Presented by: Melissa Addison-Webster and Yvonne Kelly,
Steering Committee Members of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign in Ontario
Critical Analysis of how Social Change can happen at a grassroots level An understanding of the Benefits of Truly Collaborative Practices Lessons learned as shared with us by People with lived experience of Poverty
Knowledge and Experience in the room Allies – A Definition
Power and privilege – recognition of our
Anti-Oppression work – all forms of
own
oppression are interrelated and part of a self-perpetuating system
What is an Ally? What is the work one must do? What is Anti-Oppression Theory? How does it Inform Community Development Approaches?
“I Regain Hope every time I see someone reach out past the boundaries of their own oppression to understand and support someone else’s struggle.”
“Power with” instead of “Power Over”
Anne Bishop’s Dream: “We can develop social, political, and economic structures that benefit everyone and we will… We are by far the majority – we can change things.”
1. Understanding Oppression 2. Understanding different oppressions and how they reinforce one another 3. Consciousness and Healing
4. Becoming a worker for your own Liberation. 5. Becoming an Ally 6. Maintaining Hope
Questions and Considerations to be made 1.
2.
3.
Are the Issues and Work driven by those most affected? Are individuals invited and supported to take on different roles in the work? Is it a safe environment for everyone?
Accept other people’s Anger and deal with their own discomfort? Work through the “it’s too Political” Question? Negotiate their role/position with the organization they’re representing?
Share their experience and Skill without unduly influencing the agenda? Support individuals and the group and avoid “taking over”? Create open spaces for honest feedback from everyone? Address the Power and privilege differentials.
Definition and Context around “Poor Bashing.” Reveal the extent and pervasiveness of the Poor Bashing as part of the Austerity Agenda. Examples of how PFIB has Challenged the Economics of Austerity -
Look for opportunities to connect people and groups together with common interests and values – be a SILO JUMPER. Don’t assume that it is already happening or that if it isn’t, that it can’t. Make the connections for people between poverty, poor health and limited life outcomes. Be an Ally and an example to others.
?
Beginnings
Birth
with SPNO in 2008
of PFIB and the $100 Healthy Food Supplement
â—Ś Creates integrated, trans-sectoral partnerships, solidarity and collaborations. â—Ś Supports community health and well-being â—Ś Identifies and develops new creative and energizing ways of advocating for social justice.
Grass roots – driven by those most affected Solidarity between those with lived experience of poverty and staff from
community based organizations such as CHCs, faith groups, community food security organizations, labour, and community members.
Cross-sectoral and very much SHARED.
Social Determinants of Health – Talking so People will Listen Poverty as the main determinant of health and the underlying root cause of hunger Redefining Health and health outcomes in “real terms” The Costs of Poverty to all of US
MOH – Toronto Community Health Centres – AOPHA Endorsement
Heart and Stroke Foundation
Next Steps – future opportunities
Do the Math Budget Survey
Eat the Math Food Bank Challenge
MPPs – Allies or Foes
Sometimes Allies come in the most unexpected forms… Deborah Kelly Editor
Building Grassroots Support in 30 Communities across Ontario Cultivating Allies and Alliances with Crosssectoral Groups. Examples Discerning your Allies from your Opponents
Gauging Your Capacity
Focussing your Energies
Picking your Targets and Secondary Targets
Spheres of Influence
Poverty Free Ontario Minimum Wage ISARC Social Assistance Review Special Diet Allowance and CSUMB
Provincial Rallies
Marches
Dollton
Valentines for Duncan
Grew up and out of the PFIB work in York Region It was an attempt to identify allies for the anti-poverty work we were doing with people on the lowest of incomes Senior volunteers who had been through it all emerged as allies who had a unique story to tell.
Lay us off! Mandatory retirement by the age of 90! Freeze our wages! Or double them!
There’s nothing like Real Life Experience to make sense of things There are no SILOS in Real life Life and Health, Income and Poverty, Barriers to Opportunity - all converge. Learning from those who “truly understand” the convergence of all of life’s issues – Those
who are living it.
As Shared by PFIB Membership
“Overall, we want alliances amongst people because: it is important to not be alone in our actions. Allies amplify the noise those affected by the issues directly, are making and can add numbers and impact. It is important for people to feel they have others in their corner.�
Cross Provincial Rally in January 2011
Awareness
Owning your own Biases and Privilege
Taking Responsibility – patriarchal and colonial lineages; past and current forms of oppression
Examples: Faith Groups, Anti-Poverty Activists, Social Planning Groups, Labour, Student Unions, Academics, Food Security Workers, Media, Municipal councillors, Artists,
Attracting Allies - Snowball or Magnet Effect Greg “Ritallin” Frankson
Brainstorm how to be an Ally in each example. How would you challenge stereotypes and discriminatory practices and comments? When to? How to? How would you engage and work in a community context around your example? - Outreach - Planning - Evaluation
How was it different, thinking of your Role from the perspective of an ALLY, instead of someone in a helping profession or position? Power Dynamics – your thoughts..
Around In
the Room
your Handouts
On the Ground At the Provincial Level And with Cross Community Collaboration
On the Ground At the Provincial Level And with Cross Community Collaboration
Look for opportunities to connect people and groups together with common interests and values – be a SILO JUMPER. Don’t assume that it is already happening or that if it isn’t, that it can’t. Make the connections for people between poverty, poor health and limited life outcomes. Be an Ally and an example to others.
ď ˝
ď ˝
Revise or tweak your responses accordingly Report back to larger group
How will this inform and influence your work with individuals and communities? Next Steps Opportunities for Collective Action and Advocacy….. OUR ASK….
Support the increase to Social Assistance Rates
Advocate to maintain the Special Diet Allowance
Support the increase to the Minimum Wage to $14.00 NOW! Support Living Wage Campaigns where they exist. Advocate for the Guaranteed Annual Incomes.
Sign on as a Supporter of the PFIB Campaign Support the Minimum Wage Campaign Become a Friend of Freedom 90 – the Union of Food Bank and Meal Program Volunteers.
ISARC Book Release - 2011
“An Ally doesn’t have their head in the sand or in the clouds. An Ally keeps their head squarely fixed on their shoulders. They work shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with those with lived experience of oppression in order to fight together for social change and social justice.” Yvonne and Melissa