Community Environment Alliance

Organizational Report2013

All parts of this publication are © copyright of Community Environment Alliance, 2013. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior express written permission of Community Environment Alliance, with the exception of brief passages quoted for reporting, review or commentary purposes.

Website:

Phone number:Fax number:

Address:

communityenvironment.org

(905) 463 9941(905) 463 9942

7-222 Advance BoulevardBrampton Ontario L6T4Y7

Reach us at:

01 About us

03 Message from President & ED

05 Reduce Digital Divide

09 Build Healthy Communities

12 Inspire Environmental Stewardship

16 Diversity for the Environment

17 CEA Staff, Volunteers & Interns

18 Financials

19 Volunteer with CEA

20 Contact us

Community Environment Alliance (CEA) is a national award winning, innovative nonprofit organization committed to sustainable community development through education, empowerment and grassroots action.

• Educate people on environmental protection and resource conservation

• Alleviate poverty and help improve the quality of life of people

• Enhance social equality and diversity• Help strengthen local economy

We work towards building a safe, healthy and sustainable future for all.

Community Environment Alliance Educate / Empower / Enable

Our Mission

Content:

Our Vision

Organizational Report 2013

Community Environment Alliance is a national award winning non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of life of people and protect the integrity of the environment by promoting responsible stewardship and community-based action. Since our founding in 2003, we have been providing innovative programs, services and support that are aimed at building a sustainable community.

The connection between human well-being and nature is quite complex. For centuries, we have struggled to negotiate a balance between our needs and the resources that nature provides us. We have struggled to comprehend the strong and direct connection between poverty and environmental degradation and the way it can affect a community’s social and emotional assets. After years of scientific research, we have started to realize the urgency of addressing the critical issues facing our times with a refreshed and holistic approach. The close alliance between community and environment means that a knowledge-based, cohesive and integrated approach is needed to build creative and sustainable solutions to local and global issues.

Ours and our community’s well-being and sustenance depends on: the health of our habitat, the quality of water and that of the air we breathe, the source of food, how well we take

care of those who are less able to do it for themselves, how well we connect with each other and our surroundings, and the extent to which we care for ecological and social diversity. Treading the path of sustainable community development, Community Environment Alliance (CEA) embraces these attributes of integrative social, environmental and economic well-being of our community life to create a safer, healthier and happier future for all.

The fundamental value proposition of our programs and services is based on a three-pronged approach: educate, empower and enable! By educating individuals we build collective wisdom. By empowering members we build collective willingness for change and by enabling those who are vulnerable, we build community strength to collectively take steps towards shaping a better tomorrow. Our client-focused and solution-centric approach to program planning, development and delivery is grounded on the philosophy of providing innovative, community-based, pragmatic and sustainable solutions that often calls for ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking.

On completing 10 years of service this January, we want to share and reflect on our journey with you. This report outlines major milestones, contains information about our programs and services and provides an overview on the organization’s mandate and focus.

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Today, a computer is considered critical for a good quality of life. It is the primary tool used for communication and information technology. However, there is still a huge segment of our population who do not have readily available access to one. This digital divide is not only a global issue, but a local reality. CEA aims to change this reality by ensuring that Canadians, regardless of their socio-economic and circumstantial vulnerabilities, are able to access technology and tools to better their lives through the Share-IT program.

A needs-based approach allows CEA to grow organically in response to the changing demands of our community. Over a decade, this approach has allowed us to identify the following three areas of intervention where we have been, and continue to be, influencers of positive change.

Healthy individuals and families are the basis of all thriving communities. To practice and promote well-being, CEA offers programs for seniors, youth, women and marginalized groups to nurture their physical, mental and emotional health. Such initiatives provide access to fresh food, physical activity, creative expression and seminars on health-related topics.

Build Healthy Communities:

Inspire Environmental Stewardship:

The Share-IT program provides used computers and software to families with limited means.

