CSSJ Newsletter Winter 2010

8/8/2019 CSSJ Newsletter Winter 2010

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Questions of food security havecome up repeatedly over the lastyear at the Centre for Studies inSocial Justice. Food security andinsecurity, both locally and interna-tionally, have been discussed in avariety of fora including a guest lec-ture by Melody Gonzalez of FairFood Across Borders and a paneldiscussion on Food Security andHomelessness. Stephanie Segaveand Steve Green, whose articles areincluded in this issue of the Newslet-ter, contributed to the panel discus-sion on Food Security and Home-lessness. Last May, the topic of foodsecurity also came up at an evententitled: Community Economic Re-vival in Windsor During the Reces-sion. One of the participants was

Adam Vasey whose article appearsin this issue of the Newsletter.

In addition to these events, secu-

rity, broadly defined, was the topic ofa special issue of the journal Studiesin Social Justice published last sum-mer. In it, Jamey Essex has an arti-cle discussing food aid in Indonesiaas an issue of both food security andgeopolitical security (see the Ab-

stract of this article in the Box).

Reflecting this growing interest inthe topic of food security, a numberof articles in this issue of the SocialJustice Newsletter deal with foodand peoples access to it, both lo-cally and abroad. The articles by M.Ruggles and S. Green focus on lo-cal, community-based efforts tomake people food secure by provid-ing them with the skills and spacenecessary to grow their own food.The article by S. Segave focuses onissues of food distribution to margin-alized populations in Brazil showinghow municipal policies can benefitproducers and consumers thus in-creasing food security. A. Vaseysarticle on Pathways to Potential de-scribes how people are coming to-gether in Windsor-Essex to engagethe community in a poverty-reduction strategy with food securityas a part of the strategy.

At the time, when homelessnessand poverty have been on the in-

crease, due to the economic reces-sion and cut-backs to social pro-grams, it is important to consideralternative strategies for providingaffordable and nutritious food to all.These issues, and more, are ad-dressed in this issue.

The Work of Hunger:Security, Development and Food-for-Workin Post-Crisis JakartaJamey Essex

ABSTRACT Food-for-work programs distrib-ute food aid to recipients in exchange for la-bour, and are an important mode of aid deliv-ery for both public and private aid providers.While debate continues as to whether food-for-work programs are socially just and economi-cally sensible, governments, internationalinstitutions, and NGOs continue to tout themas a flexible and cost-effective way to delivertargeted aid and promote community develop-

ment. This paper critiques the underlying logicof food-for-work, focusing on how this ap-proach to food aid and food security promotelabour force participation by leveraging hungeragainst poverty, and how the ideological andpractical assumptions of food-for-work becomeenmeshed within discourses of geopoliticalsecurity. I rely on a case study examination ofUS-funded food-for-work programs imple-mented in Jakarta, Indonesia following the1997 financial crisis. The crisis produced acutefood insecurity and poverty in Indonesia, pro-voking fears of mob violence by the hungrypoor and the spread of radical Islamism in the post-crisis political vacuum. Food-for-work programs were, in this context, meant to re-solve the problems of both food insecurity and

geopolitical insecurity by providing food totargeted populations, employment to thoseotherwise thrown out of work, and resituatingthe hungry poor in relation to broader scales oflocal, national, and global power.

The full article is available at:http://www.studiesinsocialjustice.org

Questions of Food Security

P10P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P8 P9Building Welcoming

CommunitiesFocus on Research Food for Change Spotlight on

TeachingWindsor Essex

CommunitySupported

FedUp Windsor Pathway to potential Social JusticePracticum


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Over the summer of 2008, I travelledto Brazils fourth largest city, BeloHorizonte as part of a study abroadopportunity with the Ryerson Univer-sity Food Security program. The cityof Belo Horizonte is gaining interna-tional attention for the success of its

municipal food security strategiesthat have allowed the city to over-come high rates of hunger and pro-vide healthy food for its residentsthrough a series of innovative poli-cies and programs.

In 1993, a newly elected admini-stration declared food a right of citi-zenship. The new mayor, Patrus

Ananias, who now leads the federalanti-hunger effort, began by creatinga city agency, which included a 20-member council of citizen, labour,

business, and religious representa-tives who advised in the design andimplementation of a new food sys-tem.

The city agency focused on theinterests of farmers and consumers.It offered local family farmers pre-ferred spots of public space on

which to sell to city residents. Farm-ers profits grew, since no whole-saler was taking a cut, and at thesame time, city residents, includingthose living in poverty, gainedgreater access to fresh, healthyfood.

