Activity Highlights

P4H had a busy year and happy to share some of the tasks we accomplished. Please take time to read through the various engagements and initiatives we undertook. We hope you’ve had a wonderful year!

Internal Capacity:
Training for Staff and Volunteers The team had 10+ internal capacity-building elements to enrich our experiences and foster efficiency and effectiveness in program/service delivery: Building Resilient Communities-learning various capacity elements, including development and continuous improvement of programs/services; creating partnerships/network development, effective communication/facilitation and building presence in the local communities; performance measurements and stakeholder analysis; ability to motivate and mobilize to address community priorities; grant writing workshops; attended 2 SBCCI National Conferences—broadening our networks and driving change for community transformation.

Blanket Exercise:
A pre-planning session was conducted to acquaint the facilitating team with the way the sensitive process works, and the inculcation of respect for the Indigenous elders and people. There were 113 participants and 5 Aboriginal leaders. An Aboriginal elder led the participants through a process of deepening Indigenous cultural knowledge including how organizations can become more culturally competent through story-telling and Indigenous role modelling. Topics of discussion included efforts to look back: looking back at First Nation peoples’ rich history, reflecting on the changes and challenges ahead, and exploring ways to define ourselves in 2024 and beyond. The discussion was to inspire participants by exploring concepts around history, change, and the future. The discussion also covered stories of Canadian diversity around the themes of democracy, respect for human rights and freedom, multiculturalism and civic engagement. By engaging on an emotional and intellectual level, the Blanket Exercise effectively educated and increased empathy for those unaware of the pain and suffering that Indigenous people endured. The elder hoped to demonstrate how the Blanket Exercise can make Indigenous history come to life for participants. “The exercise may generate difficult feelings; it begins with simple materials - just blankets and a script - but it can end with powerful takeaways, and even tears.” As such, the last step included a discussion so people could share their feelings in a respectful way.

 Community Conversations:
Partners for Humanity organized ethnocultural groups including newcomers, and Indigenous groups meeting designed for the Black Muslim communities to become aware, understand the experiences, and appreciate the Indigenous values, cultures, and teachings. Through a strategic partnership with the Somali Art and Cultural Association, Stable Family Development Centre, and Bent Arrow, the event saw impressive outreach efforts including the identification of cultural elders and knowledgeable panellists who enriched the conversation with their insights and experiences. The event was a remarkable success with positive feedback received that underscores the event's impact in promoting inclusivity, understanding, and community cohesion.

Net-Zero Racism 2035 Plan through Community Engagements:
Following a series of racially motivated hate incidents that shed more light on the darkness and pain of racism, intolerance and discrimination endured by Black Muslim women, P4H organized a gathering of Black Muslim women to guide on addressing individual, systemic, and systematic racism. The aim is to educate Albertans about these incidents and empower them with awareness to help build empathy and more inclusive and resilient communities. This project was funded by the City of Edmonton, Edmonton Community Foundation, as well as corporations such as ASSIF Law Office, Snyder and Associates, and Imperial Equities. While this project is still underway, anyone interested in exploring some of the results is encouraged to reach out to the Partners for Humanity Council. We will continue to engage in challenging conversations, speak difficult truths, and create a safe space for people to share bravely, openly and honestly their experiences on racism and discrimination. Finally, we would like to express our appreciation to SBCC (BBI), Government of Alberta, Edmonton Community Foundation, and the City of Edmonton for their collaboration on these projects. We would also like to express our gratitude to Alberta Black Muslim women, Stable Family Development Centre, Somali Arts and Cultural Association of Canada, SCERDO, Diversity Magazine, Al-Rashid Mosque, and all other community leaders for their support and inputs. Additionally, we would like to thank Assiff Law Office, Snyder Associate, and Imperial Equity for their help in sponsoring some portions of these events.
Looking ahead to 2025, our small but passionate team of volunteers from different backgrounds remains inspired to continue building on past success with meaningful programs and initiatives that celebrate our unique qualities, differences, and shared experiences as Albertans. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. We want to hear from you! Send us an email at: 114ahmednoor@gmail.com