Poverty Awareness in York Region

Author, Senior, and long time outspoken local resident Ivan Propovchuk returns to speak for 2011 event.
 Newmarket MP Lois Brown will not be attending the Oct 17 as she will be in Ottawa. She last attended in 2009. Inquiries to have a federal representative offer an update on Canada's obligations to the UN agreement to end child poverty went unanswered.

I figured with Oct 17 around the corner, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I should blog something - if not to remind people about the significance and importance of this day which was started some years ago by a French Priest,  Joseph Wresinski, who came from poverty and who unveiled a commemorative sculpture at the Trocadera Human Rights Plaza on October 17, 1987, in front of 100,000 people from every social background and continent. Known as the World Day to End Extreme Poverty, the day was recognized by the United Nations as the International Day for The Eradication of Poverty in 1992.

PACC actually kicked off it's existence on that date in 2004 and subsequently has held an event every year since in York Region to try and instill a sense of obligation that we as a community have to change things. The hope was also to attract organizations on the same page in hoping better for people, and perhaps assisting to that end. A great opportunity also was the thinking for some of that collaboration we hear so much about as a buzz word. Oct 17 is marked by simultaneous events worldwide, resulting most recently in setting world records in successive years for those standing at once against poverty with over 20 million standing and pledging at once!Yet in York Region we have struggled to get organizations or even churches to attend, assist, participate (or donate) to ensure their voices or those in their programs or care or guidance are given the opportunity to be heard and a shot at dignity.


 http://youtu.be/geLeYrJ5Mc0
Here's an original in-house  fun video by TP Entertainment designed to make you laugh...and think!

Recently I was asked to say a few words after Regional Councilor and Deputy Mayor John Taylor had spoken at the 510 Penrose building in Newmarket, containing York Region's winter shelter  north Inn From the Cold which shelters single men and women of all adult ages in winter as well as some other groups related to poverty issues, during the launch of the Poverty Free Ontario campaign. Additionally in attendance, on top of those who we've worked together with in the past on projects such as the 1st ever York Region social audit "Behind The Masks" like the York Region Food Network's Director Joan Stonehocker as well as (then) Programs Coordinator Yvonne Kelly, were Pat Taylor Co-Chair of the YR Planning Council among some - and volunteers under the care a mental health assist group who were packing boxes of fresh healthy food that are for sale to the public as well as directors and operators from Inn From The Cold and other organizations contained in the wannabe "hub" building - home to the local food bank - which ironically carries no fresh food. York Region Media group poverty writer Chris Traber also was in attendance for the launch ..his eventual story did not explain Poverty Free Ontario was even a comprehensive campaign containing input from those with learned experience and professional social workers and planning councils from across Ontario...but that's another day.
At any rate Councilor Taylor, who's father Tom coincidentally is on the Board of the Inn From The Cold I believe,  had just voiced something positive about groups in YR working together well to fight poverty and as the speaker after, I tried to carry that theme forward as I began to speak but added I thought we could do better and that I felt too many groups still worked in "silos", at times perhaps duplicating work or sometimes even provided programs that masquerade as such or programs that need fixing. Funny, accounts of these conditions that have been propelling people towards reliance and a sence of being trapped were also what the social audit highlighted, yet to date we've seen no real changes implemented by the region or providers thus far, despite the Region adopting the report and recommending many of its conclusions and recommendations and despite rumblings of an as yet undecided possible transit supplement. Instead it seems to me it's full speed ahead on everyone's own agendas and theories and ideas with little or no thought to or input and reports already in from the end users who want and NEED change... and no or little real grass roots participation with decision makers making for self serving solutions at times or ones that compromise on then side that sacrifices people's dignity, other than organizational "show ponies" I call them..People often happy to get (used) in order to receive "extras" or paid part time jobs having been given special treatment for endorsing a group or organization publicly or via the media.

Nevertheless it was enlightening to hear with all those present including some shelter heads, as surely they must know it was PACC who generated that story in the media (among many we've done) last winter about the homeless father and son that generated an unprecedented amount of interest to donate to them? And do they not think our advocacy work and media attention from the stories had something to do with the decision to allow the YR Winter Inn(s) to be open 7 days a week for 2011-12 instead of the previous 5 days per week? And surely we're appreciated for the dollar value that translates into via sympathetic donors not knowing who else to give it too from that series of articles who we often direct people to do? That's working together my friends despite wishing them not be needed.