Share-IT.ca

Workshops:

Air Quality & Health Electronic Waste Eco-Driver Biodiversity Climate Change & Carbon Footprint Water Conservation

Reduce Digital Divide:

Since 2006

Since 2004

Since 2004

Our 3 Pillars:

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To find a balance between human needs and environmental resources is one of the biggest challenges of our time. After years of scientific research, this could be made easier by sharing and implementing what we already know. CEA’s goal is to educate, empower and enable all community members with knowledge to proactively take steps towards bettering the natural environment.

Act-Heal

Community Farms and Gardens

Healthy Aging with Creative Expression (HACE)

A Message from the Board President

Board of Directors

A decade of passionate and committed service to the community is a major milestone for any organization. This January, Community Environment Alliance (CEA) completed its 10 years of service.

The anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate our many accomplishments, reminisce about our journey so far and thank everyone who has helped make this journey possible. It is also a moment to consider the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead of us and strategize how best we can address critical community priorities and build on the momentum of protecting and restoring the integrity of our natural environment to shape a smart, sustainable community.

Our journey started in 2003 with the Share IT program serving a few clients in the Region of Peel. Over the years the Share IT Technology Access program

has grown wider and on its way, received national and international recognition. Today, it is the organization’s core and flagship initiative that serves multiple municipalities. The EnergySmart program engaged youth in neighbourhood based campaign in Peel to promote a culture of conservation. Reaching out to diverse communities with our eco-resources for LINC and ESL curriculum have helped forge strong partnerships with immigrant serving organizations and engaged them in environmental action. Our weekly ActHeal sessions implemnt a multifaceted approach to improve the physical, mental and emotional health of seniors. What started as a pilot in 2006 has grown to a matured and stable program bringing about perceptible improvements in the lives of hundreds of seniors. The Community Farm and Garden initiative became weekly source of fresh and nutritious food for local families.

Varun Sehgal

Varun Sehgal, CPA, CA

Subhadra Ramachandran, Ph.D

Robbie Sra, CMA

Mandy Pereira, HBA, EP

Raman Warrach, BASc

Dave Anand, C.E.T. PMP

President

Secretary

Treasurer

Director

Director

Director

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and Executive Director of CEA

Board of Directors Thank You Margaret!

From a start-up with one part time staff, Community Environment Alliance (CEA) is now a team of 6 full time employees. CEA’s staff, volunteers and board reflect the diversity of our community and takes pride in serving with passion, dedication and commitment. CEA has built a unique reputation of delivering service maintaining high standards of accountability. Our partners and stakeholders expect us to meet that level in everything we do. And we take that as a compliment.

CEA is now in a phase of growth, transition and change. In the coming years we will focus on enhancing our service delivery for broader outreach. Our vision for the next decade is to expand provincially and hopefully, nationally.

We are grateful to all our funders, partners, advisors and individuals whose contribution and support enable us to

achieve our goal. Your thoughts and continued encouragement is critical for us to continue on our mission with renewed pledge, energy and conviction.

At the end of 10 exciting years, the best is still ahead of us!

Varun Sehgal, Board President

Ranjana Mitra, Executive Director

Ranjana Mitra

We would like to share our deepest appreciation for our beloved Margaret Commodore for her invaluable contribution to CEA. Margaret was the founding President of CEA Board (2003 – 2009). She brought in innate energy and conviction to ensure that an idea that started over a cup of coffee took the shape of a full grown tree providing shade and support to the community. Her desire to guide the organization in the right direction and ensure its sustenance and sustainability is unmatchable. We will always miss her.

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Today, a computer is considered critical for a good quality of life. It is the primary tool used for communication and information technology. However, there is still a huge segment of our population who do not have readily available access to one. This digital divide is not only a global issue, but a local reality. CEA aims to change this reality by ensuring that Canadians, regardless of their socio-economic and circumstantial vulnerabilities, are able to access technology and tools to better their lives through the Share-IT program.

