Interact Summit: The Roadmap from Friendly to Welcoming by Mohawk College

INTER ACT SUMMIT

2015

A Mohawk College Initiative

The roadmap from Friendly to

WELCOMING SUMMIT INSIGHTS In October of 2015, Mohawk College hosted the InterAct Summit, welcoming close to 300 attendees, delegates and speakers to its campus. Over the 2-day event, strategies promoting growth through immigration were examined, challenged and advanced.

PROGRAM John Wright, Senior VP, Ipsos – Keynote Address: Setting the Stage At the Summit opening plenary, John highlighted that a majority of Hamilton’s population recognize the positive contribution in skills and diversity that newcomers bring to the economy of the region, the timing is ideal to invest in programs, services and infrastructure that transform the city into a magnetic, undeniable and welcoming international destination. • Even with a healthy level of support, it will be important to engage the willing and encourage the smaller pockets of resistance to appreciate the many benefits of internationalization to the community. • As the Ipsos study assessed data from 17,500 respondents in 24 countries, it exposes the very bright opportunity for Hamilton to become a leader in promoting international communities.

The President’s Opening Panel Discussion The panel discussed the Ipsos Public Affairs research, opening a conversation on inclusiveness, cultural tolerance and newcomer integration. From the discussion: • International students are a natural source of next generation Canadians.

• Municipalities must prepare to become frontline participants in welcoming newcomers.

• Newcomers must be encouraged to discover all the region has to offer and venture beyond the boundaries of campus life.

• There are clear economic benefits of internationalization in terms of skilled talent for local industry and entrepreneurial activity.

Lawrence Hill, Author, The Book of Negroes & The Illegal Lawrence emphasized the need to understand our history to appreciate the importance of diversity in our society. Hamilton’s formidable welcoming pedigree was recounted as it sits on a portion of the Underground Railway and was once a destination for slaves finding their way to new lives in the area. • This session offered the chance to reflect on our values regarding newcomers and inspired a discussion on the collective actions needed to shift our community from friendly to welcoming.

Closing Summit Panel Discussion Craig Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children & ME to WE In closing the Summit, Craig engaged delegates with a powerful address exploring our inherent ability to become change-makers and our unique contribution to make a difference in this world. • Post secondary institutions, like Mohawk, must both welcome international students and also build programming to encourage a sense of global citizenship.

The panel focused on finding solutions and insights to promote internationalization within a community. The closing session featured six speakers fielding Summit questions from attendees covering a wide range of topics: • The importance of global citizenship and international education. • Insights from Play for Keeps and its social legacy from the Toronto 2015 PanAm Games. • How Mohawk College can contribute as a hub for internationalization in the community. • Corporate Canada’s role in fostering, embracing and reflecting an international perspective. • Our ideas of welcoming newcomers must be informed by the voice of the of the customer. For example, mental health and addiction services require a sensitivity to cultural stigma and fears.

BUILDING ON SUMMIT THEMES

The Cultivation and Promotion of Global Citizens throughout Academia and the Community Creating Business Opportunities to Increase Newcomer Employment and Entrepreneurship Collective Actions that Shift a Community from ‘Friendly’ to ‘Welcoming’

NOTEWORTHY OBSERVATIONS

Create Smooth Transitions for Newcomers

2 3 4

Academia: The first 6 weeks for international students are critical for adjustment. Business: Provide training and support to promote newcomer transition into the workplace. Community: Policy and funding settlement gaps must be identified and addressed.

Academia: Strong ties to the community and industry make academia the natural hub for internationalism. Inspire collaboration between government, community, academia and business to support new policies and solutions for newcomers.

Offer Support in an Evolving Immigration Environment

Develop and Promote the Link Between the Economic Benefits of Immigration and Entrepreneurism

Business: Local business partners can provide part time and co-op employment opportunities. Community: Family sponsors can help new students adapt to their new home.

Academia: As a hub of opportunity for newcomers, academic institutions can develop robust entrepreneurship and employment programs and partnerships. Business: Promotion of corporate diversity objectives can help raise standards and understanding of immigrant talent. Community: Important to help SMEs connect with highly educated, skilled immigrant labour pool.

Academia: Well positioned to promote the important benefits of internationalization to the community.

Inspire the Shift From Friendly to Welcoming

Business: Business leaders are challenged to confront biases and encourage open mindedness in their organizations. Community: Examples of support success can be shared and promoted throughout Hamilton.

