Cross Cultural Conflict Training Initiative

SWAAG meetings are home to new ideas! More importantly DFRC staff fuel new ideas and work to leverage them in to mobility. Anthony Shortt, a member of SWAAG thought up a mentorship initiative based on his knowledge and experience with Cross Conflict Resolution. Having received various certifications from local leadership initiatives, he felt prepared and enthusiastic about his vision. Anthony had attempted to start this initiative with various teachers but it never got ‘off the ground’. SWAAG was a great avenue from which to build upon this vision and so we did. What ensued was a provisional framework that entailed the recruitment of five senior students. These five students, along with four junior Leaders in Training worked with Anthony for 2 months; they prepared for the delivery of workshops Anthony had always envisioned. Towards the end of the year, with time running out, we conducted to open call training sessions. Approximately 15 different students attended each session; a modest but important outcome.

Think Big 2020 Conference Presented!

On February 11, 2010 SWAAG members organized and presented at the Thing Big: 2010 Youth Symposium. Our workshop entitled ‘Youth Engagement: Bridging Youth and Youth Workers’ explored and built on the theme of the day – thinking BIG. Our emphasis was on the way in which youth workers and youth work together with a focus on youth engagement. SWAAG delivered two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Workshop evaluations reinforced the success of the day, ranking our workshop 3rd most effective. Students received honorariums for their contribution.

Beloved Movement Conference Presented!

The theme of the day at the Beloved Movement Conference was education to end violence against young women and promoting healthy relationships. Three female members of SWAAG collaborated on creating a workshop for this conference held on March 5, 2010 at Westview Centennial Secondary School. The role-play based workshop explored scenarios affecting young people in the community and followed with a discussion. Youth driven and lead, the workshop was well received.

Community Carnival Organized

On Saturday July 19th, 2010 from 11am – 5pm, the Summer SWAAG members helped to organize an important day: Community Carnival. The event was a collaborative effort involving the contributions of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Delta Family Resource Centre. The purpose of the day was to provide a space for active civic participation, which was accomplished, given the 200+ in attendance. The Community Carnival, held at the Emery Collegiate back field and gymnasium hosted an array of activities for children, teens and adults. Highlights included pony rides, bouncy castles, face painting, sport challenges, yoga, basketball games (indoor) and a healthy lunch. The second goal of the day was to lay and build on the foundation for increased access to recreation in the Humber Summit Area extended. Petitions, community conversations and video captions worked to reinforce and raise awareness of the issue at hand.

SWAAG members took ownership over the event and worked diligently in the implementation of this community event, including leading the outreach initiative – spending many days in the community promoting the event, canvassing the community for support in the way of petitions, day-of duties, follow up interviews and contributing key ideas with a sincerity and invested interest that ensured the success and relevance of the day.