Partners:

Reduce Digital Divide

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Microsoft Canada

Ontario Electronic Stewardship

Region of Peel

County of Dufferin

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Initiated in 2004, the Share Information Technology or Share-IT program was conceived to reduce digital divide while decreasing the negative impacts of electronic waste on the environment and the health of communities. The Share-IT program is a proven community-based solution that collects, refurbishes and provides customized computers to Canadian individuals and families with limited means to better their lives. By making one’s waste another’s resource, Share-IT fosters environmental sustainability, strengthens resource conservation and provides economic empowerment to the vulnerable members of our community.

Renew. Repurpose. Restart.

Partners:

Share-IT.ca

How it works:

Ensured Data Destrction:

The Share-IT program offers municipalities, businesses and individuals an ethical, responsible and cost effective option to manage their surplus IT equipment and electronic waste (e-waste). The program is delivered meeting stringent eligibility guidelines and applications for Share-IT computer systems are accepted only through a referral process.

Every computer system that Share-IT distributes is customized depending on the end user’s circumstantial and qualitative need. The goal is to help clients maximize the benefit from the technology while guarding them against cyber risks. Approved Share-IT clients also receive PC Orientation Training to help them understand the hardware and software components of the equipment they receive and are empowered with cyber safety and financial literacy tools.

While the premise of the Share-IT program is to foster the conscience of reduce and reuse as the most effective e-waste management strategy, unfortunately, there are equipment and components that are practically impossible to reuse. Such components and peripherals are recycled through the Ministry of Environment and Waste Diversion Ontario approved Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) program and its approved affiliates.

As a Microsoft Registered Refurbisher CEA provides refurbished computers with licensed Microsoft software. Share-IT complies with highest industry level standard for data destruction and sanitization of drive data. Data sanitization is guaranteed by Data Sanitization and Destruction Certificate.

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The Share-IT difference:

1,120

4,450

$700,000

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Improved environmental health of the community by diverting

toxic e-waste from landfills and encouraging environmentally

safe repurposing and recycling.

Raised public awareness about the potentially hazardous and human health impacts of e-waste on the environment and on those who handle it.

Provided socially, physically and economically challenged

individuals with customized refurbished computers to

bridge the digital divide and improve their quality of life.

Helped businesses and corporations improve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile.

families served with customized computer systems

equipment distributed

More than

More than

worth of software distributed

In thoughts:

Recognition:

Provincial Award: 2005 Ontraio Trillium Foundation Great Grant Chair’s Award

National Award: 2007 Canadian Environment Award

2008 TV Ontario (TVO) selected Share-IT for their national documentary series that was aired throughout Canada and internationally. Recognized in CBC Metro Morning, CBC Radio International, Toronto Star, The METRO, ODE Magazine, Ottawa Citizen, Mississauga Board of Trade, Mississauga News, and ethnic media

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“I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful gift. This computer will be extremely well taken care of and will be an amazing and needed tool for my daughter who is 9 months old and also for me. [It] is a tool that I so needed in order to train and take online courses so that I may get a decent job and be able to support my family.”

“Thank you for giving me this beautiful computer! :) It will help me improve my life, learn computer skills, and obtain a better job. It will help me go off welfare and on to my feet.”

“This laptop will serve its purpose by helping me to understand and fix my mistakes. I have learning disability so I find it hard to do my schoolwork without someone there to guide through. There are the areas that I need to work on grammar, production, spelling words, putting sentences together and don’t good hand writing.”

“I have never had one. It will be an experience for me. I hope to learn how to read and spell.”

Raised public awareness about the potentially hazardous and human health impacts of e-waste on the environment and on those who handle it.

Partners:

Build Healthy Communities

Bramalea Community Health Centre (BCHC)

FarmStart

United WayCentral West Local Health Integration Network (CW LIHN)

Ridgewood Public School

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Healthy individuals and families are the basis of all thriving communities. To practice and promote well-being, CEA offers programs for seniors, youth, women and marginalized groups to nurture their physical, mental and emotional health. Such initiatives provide access to fresh food, physical activity, creative expression and seminars on health-related topics.

