CitizenShift
Updates from the basement, courtesy of the CITIZENShift team.
Archive of May, 2009
Written by
reisa
May 22, 2009
So finally it’s public. What i’ve been itching to twitter to the world for weeks now is finally out. As Michel Venne, head of the Institut de Nouveau Monde announced at his plenary at the Canadian Social Forum in Calgary (thurs, may 21, 1:45pm), CitizenShift is making a move out of the National Film Board.
Yes, our beloved platform is now considered grown up and mature and needs to leave the nest egg of the NFB. But rest assured all you fellow ‘Shifters‘ out there, we will do everything to make sure that this site and community stays strong and marches on.
Our first new partner, and taking on the role of host for us, is the Institute de Nouveau Monde (l’INM). The NFB will continue to partner with us, and will be essential in our ability to offer support to indy media makers.
Michel Venne head of the INM
As Michel mentioned during his talk, we welcome partnerships with similar and complimentary orgs and hope to enlarge the CitizenShift community through direct participation on the site.
Lots of interesting ideas a buzz, so stay tuned for more info and the ‘official’ press release, of course.
Questions? Ideas? Don’t hesitate to contact us:
citizen at nfb dot ca
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The word is Mentorship. You know, deriving from the word mentor or the verb to mentor, to train, to develop, to instruct, to impart.
I hope your getting the idea. Nevertheless you are not to blame if this notion seems unfamiliar to you or if you have solely memories of a mentorfrom having been mentored in the past. But when does mentorship start and end in a lifetime? Is there a specific period for mentorship? I believe that is part of the misconception of the western society or at least here in Montreal. Many people feel when they have reached a certain age they do not need anyone telling them what to do or how to do it. Though both your boss and/or your parents may be mentors or role models in your life, a mentor is not meant to boss you around or parent you.
What is a Mentor & Who Needs One?
We all, young and old need a mentor and not just in a brief period of our lives like adolescence. Its a lifelong necessity. It does not mean that you will have the same mentor for the rest of your life, but we must be open to receive the gifts within a mentor that comes our way in life. Indeed a mentor can be considered someone who has a gift or a life treasure to hand you. This gift, skill, opportunity, lesson, training, tip, clue will help you, develop you, shape you, and possibly cause you to mature in areas of your life that are still blooming. Mentors come in handy when you are going through a rough period, when in need of counsel or simply when in need of a listening ear. A mentor is someone we
can trust and look up to. However, we do not always chose our mentors and many often take offense due to the efforts of some mentors who try to prune the gifts, talents, abilities and potential they see in you. That is why it is necessary that we be careful to keep our eyes peeled to who comes into and out of our lives and what role they may play. Some of the people who rub you the wrong way or annoy you with their constant corrections are really there to mentor you through something.
Do We Recognize Mentors in our day and age?
You know that person that you can go to for everything, maybe a best friend, a big sister or brother… that person may be your greatest confidant because of there ability to mentor, encourage and build you up. People often enjoy the time they spend with their mentor. Now the key to mentorship is relationship. There must be a relationship at the foundation of mentorship.