In addition to the farmer-runstands, the city gave business peo-ple the opportunity to bid on the rightto use prime retail locations withinthe city to set up what they calledABC markets. In exchange for rent-free use of the city land, the city

determines a set price (about two-thirds of the market price) for abouttwenty healthy items and the store-owner must adhere to these lowrates for the key products. All otheritems can be sold at whatever pricesthe retailer sets. Retailers with thebest spots are also required to de-liver produce in a travelling marketto the poor neighbourhoods outsideof the city centre, so that everyonemay access the produce.

Belo Horizontes municipal foodsecurity programs include extensive

community and school gardens aswell as nutrition classes for parents.In addition, the federally fundedschool lunch program in Belo Hori-zonte was transformed and nolonger serves expensive processedfood. Instead, schools support thelocal food system by serving wholefood that is generally sourced fromlocal growers. One teacher at theschool I visited told me that sincethe transition her students nevermiss a day of school because they

do not want to miss out on the goodfood.

Another cornerstone program isthe Peoples Restaurant (Restau-rante Popular). More than 12,000people show up for lunch and dinnereach day to receive a meal of mostlylocally grown food that costs themonly one Brazilian real(which equalsapproximately $.50 CDN). Althoughthe restaurant caters to lower in-come residents, everyone is wel-come to participate and on the day

that I attended I met people from allwalks of life, from homeless peopleto students and businessmen. Therestaurant I ate at was bright, cleanand very cheery and it was obviousthat people were not ashamed to eatin such a nice place, especially

(Continued on page 4)

Food for Change: Strengthening Food Security in a Brazilian CityBy Stephanie Segave

Diners at a Peoples Restaurant in BeloHorizonte, Brazil

Volume 5, Issue 1, Winter 2010

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Stephanie Segave is co-chair of Food forChange, a newly formed association that is

promoting food security issues within Windsorand Essex County and Regional Manager forthe Ontario Student Nutrition Program.


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Professor Lanoszka is a well-recognized researcher in inter-

national relations and global politicaleconomy. She has made importantcontributions to our understanding ofinternational economic relations andparticularly of: trade, policies of theWorld Trade Organization (WTO)and the World Bank, changingNorth-South relations, approachesto economic development, and thenew geopolitics of energy. For overtwo years she worked in the

Accessions Division of the WTO. Asa consultant for the World Bank she

completed a report titled: Handbook:Negotiations on Liberalization ofTrade in Services Logistics andHealth. She has participated in anumerous technical assistanceprograms in Central Asia, EasternEurope, the Caribbean islands, and

Africa. She has published bookchapters and articles in journalssuch as International PoliticalScience Review, InternationalJournal of Political Economy, andJournal of World Trade. Her recentbook is titled: The World TradeOrganiza-tion: Changing Dynamicsin the Global Political Economy.

Currently Dr. Lanoszka isworking on her second book. In-ternational Trade and EnergySecurityTowards Functional Co-operation in the WTO This research

project begins with the recognitionthat countries must begin to work inconcert to address the problemsassociated with the instability of the

global energy markets and thegrowing environmental costs of non-cooperation. The book addressesthe following issues.

Oil, one of the most soughtafter commodities, remains un-regulated on the international level.Over the years, countries hademployed different strategies meantto ensure energy security. Most ofthese strategies resulted in bilateralarrangements. Even the mostsubstantial international treaty on

energy, Chapter 6 of the North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) remains a two-country dealdespite being part of a regional tradeagreement. Such bilateral arrange-ments, however, have done little tostabilize global energy markets.

The most familiar organizationthat has influenced the worldsprices of oil, the Organization ofPetroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC) is a cartel that infused theworlds economy with uncertainty

and politics that, over time, has beenincreasingly harmful even to its ownMembers, notwithstanding thefinancial benefits they have enjoyed.The first multilateral arrangement tomanage international trade, the1947 GATT (General Agreement onTariffs and Trade), containedprovisions intended to preventinternational cartels, yet theseprovisions were never used giventhe provisional status of the GATT.

As the global economy expanded,the growing dependence on oilprovided a rationale for countries toengage in negotiating investmentand trade deals outside the GATTsscope of influence, while keepingthe international trade and explo-ration of oil detached from thepurview of multilateral organizations.