Partners:

United Way

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Active Living for a Healthy Community or the Act-Heal is a weekly program designed to promote the physical, emotional and mental health of marginalized seniors. The program offers physical activities, and provides a supportive space for older adults and seniors from culturally diverse communities to come together and engage in healthy living practices. Clients are referred by individuals and organizations such as the Region of Peel, human service agencies, supportive housing programs, as well as doctors or registered nurses.

CEA’s Farms and Gardens provide financially vulnerable families with nutritious, fresh, local food to promote healthy eating. In partnership with FarmStart, CEA initiated the first ever community farm in Peel in 2010.

CFG program clients receive healthy food baskets filled with fresh harvests from our farm and through donations by local farmers. Registered clients are able to pick up their food baskets every week for the entire season.

A neighbourhood community garden was also piloted at Ridgewood Public School to educate and involve students and their families in harvesting and preparing nutritious seasonal produce. Clients are referred by Bramalea Community Health Centre, Region of Peel Human Services programs as well as Acorn Place.

Healthy Aging with Creative Expression or HACE is a pilot project that engages seniors and older adults in participatory art and storytelling with a goal to improve their physical and mental health, enhance cognitive and social functioning and reduce loneliness.

Seniors Connect is also a pilot project that functions as a drop-in center for the seniors of Brampton’s high-need Blue Oaks neighborhood. The goal is to nurture a sense of belonging irrespective of cultural and/or language barriers, break social isolation and encourage leadership in the community. By involving youth volunteers for intergenerational collaboration, CEA seeks to instill a sense of ownership and pride in the citizens of this neighborhood.

Bramalea Community Health Centre (BCHC)

Central West Local Health Integration Network (CW LIHN)

BCHC

United Way

FarmStart

Ridgewood Public School

Community Farms and Gardens:

Other Seniors Projects:

Act-Heal:

Since 2010

Since 2012

Since 2006

6,096 200seniors directly participated in Act-Heal

Act-Heal sessions since 2009

Building Healthy Communities:

The difference in health:

“Since I am coming to the sessions I feel so much better, my pain is so much better, love coming to the classes. Thank you for helping us”

- Claudette Thompson, participant

“I lost 15 lbs. and I feel good. My sugar level has decreased too”

- Urmila Gandhi, participant

“After attending Act-Heal sessions my blood pressure is under control and I feel more active too.”

- Kulwant Hunjan, participant

Reduced:Chronic painFear of fall

Increased:EnergyBalanceFlexibilitySocial functioning

720538

1,258

pounds of produce grown +

pounds of donated produce recieved =

pounds of produce distributed

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200Act-Heal sessions since 2009

Reduced:Chronic painFear of fall

Partners:

Environment Canada Health Canada Green Communities Canada

Ontario Trillium Foundation Faith & the Common Good

Toronto Public Health Clean Air Partnership Smart Commute

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To find a balance between human needs and environmental resources is one of the biggest challenges of our time. After years of scientific research, this could be made easier by sharing and implementing what we already know. CEA’s goal is to educate, empower and enable all community members with knowledge to proactively take steps towards bettering the natural environment.

Inspire Environmental Stewardship

CEA conducts the following workshops to raise community awareness and sensitize individuals to act responsibly to preserve the health of our planet:

•ElectronicWaste:NationalandInternationalImplications •AirPollutionandOurHealth:Weareinittogether •Let’sEco-Drive! •Measurethesizeofyourfootprint •Biodiversity:DoesitMatter? •WaterforLife:interactivesessionsaboutwaterquality and the importance of conservation

Greening Sacred Spaces is a 3 year project initiated in 2012 to engage faith communities in collective action to overcome major social, environmental and economic challenges. Using innovative tools and resources CEA inspires diverse faith communities and their members in the Halton-Peel region to partake in three levels of activities – creating awareness, sharing knowledge and taking collective action. A diversity toolkit will be available for all faith-based groups irrespective of their faith, size of congregation and infrastructure.