This may be long-term or short-term and it may not necessarily cover every area of your existence. One can have a mentor for different areas of their life. One for academic counseling and advice, one for career specific guidance, one for romantic issues, one for spiritual counsel and so on…
Further a mentorship can be direct or indirect. It can be direct as depicted through most of the examples I’ve already given, but it can also be indirect by means of the contact and basis of the relationship. Sometimes you have a mentor through an academic program and your relationship is primarily online or through e-mail. This is a common practice is post-secondary and higher Educational institutions where newer students or graduating students are peered-up with a more experienced person who can guide and encourage them on their transition in life. For instance Concordia University has a program that connects students with peer-to-peer mentoring associating them with a student-mentor in the same faculty or program to assist them with specific needs and demands pertinent to what they may experience within their specific fields, whereas some establishments, like Loyalist College have a place where students are peered with a non-student-mentor who can assist them on a general level through the different spectrum of their academic experience. Both are effective its just that they function differently because mentorship can be direct, indirect, specific or all-around. This is mainly because we communicate and understand each other in different ways according to our experiences. Sometimes we can relate in one area and sometimes not in an other. In the reverse mentoring situation for example, the mentee (person being mentored) has more overall experience (typically as a result of age) than the mentor (who is typically younger), but the mentor has more knowledge in a particular area, and as such, reverses the typical roles of mentorship. So it is wise to be mindful of who has a positive impact on your life and in which areas because mentors can shape our identities and in general we want to somewhat want to be like our
mentors or get what they have or greater. Sometimes you have a success mentor whose goal is to help you succeed in a certain realm, sometimes a financial mentor, a fitness mentor or coach. So would you necessarily bring your Linear algebra problems or better yet your relationship problems to your coach or trainer? Probably not, sometimes people are in our lives to mentor us with specific issues. You may want to consider concentrating discussion you share with an individual within the parameters of where you find they have been a great help, encouragement or influence. There are plenty others in your life that can assist in other area.
Community Outreach
Outside of school walls, there are also diverse mentorship programs set up in surroundings communities across Canada. Some noteworthy organizations, making a difference in the lives of individuals through mentorship are :
- IBM MentorPlace: Volunteer employees at IBM act as one-to-one e-mentors to students and provide academic assistance, career counseling, and caring support. In addition this program provides technical advice and assistance to teachers.
- Toronto Maple Leafs Professional Hockey Team (Toronto, Ontario)- Leafs players are involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
- Hewlett-Packard (On-Line) -Provides academic mentoring support from professionals of ITP sponsor companies. Creator David Neils says: “Mentoring is one of the best investments in the future that an adult can make.”
- Youth Assisting Youth (Toronto, Ontario)- A community-based program that matches youth volunteers,in a one-to-one relationship with at risk children Children are referred to YAY from community resources such as schools, social workers, doctors, community groups and child protection agencies and has been cost-effective in keeping children out of the criminal justice system.
- Ka Ni Kanichihk: ‘Restoring the Sacred’ Program (Winnipeg, MB)-A student buddy support service/youth mentorship program is a culturally based prevention and intervention program for Aboriginal youth
Moreover, on a national and global level, much is being done behind the scenes by The Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research. As a follow-up to two previous modules, their latest module explores applied examples of mentorship to stimulate dialogue on how such aspects can contribute to creating a culture of mentorship.
According to this document (CCGHR 3rd Module), mentorship plays a role in this cycle of sustainable capacity building by developing the skills, knowledge, experiences and capacities of emerging global health researches through creating environments of continuous learning and sharing. Within their document Audrey Newman reflects on what capacity building is, gives a wonderful example of what mentorship is and how it impacts more than one person at a time:
…highly effective capacity-building is about teaching
and learning; insights, behaviours, and skills; and more.
It is about creating an environment that encourages and
supports continuous learning and improvement in
individuals, organizations, networks, and eventually, the
communities and societies they seek to change. It is
about empowering passionate people to learn what they
need and share what they know. It is about consciously
creating conditions so that each success sparks many
others. It is about starting chain reactions for change…
Often enough, these programs are geared to the youth population due to the misconception that mentoring is only for the adolescent formation in life. I strongly concur with the notion that young-people need proper mentoring both by their peers and by positive and supporting role-models and leaders. Nevertheless the point I want to make is that we all need mentors throughout the stages of life. For instance, at work, the person who trains you and teaches you about the practices of that institution is somewhat of a mentor, then the person who may be appointed to prepare you for a new position when in light of a promotion can also be considered a mentor. This brings me back to our perception, reception and acknowledgment and appreciation of our mentors and if not for the individual themselves that at the least for the mentorship experiences.