Of course then  the newspaper write their spin, but never really talk much or in detail about the lack of affordable housing and full time jobs and lack of affective or even any programs for some people in dire need, but write what wonderful things and programs we have for them all...what a load of garbage...we are failing people on so many levels I don't even know where to begin, yet we keep patting ourselves on the backs for.....what? Keeping quiet so we can control people and what little money they get? Herding our mentally ill and those without hope into shared rooms whilst taking the bulk of what little money they get and offering free trips to the mall as entertainment or activities? We need to install dignity back into the fray and those burnt out by dealing with peoples continual crisis' need to get out or get angry and start speaking up...Although a recent otherwise complementary yet anonymous blog comment did mention avoiding being angry - or at least showing it. I'm not convinced on that because anger is what sometimes fuels me to keep going, as these days there are so few points in the win column...but I will try to heed the advise..and it's going to be tough coming into my next segment.




We have a long way to go yet!...Oct 17 is International Day for The Eradication of Poverty, aka World Day to End Extreme Poverty, and as I mentioned earlier, it's a day designed to give a voice to those in poverty - and we've added free hot soup and encouraged entertainers to write and perform on our stage and any assist organizations to feel free to jump in or even have a booth or speak. And yet, instead of love and collaboration, after all the publicity we've generated for the 510 Penrose and encouragement to other organizations like John Howard Society to move there and how we promoted it to PAccers and the media as a "hub" for help and included linking ourselves to groups there trying to build legitimate grass roots connections which we did to give them legitimacy with the very people  many of the organizations house within it. Yet we're told that we have to pay this year to use the kitchen for Oct 17th's food preparation...are they serious!? What happened to all that talk about collaborating and working together? What about some slack for a group that likely helped rake in thousands of dollars for them if not 10's of thousands over the years through our media work and advocacy ? We don't owe an obligation to this event this event - you do - to prove you're worthy and actually care. To help people.

Whoever made the apparent decision to charge PACC, the event's organizing group led by grass roots volunteers and which receives no government grants per say or charity status for write-offs, money in 2011 , to use the kitchen in a "community poverty assist hub"during a time it's not being used so we can give out free food to people on a day marked and recognized by the U.N. as well as the town to help end poverty, tells me they are not interested to end it otherwise they'd be offering us hands to help and a donation to ensure its success! What else does one conclude for such an act..really.. I'm offended and so are the people they purport to want to help. We're paying for basically using the park via a permit, we now have to pay for insurance, and we have to pay for the town stage, posters, transportation, food and now we also are expected to pay to use the kitchen we always have used before? Someone needs to get out of the "business" because it isn't one my friend, it isn't one.People are not a commodity.


Despite this and the fact we've struggled right up until today to raise the little amount of funds needed to keep this going...it has made our resolve only stronger to continue forward and for us encourage communication. In fact who I am hearing from, aside from the usual suspects, are from contrasting groups like different churches, and like upstart democracy groups and groups in infancy wanting to be heard by our MPPs and MPs, and aboriginal, and even youth groups and interest such as Rogers TV - Teenz Talk which will be covering it and having me on as guest while clips run of the talent etc at the event...and The Era Banner plans to attend and take pics this year...entertainers are forming a line...so it's becoming exciting despite everything...and maybe...there's hope still.

I will continue to be hard hitting and truthful to the best of my ability, and be opinionated based on facts as I know them.So if you're looking for frilly or nice or ass kissing then I suggest you read some local mainstream news for that. I hope to see you or hear you Oct 17 at Fairy Lake ParkI produced this video to make people laugh ..we all need to sometimes!..Otherwise we're too angry!Ha!

Here's an original in-house  fun video by TP Entertainment designed to make you laugh...and think!
http://youtu.be/geLeYrJ5Mc0

50 Ways To Close the Food Banks-Sung by York Region Food Bank volunteers!
http://youtu.be/lC2y8vnVFkI

               Some of York Regions most devoted fighters for those mired in poverty - unsung heroes all.

Tom Pearson