The Shape the Future project empowered and nurtured youth ambassadors as “global citizens” and “community stewards” through experiential learning and leadership skill building. A 15 module curriculum was developed, aligned with Oxfam Canada and United Nation’s Global Citizenship curriculum, to inspire amongst youth the collective spirit of “me to we”. 39 students were directly trained. Sessions were delivered to high, middle and elementary students of the Peel Board of Education in partnership with 4 schools.

Public Outreach Workshops:

Greening Sacred Spaces (GSS):

Shape the Future:

Since 2004

Since 2012

Since 2007

Environment Canada Health Canada Green Communities Canada Smart Commute Toronto Public Health

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Faith & the Common Good

Ontario Trillium Foundation

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The EnergySmart project aimed to reduce the carbon footprint of our community through ‘change action’ and increasing the green canopy. Youth ambassadors were actively engaged through door-to-door campaign in various neighbourhoods educating their neighbours about energysmart ways and renewable options.

Air Quality Health Index (AQHI):

EnergySmart:

Since 2006

Since 2007

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Ontario Ministry of Energy

Environment Canada Health Canada

Clean Air Partnership

AQHI is a Canadian tool developed to help Canadians understand the potential health risks associated with long term exposure to bad air quality.

Since 2006, in partnership with Environment Canada, Health Canada, 5 Regional Municipalities and Clean Air Partnership (CAP), CEA has been actively engaged in building public awareness about air pollution and health and how individuals can use the AQHI tool to protect one’s health.

In 2009 CEA helped develop an effective Youth Engagement Strategy for AQHI outreach. By engaging over 100 youth from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds through focus groups, CEA identified the most effective media, style, design, messaging and elements that would capture the attention of young people. The project culminated in the development of a poster that outlined the findings.

CEA’s varied audiences including youth, new Canadians, faith communities, and general public also received awareness sessions about the 20/20 way to Clean Air that promotes individual actions to reduce air pollution.

CEA is an active member of the National AQHI Evaluation Committee and the Peel Region AQHI Partnership table.

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Inspiring Environmental Stewardship:

2,500200

30,000500

incandescent bulbs replaced

youth ambassadors

residents engaged in EnergySmart over 3 years

trees planted

More thanMore than

More thanMore than

CEA is engaged in offering workshops and tools to impart environmental education in LINC (Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada) and ESL (English as Second Language) classes. To make environmental education accessible to all, we developed three environmental educational resources. These are designed to inform and inspire people to act responsibly to preserve the health of the planet for future generations.

Developed in partnership with Toronto Region Conservation Authority to highlight strategies, activities and methods that can be used for environmental outreach within the Valleybrook Corridor in Brampton. Results of the report were used by the TRCA to maximize community engagement to protect the water quality of the Etobicoke Creek flowing through the corridor.

Aligned with the curriculum, the following resources help LINC and ESL teachers educate new immigrants about climate change, energy conservation, water conservation, air pollution and health.

•Eco-ActivityBookonEnergy:forLINCandESL •Eco-resourceforLINC •WaterforLifeforLINCandESL

Eco-Resources:

Community Characterization Report:

Since 2006

Since 2011

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Diversity for the Environment:

With support from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada, CEA created the GreenSkills Competency Assessment Tool, a web-based interactive tool that educates, empowers and enables professional newcomers to understand the skills and competencies in demand in the diverse and growing Canadian environmental sector. The tool also helps newcomers to understand and interpret Canadian job descriptions to ensure higher success of connection and integration. It is now available online for organizations to test the tool with their clients.

GreenSkills Competency Assessment Tool: Since 2011

Sustainability Network

Citizenship and Immigration Canada ECO Canada

Since 2006, CEA has provided strong leadership in fostering diversity and inclusion within the environmental sector. The Canadian environmental sector noticeably lacks diversity and balanced representation from diverse communities. In our attempt to change that, we undertook two strategies:

Inside out: With this strategy we aimed to lead from within the sector. CEA was one of the lead collaborative partners in the Environment and Diversity project led by Sustainability Network. The four year collaborative initiative was designed to help the Ontario environmental NGO community consider, develop and implement strategies to better reflect and engage under-represented communities.