Do We appreciate our mentors
Sometimes we may not want to acknowledge those who have mentored us because they were hard on us, we did not think it was worth it because we weren’t best-friends or anything or because they never explicitly stated: I AM YOUR MENTOR! Today I encourage you to look back on your life and take an
inventory to acknowledge those who have played an influential role in your life, who have helped to shape you, given you good advice and counsel, given a listening ear when needed and a shoulder to cry on, or even simply gave you the right steps to get something you needed just in time.
For Additional Stories, testimonies of inspirational mentorship experiences visit:
- Natural Born Learners
- Gerry Juzena Biography
For more information on mentorship programs or for mentoring tips please visit:
- A guide to the Mentor Program Listings
- Life Coaches. These people have turned mentorship into a career! (Recently discussed on CJADtalk radio800)
- Nettie Wild: Best tip for learning in the film industry
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: appreciation, change, coach, community, community outreach, Culture, helping, impart, mentor, mentorship, role-model, teach
Written by
tim
May 19, 2009
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. SLAPPs. They are nasty things, legal actions taken with the clear, although often unsaid, intention of limiting an individual’s or organisation’s right to free speech through threats of legal action. In most cases, the group taking action is a large/rich entity, often a corporation facing public criticism. Those on the receiving end are often small, non-profit groups or individuals speaking out in order to denounce a suspected wrong-doing. The simple cost of mounting a defence is often too high, and the groups/individuals are forced to settle out of court.
These types of cases occur more often than many of us would expect, and tomorrow night folks in Montreal will be able to get an idea of just how often they do appear. Parole Citoyenne, CITIZENShift & Media@McGill will be presenting Citizens SLAPPed this Wednesday, May 20th, at 6:30pm, featuring voices from across Quebec & Canada, and from all different sectors of society, on the growing citizen movements to put an end to these lawsuits.
Citizens SLAPPed
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Centre d’archives de Montréal
535 Viger avenue East (Auditorium)
FREE!
Bilingual, with simultaneous translation provided
Featuring: Normand LANDRY, PhD candidate in communications (McGill University); Elizabeth J. WEIR, former NDP leader (New-Brunswick); Chris TOLLEFSON, professor of law (University of Victoria); Serge GALIPEAU, citizen of Cantley, QC; Pierre NOREAU, full professor of law (Université de Montréal)
For more on SLAPPs, watch the videos posted on Parole Citoyenne. The event will also be filmed, so we’ll get clips up over the next couple of weeks.
More details on the event after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: events, SLAPP
If you’re interested in developing your skills as a Producer, keep an eye on the Canadian Film and Television Production Association’s mentorship program opportunities.
Currently…
Back Alley Film Productions Ltd. is looking for a Producer Trainee intern for 6 months, with a possible extension. Applicants MUST be Canadian citizens or permanent residents legally entitled to work in Canada and MUST be a member of a visible minority group or of aboriginal descent.
This internship is sponsored by Telefilm and the CFTPA and gives applicants the opportunity to gain above-the-line production experience with emphasis on budgeting, financing and contracts both in production and development.
Applicant should be versatile with Microsoft office and excel/spreadsheet programs; have introductory knowledge of budgets and financing scenarios; be well-organized and able to multi-task. Knowledge of film and television an asset but not a necessity.
Deadline: May 22, 2009, Spots Available: 6, Duration of Placement: 26 weeks, Intern Stipend: $14,000 (minimum); $7,000 from the Program and minimum $7,000 from mentor, Age: No age limit
See HERE for more information on Back Alley Films or email: backalley@sympatico.ca.
Interviews will be held next week, starting May 19th.
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: film production, media, mentorship, producer
I love food! I love and appreciate food for its taste, smell and the overall pleasure derived from the satisfaction it gives. I admit, I may not cook or even eat it as regularly as I would like, but I am passionate
about it. Food is not just to be eaten in a glutenous fashion but it is to be interpreted and eaten in moderation and conscious awareness of its benefits risks and effects. Thus the phenomena inspiring many of today’s new health movements, diets and eating considerations. Granted food can be a tool in many trades.