“ Diversity and unconscious bias... help organizations avoid the “mini-me” syndrome during the hiring process... ” – Michelle Waite

Collaboration Partners: Welcoming Communities Governments Business Community Organizations Immigrant-serving Organizations Education Institutions Health Care Providers Faith-based Organizations Cultural & Ethnic Associations Residents Media

from friendly to

welcoming

In Canada, a country shaped by immigration, there is widespread support for the idea that immigration is economically and culturally positive for the growth, prosperity and relevance of the country. However, it’s also important to be aware that in any community, a welcoming, intercultural mindset will develop at different speeds in different sectors and that the benefits of living, studying, working and employing in a thriving international community must consistently be promoted. While convincing deniers to adopt a more understanding viewpoint is important, it’s equally critical for the larger majority to move beyond simply agreeing with and accepting internationalization as important, to reflecting this belief in our workplaces, supporting it in our communities and embracing it at every level. It’s not enough to be passively supportive, we all have to be actively involved.

Friendly Call a MINGA A pre-Columbian tradition in Latin America that pools community talent with the purpose of social benefit.

The

BIG ideas

“ To become Global Citizens we must move from a mono-cultural to an inter-cultural mindset. ” – Hamelin Grange

Shifting to an

intercultural mindset

welcoming Be fully prepared. An attractive destination.

Intercultural Development

It will take all sectors (Academia, Business and Community) working together to provide infrastructure, opportunity and support for newcomers, to create a truly welcoming environment.

Accepting Inspire action. Go beyond friendly. DENYING Change mindsets. Communicate benefits.

It’s a minority in Canada, but there are still those who reject the idea that immigration offers a positive approach to growth and development.

Canada is notably accepting and friendly towards newcomers. But passive acceptance isn’t enough to make our communities attractive destinations.

Welcoming Diversity = mix of differences + mix of commonalities Inclusion = making the mix work

“ If we do even small things but with great love, then we can change the world. ” – Craig Kielburger

attract, support & welcome

newcomers to the hamilton community

welcoming protocols

From the family out

reflective diversity

educate

jobs, finances, unemployment

Be prepared with infrastructure and services.

It all starts at home.

Support international hiring.

Through:

Address poverty issues.

Make information multilingual and easy to access.

Everyone is responsible!

promote canadian CULTURE

support community organizations

Accept. Learn. Prepare. Inspire. Teach. Share.

Increase capacity & understanding.

Does your workforce reflect the community?

research

Assess other community programs. Measure & manage what’s working (or not) in our community.

Media. Public sector. Business/industry.

boldly battle discrimination

In all its forms: home, school, workplace, everywhere.

Create employment opportunities.

transportation

Connecting communities: For work. For life.

engage with immigrant communities

Promote festivals & learn from newcomers. Offer transition support. Language assistance.

HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION

Provide affordable, temporary & long-term options. Well located near transit, services etc.

How to build a welcoming community To be seen as an attractive, welcoming destination requires a comprehensive approach that considers all the reasonable needs, wants and concerns a newcomer may have.

President’s CONCLUDING THOUGHTS When Mohawk College launched the Welcoming Communities initiative in 2015, we wanted to start a conversation about what it would take to make Hamilton and Mohawk a more welcoming place for newcomers. It’s been a year since that conversation started and I’m delighted with the responses we’ve had from our partners in Academia, Business and the Community. To help accelerate the Welcoming Communities conversation, Mohawk hosted the InterAct Summit in October 2015. Over the two-day program, some of Canada’s greatest thought leaders on growth through immigration came together to discuss the challenges facing newcomers who want to contribute to strengthening the social and economic fabric of our community. This document summarizes the key findings and ideas that were discussed at the summit. We welcome you to use it as a guide as you develop plans for your own business or organization.

“ Welcoming starts

with each of us – it’s our responsibility.

– Ron McKerlie President, Mohawk College

Mohawk will do its part to make Hamilton a more welcoming place for newcomers. I hope that we can count on all members of the community to do the same. Until then, I encourage you to continue the conversation and share your progress with us and others through social media and the web.

Ron McKerlie President, Mohawk College

CALL TO ACTION We encourage all sectors to build on the ideas offered throughout the InterAct Summit and suggest the following challenges:

ACADEMIA must become the strategic hub for internationalization in our communities.

BUSINESSES must challenge themselves to set the example for their industries by doing a better job of reflecting the diversity in their communities.

”

COMMUNITIES must develop programs and services to support newcomers in our communities.

INTER ACT SUMMIT

2015

A Mohawk College Initiative