Celebrating Inclusive Communities

As the November winds whirled and whipped fallen leaves outside the Stephenville Middle School, a flurry of activity was happening inside as well. Nearly 100 staff, community partners, parents, youth and government officials gathered early on Saturday, November 4, 2017 as the Community Education Network and Associate Organizations: Community Youth Network (CYN) and Community Action Committee (CAC) presented their Annual General Meeting.

Coming together in the Audio-Visual theatre the large group was warmly greeted and welcomed by Executive Director Bernice Hancock. Setting the agenda for the day, she spoke of this year’s theme, Celebrating Inclusive Communities. Continuing she spoke of how “building safe and supportive communities where everyone feels a sense of belonging, differences are celebrated and everyone is included is the cornerstone of CEN.”

She thanked the staff for their continued hard work, dedication and devotion to the operation and offering of many programs and initiatives offered by CEN, CYN and CAC, spanning all ages welcoming diversity, in turn celebrating inclusive communities.

Several invited guests brought official greetings, while others shared their own pride and experiences as being a part of CEN today and since it’s beginning in 1991.

Keynote speaker, Josh Smee, Provincial Expansion Coordinator with Choices for Youth delivered a 30 minute overview of Choices for Youth, a non-profit organization devoted to empowering at-risk youth in the St. John’s area. Through focus on crisis response, supportive housing, targeted supports and fostering independence, Choices for Youth plans to expand into six new locations across the province by partnering with similar-focused organizations such as CEN. Mr. Smee congratulated CEN on being a fore-runner with the “creative and incredible work already being done here.” He hopes that a future partnership with CEN will provide the opportunity for some amazing things to happen on west coast of the island, with hopes “to pioneer a new approach to youth homelessness.”

To discuss the many programs and services offered by CEN & Associates would take longer than one day, so participants interact in a rotating cafe style session whereby they can hear and experience in a short period of time some of the programs offered by:

Community Education Network: Promoting the importance of education and continuous learning, the Adult Basic Education Level 1 Instructor highlighted the day in the life of someone facing reading and writing challenges inviting participants to engage in sensitivity training activities. The Adult Basic Education Level 1 program is sponsored by CEN, with funding provided by the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour to adult learners with basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Community Youth Network Report: During an interactive, condensed version of Bully-Free Highway Relay, a game created by CYN Youth Engagement Coordinator, Mary Barter and students of Lourdes Elementary, attention was brought forward regarding issues around bullying.  Following an interactive and informative session, each participant signed a pledge with renewed personal commitment to Stand Up against bullying “whenever and wherever.

Community Action Committee: Program Director gave an overview of the Family Resource and Healthy Baby Club Programs. Following, participants took part in a fun, interactive opportunity to make crafts that they could take home and share with their families.

Following a delicious meal thanks to Pizza Delight, participants broke into three smaller groups to take part in an afternoon workshop.

Community Youth Network – Part 1: Engaging youth in various community experiences develops leadership abilities, gainful work experience, citizenship skills, as well as, entrepreneurial skills, four youth presented what CYN Means to Me and the opportunities it presents.  Each participant had the opportunity to highlight their own involvement and what it means to them personally through creative expression resulting in a group scrapbook.

Part 2: Office of the Child & Youth Advocate NL: Advocacy Specialist Debbie Gillard engaged the youth in an information sharing session. During this time she spoke of the mandate of the office. She involved them in conversation regarding their rights and what that means as a youth in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Community Action Committee –Sandra Parsons offered participants an outlet for feelings, frustrations and stress through art therapy. Taking time to paint the world as one sees it  has been proven to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.

Of course, what is a celebration without prizes. Thanks to the generosity of many community partners, many participants walked away with a souvenir of their day from t-shirts to backpacks to drinking mugs.

As the day came to a close, signifying an end to another year, a unanimous cheer was heard as the screen brightened with promise of revisiting fond memories with the annually highly anticipated “picture show” began.

For all in the room, it was another successful, fun and interactive day. For many youth, this was their first time attending the AGM with promises to return, while for a select smaller group of CYN youth, it was a bittersweet day as it marked their last AGM.

CEN & Associates wish these prospective graduates good luck as they prepare to embark on a new adventure, knowing that they will become great leaders of their community ensuring a world of acceptance and unity based on the foundation built from their experiences with CEN & Associates.  We’re quite sure they’ll be back, maybe even as staff someday!

For more pics of the fun-filled learning day check out our Facebook page.