In fact experts from little-known-food-facts.com say that…
“…although typically sprinkled on salad a radish also acts as a blood thinner, just like a “One a Day” medicine that is a big benefit of healthy eating. Lowering the cost of meds is big time right now!”
Speaking of cost, apparently beans are glorious now a days because of their diversity in types, cooking
options, and the economical advantages(savings) they bear on one’s finances. Beans can truly be cooked in so many ways and play a complimentary role as a side dish or ingredient or play the main role within a main dish. The Leader-Post, quotes the author of the bestselling cookbook ‘How to Cook Everything‘ in a discussion on how to save your health and save the planet.
He says: “it is by adding one simple ingredient to our menus.” Beans, he points out, are nutritious, delicious, versatile, inexpensive and surprisingly easy to cook. In fact, they might just be a true miracle food.
There is just so much to be said about food. Food I believe can be very inspirational and motivational. As much as we work for money to buy food, food can help us get money. Take Mark Bittman for example, he is the author of the book I was discussing above; he is considered a food writer. Then there are food critics, food testers, and nutritionists, and so much more. Don’t be fooled, Food is not just good at referring to itself but it is a trade that is very interdisciplinary. It enters the fields of science, biology, the arts, business and so much more. For example consider that some of the hottest chart-topping reality shows were recently
about food :”Hell’s Kitchen” . These people exert a passion for food whether in cooking it, serving it, breaking it down in molecules, studying it, writing about it, tasting it, critiquing it, or marketing it…food sells! The point I want to make is that once someone takes hold of their passion they will find a way to make it work for them or will take pleasure in working for it. I’ve discovered that food is not just a vital necessity to life, its a social need. It affects our minds, body and social aptitudes. They say eating with someone is one of the most intimate settings we can share with a person.
How are people’s passions making room for them?
Its a reality that the economy is facing some difficult times but putting your gifts and your passion can make a world of difference. It does not have to be food, but no matter how great or how small let the passion drive you. I’ve seen some great people do great things with lingerie, paper, ice, software, sound and yes food; all because they were passionate about these things and wanted to find a way to express or contribute to that thing through their own talent or skill.
Have you considered how your passion can make room for you? Write about it, sing about it, live for it and or sacrifice for it, regardless of how it has a toll on you, ensure you recognize the existence of your passion and capitalize on it. If you are struggling with the idea of finding a passion, try food… it has many benefits and can be useful in any domain of life.
For more inspiration on developing your passion or for facts about food and the dynamics of how food can make money for you instead of you solely making money for food…check out the following:
- Food Space (A young woman with a passion for food takes a political stand to expose local University campuses who mistreat the right of food choice)
- How project Media began (How a community is being transformed by an organization that started around the kitchen and benefits the kitchen tables and homes of others.)
- Pathways to your plate part1 & part2 (a podcast series depicting how some foreign families come to Canada to work with food in order to buy food)
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: economy, food, inspiration, passion
When I was in the fourth grade, a kid called me chocolate because of my visible minority. Nevertheless, I was just a little girl in school like he was just a little boy in school. I did not see much difference between he and I, so i said:
“If I’m Chocolate, I guess that makes you white chocolate huh”.
Though I replied to my own defense fairly quickly, I always wondered…
What struck these remarks between two elementary children? Was it an inability to react to one’s shock or discomfort of a visual identity different from your own?
Are these difficulties in understanding differences in others innate in human culture but addressed differently according to one’s temperament? Or are they taught?
Well this now ties into the nature vs. nurture debate, so I will not elaborate too much on that but this whole experience makes me wonder, what percentage of children have also had this experience? What types of children growing up experience such realities? I wonder what would happen to my God-sister’s children for instance.
