Building Bridges between Awareness and Action on Social Issues
Following from our success with the Put Food In the Budget Campaign both at the provincial level and at the local level with our Do the Math Working Group, York Region Food Network acquired funding in 2011 to continue our advocacy work around issues of food insecurity and inadequate income from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Our primary objective over the past two years has been to advocate for the implementation of a $100 Healthy Food Supplement for all adults on social assistance in Ontario who receive less than they did pre-1995 and who have been left out of the provincial government’s poverty reduction strategy altogether. The result being increased food insecurity in York Region and across Ontario, increased reliance on over-burdened food banks, and the deterioration of hope and life chances for a completely impoverished group of people who continue in living in hunger, poor health, homelessness, hopelessness and despair.
As we worked in the past two years to create more awareness in York Region about the absolutely inadequate social assistance rates for individuals in this province, we realized that even when people and groups are aware, they often don’t necessarily know how to take action on the issues and build a movement for change. The objectives of our new funding and project titled ADVOCACY: AWARENESS TO ACTION was to identify and implement advocacy strategies that would equip individuals, groups and organizations with the skills/tools to advocate for not only the $100 Healthy Food Supplement, but also other social causes that would be on their radar.
Tools and Strategies for Implementation of the AAA project
- Advocacy Letter and Tool Writing Kit / Resources to assist people in making changes.
- YRFN website to host AAA section for all advocacy resources, events and opportunities.
- Petition for the Healthy Food Supplement – online PETITION for Put Food In the Budget to help us advocate
- Video and Facilitator’s Manual for use with the Video promoting eradication of poverty and building of healthy communities. Video entitled “Courage to Change My World.”
It’s Not Too Late to Change the World!
Advocacy: Awareness to Action Project
Early Advocacy Plan Development
- Step 1 – Brainstorming the Advocacy Plan and Project
- Step 2 – Steps for Building Advocacy Plan
- Step 3 – Advocacy Components and Development
- Step 4 – Advocacy Plan Overview
- Step 5 – Revisions to the Plan
- Research and Project Development Notes
Advocacy Tool Kit
Video Discussion or Facilitators’ Guide
Advocacy Exercises
Promotional Buttons and Flyers
- Evolution of the Button Making Partnership with Community Living
- Instructions on How to Make Buttons
- Sent letter button
- Freedom Fighter
- Poverty Free Layout
- Sent letter button
- Freedom Fighter
- Poverty Free Layout
- Poor No More Button
Sample Flyers for Events, etc.
- ISARC Flyer March 2011
- Food Bank Strategy
- ISARC Social Audit
- Lawn Sign
- Poor No More Screening Events
- Poverty Eradication Day Flyer
- Poverty Free Ontario Flyer
- Poverty Free Invite
- Slices for Social Justice
Package for Advocacy Team Members
Information Package for Teams
- Health Allies Joint Statement
- York Region Fact Sheet
- YRAEH Health and Homelessness in York Region Fact Sheet
- Put Food in the Budget Q&A
- Put Food in the Budget Description
- Steps for Teams
Package for MPP Visits
- Tips for Meeting MPPs
- Key Information for Writing and Sending Letters
- Contact Information for YR MPPs
- Template Letter to MPPs
- MPPs Do the Math Budget Findings
- Do the Math MPP Visits Report
Letters Requesting Funds
Miscellaneous Advocacy Letters re: HFS
Letters to the Editor/Announcements in the Media
Endorsements
Municipal Endorsements
- Template for Municipal Endorsement of PFIB’s $100 HFS
- Port Colborne Municipal Endorsement
- Waterloo-Cambridge County Endorsement
- YR Letter of Endorsement pg 1
- YR Letter of Endorsement pg 2
Endorsement by Emergency Food Providers
E-Advocacy Campaign – Petitions
Training for Advocates and Groups
Introduction to Training and Resources
Presentations and Powerpoint