Outside in: With this strategy we strove to establish linkages by which individuals from diverse communities become aware of the environmental organizations in their communities and find ways to get engaged. To that end our first major initiative was the Greenskills project.

The success of Greenskills led to the forging of a strong partnership with ECO Canada (Environmental Career Organization Canada) to initiate the Environment Immigrant Bridging (EIB) Program. Through the EIB Program, CEA was able to provide mentoring support, networking opportunities and sector readiness training to help newcomers transition into the Canadian environmental sector with knowledge, competence and confidence. It also helped highly motivated professionals to overcome entry barriers and integrate with the sector.

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CEA Staff:

Volunteers and Interns:

At CEA we deeply value the contribution of our volunteers and interns. Volunteers are valued team members and an important resource for the organization. More than 11,000 volunteer hous has helped shape our journey over the past decade.

The organization provides volunteering opportunities in the areas of computer assessment and disassembly, refurbishment and repair, event and administrative support as well as in outreach and workshop facilitation.

Volunteers and interns can make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate, do their bit to protect the environment, develop new skills and experience a sense of fulfillment and motivation.

CEA also provides training and support to new immigrants, graduate students, high school students and individuals facing barriers to employment. We offer a positive, non-judgemental, and productive learning environment to develop new skills or gain relevant work experience.

As we deeply appreciate our past and present volunteers, we hope that the spirit of community involvement and volunteerism will continue to support CEA as it continues on its mission with confidence and conviction.

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Ranjana Mitra

Chaya Chengappa

Nisreen Shawahneh

Ishita Luther

Shalane Bhally

Vincent Aseervatham

Executive Director

Manager

Program Support Coordinator

Communication and Creative Programming Specialist

Project Associate

Technology Specialist

Financials:

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Grants Earned Revenue Other Total Revenue Amortization Insurance Administrative expenses Professional fee Program expenses Rent & Utilities Salaries & benefits Telephone expenses Total Operating Expenses

Excess of revenue over expenses Net Assets, beginning of year

Net assets, end of year

209,160 200,207 2,893 412,260

2,127 1,977 12,789 4,250 57,320 35,143 213,465 1,519 328,590 83,670 242,978

326,648

2012

285,333 121,097 6,468 412,898

2,610 1,613 8,269 3,560 37,343 30,059 202,429 825 286,708

126,190 116,788

242,978

2011

Revenue

Net Assets, end of year

Excess of revenue over expenses

20122011

108,000 96,236 1,958 206,194

833 1,601 6,351 3,333 24,637 19,056 120,694 2,062 178,567

27,627 89,161

116,788

2010

2010

Volunteer with CEA:

If you are looking to explore new career options, gain work experience, develop skills or make a difference in the community, try your hand at volunteering.

Volunteering at CEA can help: •Highschoolstudentscompletetheirmandatory40hours of community service for graduation requirements •ImproveEnglish-speakingskills •Newimmigrantsandstudentsgainrelevantworkexperience•Acquiretechnicalskillsandtraining•Expandprofessionalcontactsandnetworkingopportunities •Provideanopportunitytogivebacktothecommunity and help protect the environment

How to volunteer? Visit our website at communityenvironment.org, fill out the volunteer form and send it to volunteer@communityenvironment.org. Volunteers are accepted through interviews only.

Internship opportunities To get started as an intern, browse our internship opportunities. Internship opportunities are project-related and typically unpaid. By policy, we give priority to our interns for new job opportunities.

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Community Environment Alliance Educate / Empower / Enable

7-222 Advance Boulevard Brampton Ontario L6T 4Y7Phone: (905) 463 9941 communityenvironment.org

communityenvironment.org

7-222 Advance Boulevard Brampton, ON L6T 4Y7

Telephone: 905 463 9941 Fax: 905 463 9942