This issue is complicated and getting more complex as time goes by. If this is kind of treatment I got for the color of my skin; what happens to kids who are bi-racial? For instance, it is safe to say that my God-sister, having grown up in an Irish family with her blond blue-eyed mother, is a Caucasian woman. For the record, my God-sister is a beautiful brunette with green eyes. She is married to a Bajan (person from Barbados) man and together they have two beautiful sons. For the sake of my discussion, these kids are a perfect blend of “chocolate” and “white chocolate”. So what are they to be called? Will they ever be called chocolate as I was, growing up as a little black girl? Or will they ever be called “white chocolate” for having a lighter complexion? Its pretty hard to call them one or the other when they are mixed so well.
Now, what about kids who are not mixed so well but are indeed bi-racial or multiracial?
Will they bare the stereotypes or criticisms of one culture because of the color of their skin, the texture of their hair, the shape of their nose or any other attribute that is out of their control? This can become very confusing for any child, but for multiracial children this can be distressing and cause one to claim a tri-racial status.
So what kind of chocolate will these kids be? Will they ever receive such a remark or will this mixed culture of interracial relationships bring such name-calling to a halt(for some)?
I wonder…
Many people like chocolate, so how then is it such a hurtful insult?
We know this is an issue that is greater than black & white so keep in mind; sticks and stones may break your bones but words do hurt and they are powerful, defining and even prophetic tools of communication.
This was my take on an even greater issue but for more information on some of the issues surrounding this topic, check out the following:
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: biracial, bullying, Children, multiculturalism, name-calling, racism, visible minorities
Then Dr. Marois said:
“There are severe neurological consequences leading to cerebral palsy and neuro-motor problems”.
And it hit me like a ton of bricks. Where do these risks come from?…Premature birth?!
Wow! To think I, like many other premature babies had the risk of being subject to trouble moving the upper body, arms & legs, or having an inability to walk or sit! The Early Childhood Development Report(ECD), published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) states that any child born under 37 weeks is considered premature. I was born somewhere between 22-26 weeks. They also account that the chances of severe problems increase when a child is born before 29 weeks.
Dr.Marois says “there is a 20-25% chance of neurological disorders, deafness, and/or visual impairment.”
Doctors also conclude that later in life, such children can develop health, pulmonary or neuro-sensory problems, developmental disorders, autism, dyslexia or dysphasia.
All these problems, mild or extreme, are apparently all linked to premature birth. As I mentioned, I was born premature and upon learning this information, I am personally in awe at these statistics and I have none of these illnesses today. I Thank God! I weighed just about a pound. According to The Hospital for Sick Kids, babies under 1000 g (2 lbs 3 oz) are called extremely low birth weight, which is the third degree of dangerous birth weight. Taking care of children who are this frail is a very scary and challenging task. It is also very hard to tell how the children are going to turn out. Recently, it has been granted to give parents the right to more of a choice in the longevity of treatment given to a premature children. Before, if the child can still be saved from death, the choice is up to the doctor to find the most adequate means to pursue this aim, but say the parents will be the ones taking care of the child and should chose if they would want their child to live under handicapped or debilitating circumstances (while the infant is still young). However there are some doctors who argue that with time, some infants can naturally recuperate beat the odds, but if the decision to terminate the life is made without that time and care, one may never know. I guess some are too afraid to know, but I thank God that with all the months I spent in an incubator, my mother chose to give me the love, attention and TIME necessary for me to pull through.
I may very well have been a miracle, but I think every child that is born is considered a miracle and a beautiful gift worth fighting for. I have never raised a handicap child or disable person so I do not know what it is like to face such a decision, but I do know it could have been me.
What do you think? How much choice should parents be given over doctors in the efforts to save, stabilize and treat premature infants?
For more on this topic check out the following:
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Category : Uncategorized
Tags: Babies, Doctors, Health, Health Rights, illnesses, Miracles, Parental decisions, Premature Babies, Statistics