Presentation to CY and Families Summit
Presentation to YR Foodbank Directors
Presentation to York Region Community and Health Services
COMPASS Planning Tables in York Region – (Sample: Together for Maple)
Presentation to Ontario Municipal Social Services Association
Poor no More Film Nights (3 presentations across York Region)
- Presentation to Bayview Secondary School Health Sciences Class (gr.12) Poverty in our Own Backyard
- Presentation to Huron Heights Civic Class (February or March) TBD
Presentation to OCCUPY Newmarket
Reports and Submissions
ISARC Social Audit in York Region April 20, 2010 and Resulting Report – Behind the Masks
York Region Endorsement and Submission Re: The YR ISARC Social Audit Report and Recommendations including the Implementation of the $100 Healthy Food Supplement (Letter of Endorsement pg 1 Letter of Endorsement pg 2)
York Region Council Submission to the Social Assistance Review Commissions
Resources and Links
AAA Project Overview and Toolkit
Economy and Poverty
Equity and Income – The Growing Gap
Health Indicators and Links with Poverty
Hunger and Poverty In Ontario and Canada
Poverty in York Region
- YRAEH Health and Homelessness in York Region Fact Sheet
- York Region Fact Sheet
- Number of People Needing Aid Rises
Municipalities and Poverty
Building Capacity and Organizing for Change
Social Determinants of Health
- Health Messaging and Language
- Language Re Social Determinants
- Summary of Canadian Facts – SD of Health
- The Canadian Facts
Media Articles and Op-Eds
- Mark Sussman Article – An Investment that Would Pay Off
- Press Release Post Budget
- Star Article Nick Saul 0410
- Eating on Welfare – The Star
SPNO Resources for PFIB
- Do the Math MPP Visits Report
- HARD HIT Impact of the Economic Recession on Nonprofit Community Social Services in Ontario
- Pov Free Ont Power Point Presentation
- Pov Free Ont Spring 2011
Other Links to Valuable Websites
Province Wide PFIB Campaigns and Strategies
Do the Math Budget Survey and Postcard Campaign
Take the Match Challenge or Food Bank Diet Challenge – April 2009 ongoing
Valentines for Dwight Duncan – Finance Minister – February 2011
- DD Vday Handbill
- DD_Vday__FinalFrontA
- Valentines Letter to Dwight Duncan from YR
- Valentines Press Statement #2
- Vote with Your Heart – Valentines for the Finance Minister
Food Bank Awareness Campaign – Freedom 90 – June 2011 ongoing
- 50 Ways to Close Our Food Banks
- Call to Action
- Email Blast for general audience
- Email Blast To OAFB Membership
- Food Bank Strategy – South Riverdale
- Freedom 90 Initiative
- Survey Questions for Emergency Food Program Providers
- Template for Talking with Food Bank Volunteers
- Links and Asks
Christmas Cards for Dalton Mc Guinty – December 2011
Advocacy with Provincial Ministers
PFIB Minister Visits and Reports 2011
Other Related and Interconnected Poverty Campaigns and Toolkits
ISARC Advocacy Tool Kit
- Behind the Masks – Powerpoint
- Binder
- Breaking Free From Persistent Poverty
- Poverty Free Ontario Brochure 2011
- ISARC Poverty Advocacy Toolkit
- PFO Cross-Community Contact List
- PFO Questions
- Do the Math YR Commitment to the PFO Campaign
- Poverty Free Invite
- PFO Overview
- Poverty Free Ontario Presentation Spring 2011
- Press Release for YR
- Toronto September 6 News Release
Advocacy Tool Kit for Making Ontario the Healthiest Province – Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA)
AAA PROJECT IN PHOTOS
PFIB Provincial Rally October 2010
Presentation to Community and Health Services Committee January 2011
Assorted AAA Photos to be used in AAA Video
AAA Hosts Hunger Awareness Day June 2011
Poverty Free Ontario Presentation June 2011
Training AAA Advocates Summer/Fall 2011
AAA Letter Writing Clinics – Spring /Summer 2011
PFO Launch September 10, 2011 at IFTC Building in Newmarket
Take the Math Diet Challenge in YR – 2010
AAA Do the Math Planning Meetings – 2011
October 17, 2011 International Eradication of Poverty Day
Evaluative Summary and Next Steps
Evaluative Summary and Project Highlights
Future Power Point Presentations to be used with the AAA Video
Next Steps for the AAA Project 2012
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