were 93% of eligible students and 97% in the OSSLT.

Any parents or guardians interested in learning about the 2024 EQAO and OSSLT results and individual school results for their children can check the EQAO’s website: https://www.eqao.com/results/.

Community News

York Catholic District School Board plans open house for future high school students

Published

1 hour ago

November 5, 2024

Paul Junor

Credits: Pch.Vector

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is: planning, preparation, and organization that parents, guardians and caregivers must make in York Region as they prepare their children for high school. For those who chose to send them to a high school at the Catholic board, there are open houses planned to make this process easier to navigate.

In a press release on Thursday, October 10^th, 2024, details were revealed about these open houses. It notes, “The open houses will highlight key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. In addition, information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enroll, will be discussed.

The media release mentioned the seven regional programs, and ten Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. They include:

Advanced Placement

Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.

English as a Second Language

(ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)

English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and education backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.

French Immersion (FI)

Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion programs, or equivalent can continue with the immersion program to earn a French immersion certificate upon graduation.

High Performer Athlete (HPA)

An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.

Regional Arts (RAP)/Integrated Regional Arts Program(iRAP)

Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music- while obtaining their high school diploma. In the iRAP, students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community, and the world.

STREAM Program

Students explore real-world challenges and use the design thinking process to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, guided by the traditional Catholic social teachings. This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing; or Non-Profit. Every YCDSB school offers a SHSM program.

Parents or guardians who live in York Region and are interested in any programs can check: Website: www.ycdsb.ca