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Director
Appointed to Peel Newcomer Strategy Group
Mississauga, ON (18 September, 2012): Aamna Ashraf has recently been appointed as director of the Peel
Newcomer Strategy Group (PNSG), a community collaborative designed to improve
the social and economic inclusion of immigrants to the Peel community. PNSG’s
mandate is to champion a coordinated and collaborative strategy for the
successful inclusion of newcomers in terms of employment opportunities and
community engagement.
Ashraf
brings to her position over 15 years of diverse professional experience in
community development and engagement. During her professional career, she has successfully
collaborated and worked with multi-level community stakeholders in creating and
delivering effective community-based planning and strategic vision. She has
worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector with newcomers, immigrants,
refugees and racialized communities in the areas of mental health, settlement,
employment, housing and family crisis.
Along with
her Master’s Degree in Education (Counselling Psychology) from the University
of Ottawa, she has extensive leadership experience including her involvement as
a board member with both the Access Alliance Multicultural Community Health Centre
and the South Asian Women’s Centre.
“I am
looking forward to working with all the community stakeholders together in
creating successful settlement and inclusion strategies so that new immigrants can
maximize their full potentials while contributing to the economic and social
well-being of our community,” says Ashraf.
While Peel Region has seen 113.6% increase of new immigrant landings in
2010 compared to 2000 (from 11,934 to 25,494), it receives an average of over 2000 new arrivals monthly. As a result of the rapid population
growth in Peel as well as cultural and linguistic diversity in newcomer
settlement, the Peel community is committed to finding strategies to better
address the concerns and needs of all its residents.
Since its
official inception in 2008, PNSG has conducted extensive community
consultations with over 1400 stakeholders including new immigrants, employers,
service-providers, funders and community partners. Subsequently, PNSG has
developed the Peel Immigration Settlement Strategy with a focus on four
strategic priorities to address social issues including poverty, health and
social exclusion of new immigrants. These priorities include:
1.
Accessible, client-centred services for
all newcomers
2.
A continuum of effective employment
strategies
3.
Service coordination and planning
4.
Receptivity of the host community
Currently,
PNSG is in the process of implementing the Peel Immigration Settlement Strategy
in collaboration with community champions and specialized settlement service-delivery
agencies who are working in the Peel community.
PNSG was
formed in 2006 with a vision to enhance the successful inclusion of newcomers
into all aspects of the community, embracing everyone’s contribution and
ensuring well-being for all. As a collaborative, PNSG is guided by a
multi-stakeholder Central Planning Table (CPT) and co-sponsored by United Way
of Peel Region and the Regional Municipality of Peel.
PNSG’s
primary funding comes from the federal government through the Department of
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). It also receives financial and
in-kind supports from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration,
Ontario Trillium Foundation, United Way of Peel Region and the Regional
Municipality of Peel in addition to thousands of hours of volunteered time by
our community partners.
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For further information, please contact:
Nikesh Amit
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Peel Newcomer Strategy Group
90 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Suite # 408
Mississauga, ON L5B 3C3
Tel: 905-276-0008, ex. 113
Cell: 416-508-9404
Fax: 905-602-3651
Email:
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Website: www.peelnewcomer.org
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