Advocates Alliance Gathering: Jan. 30
January 17, 2015
Over the years, we have seen an increase in the number of individuals coming to our organization (John Humphrey Centre) with human rights related concerns. Since we are an education organization with no legal counsel, we have not been able to support these people effectively and feel a sense of unrest simply referring them somewhere else where they will likely get lost. We are often a place of last resort. For example, we have people coming to us who have been discriminated against and need guidance and support navigating the human rights system.
A few months ago, the Centre pulled together a community roundtable with advocates and other individuals in the community to talk about developing a strategy/plan to effectively support people in Edmonton with not only advocacy, but also in terms of identifying municipal strategies to address and remedy human rights violations and concerns.
At our last community advocacy roundtable it was agreed to create a monthly informal space for advocates in Edmonton to come together. It would be a space to hear from each other what is going on in the city, what other advocates are up against, and make connections across our ‘sectors’. The idea was to meet in a public place, where we can have a drink and exchange about our daily work to stand up for people.
Our first Gathering will be on January 30th from 3 PM to about 5 PM (we can stay as long as we want) at the POURHOUSE Bier Bistro on Whyte Avenue - open to all ages (10354 82 Avenue). Consistently, on the last Friday night of every month, this becomes our space to create a greater collective impact by connecting with each other. The John Humphrey Centre will make sure connections are made ;)
At the first meeting we could speak about how we want to create these meetings, if we want to have something like a topic each time, or if some people/institutions will talk about their specific work or if we
want to keep it very informal. We'd also like to make this a space where we have a special guest each time who is from public office so we can bend their ear :)
#endpovertyyeg Youth Action Day: Feb 2
January 6, 2015
#endpovertyyeg
On February 2, 2015 @ 9-Noon
The Youth Action Project on Poverty (YAP)
an initiative of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights and partner, Young Diverse and Proud
will be hosting a Youth Action Forum on Poverty in the Heritage Room at City Hall. If you are a young person with something to say about poverty, please join us!
Aligning with the Mayor's Task Force on Poverty Elimination, a group of Edmonton youth have been engaged in dialogues, community outreach, agency visits and creative art-making over the past few months; to gain a deeper understanding of poverty in our city and its impact on young people. They have also been exploring how young people can impact their communities in a powerful and positive way.
We would like to invite you to spend the morning with us engaging in discussion and action planning on Poverty Elimination so that we can take our great ideas and recommendations even further. February 2, 2015 will bring together diverse youth leaders in our community to address the important issue of poverty elimination and contribute to the Youth Action Project’s presentation to the Mayor’s Task Force.
Please let us know if you are able to join us. We are truly excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the Edmonton Youth and make an impact in our city by honouring the voices of young people.
Thanks to the support of the Edmonton Goldengate Lions Club, Telus Community Foundation and City of Edmonton for their support to this project!
Human Rights in Film: Sterilization of Leilani Muir Jan. 18
January 4, 2015
The Sterilization of Leilani Muir (1996)
*with special guest Leilani Muir
January 18, 2015 at 2 pm
Edmonton Public Library, Whitemud Branch
The Sterilization of Leilani Muir is the story of how a Canadian woman’s life was irreparably changed after she was institutionalized and sterilized without her knowledge at 14 years old. Learning of the sterilization only after failed attempts to conceive in her 20’s, Leilani Muir eventually became the first person to file a lawsuit against the Alberta provincial government for wrongful sterilization. This documentary follows Leilani Muir’s search for justice and explores how eugenics (improving hereditary qualities of race through the control of reproduction) became acceptable in the 1900s.