Focus on Research:

Dr. Anna Lanoszka

Bilateral and regional initiativessigned over the years to ensuresustained delivery of oil oftenresulted in unfair trade practices,

environmental degradation, andprice speculation without necessarilybenefiting consumers even in the oilproducing countries. As demand foroil continues to rise together with itsprice, this situation becomesunsustainable both environmentallyand geo-politically.

According to Anna Lanoszka, itis important to create a formalizedrelationship between the energysector and the international tradesystem in an effort to ensure that

international trade and investment inenergy-related goods and servicesbecomes rules-based and hencemore secure and sustainable underthe principles of international law.Her goal is to provide policyrecommendations intended tofacilitate international cooperationwith respect to exploration,distribution, and sale of oil and gasin a way that prevents environmentaldegradation, social insecurity, armedconflict, and market speculation.

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Professor Gail (Campbell) Murray isan Associate Professor in theSchool of Dramatic Art at the Univer-

sity of Windsor. She has beenteaching in the Drama in Educationand Community Program since2003. Her research is in the area of

Applied Theatre with particular focuson Theatre for Social Action. Shehas an extensive background inPlayback Theatre and Forum Thea-tre.

Professor Murray is recognizedin the School of Dramatic Art for herbrilliant work with students both inand out of the classroom. She intro-duced a new drama course, Theatrefor Social Action, shortly after arriv-ing at the University of Windsorwhich has become a fundamentalclass in providing students with theknowledge and skills to work withsocial issues through theatre anddrama while fostering social aware-ness and responsibility. Her teach-ing is inspired by her research. Shehas published articles and bookchapters, in collaboration with other

scholars, on such topics as populartheatre with young offenders andparticipatory research with marginal-ized populations.

Professor Murray regularly in-spires and facilitates a variety ofstudent and community driven socialaction projects. Some projects sinceher time at the University of Windsor

include: All I need is a Miracle (astudent devised theatre piece basedon the stories of individuals from thelocal Windsor Downtown Missionthat was recorded and used as an

instructional tool with local secon-dary schools studying the issuessurrounding homelessness); Wel-come to Canada (a community initi-ated project with new Canadiansinvolved workshops and the creationof a play); Gimme the Keys (a forumtheatre created on the topic of drink-ing, drugs, and driving that was acollaboration with David Diamondfrom Headlines Theatre, Vancou-ver); and The Windsor Report (acollective creation on the topic of

sexual identity and bias produced incollaboration with Norma Bowles,Fringe Benefits, LA).

Her work also reaches out tolocal elementary and secondaryschools. As a Theatre Director, shebrings social justice issues to themain stage for young audiences withsuch plays as: Danny, King of theBasementby David S. Craig (a 2009story about a young boy dealing withhomelessness); See Sawby DennisFoon (a 2007 play about bullyingperformed through the use of lifesize puppets); Wiley and the HairyMan by Suzan Zeder (a 2006 playthat explores young people facingtheir fears); and New Canadian Kidby Dennis Foon (a 2005 play thatfollows a young boys challenge offitting in, learning a new language,and making friends).

In addition, Professor Murrayestablished a Playback Theatregroup called Random Acts where

students engage audiences in play-ing back personal stories. The com-pany also performs annual shows onhuman rights. Finally, ProfessorMurray is a puppeteer. One of hercurrent research interests is WayangKulit (Balinese Shadow Puppetry).Traditionally, stories are chosen forpresentation based on current local

events in a village; the story is used tohelp illustrate issues and/or solutions.She is currently working on adaptingthis form for Western audiences.

Spotlight on Teaching & Creative

Activity: ProfessorGail MurrayBy Tina Pugliese


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Dr. Tina Pugliese is an Assistant Profes-sor and colleague of Dr. Murray, at theSchool of Dramatic Art, University of Win-

since they had paid for their meal(albeit for a nominal price).

In just a decade Belo Horizontemanaged to cut its infant mortality rate(a statistic widely used as evidence of

hunger) by more than half, and todaythese initiatives benefit almost 40% ofthe citys population of 2.5 million. Thecity is able to deliver these extensiveprograms for an annual price of $10million or less than 2% of the citybudget. Thats about a penny a dayper Belo Horizonte resident. The BeloHorizonte experience shows that evenin the poorest of cities, hunger can bedramatically reduced if municipal gov-ernments and community partnerscome together to invest in local food

systems and strategic programming.

(Continued from page 2)

Harvest direct from the field

AcknowledgementI would like to thank my former RyersonUniversity professor, Dr. Cecilia Rocha,for providing me the documents on foodprograms in Belo Horizonte.


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Windsor Essex Community Supported AgricultureBy Steve Green

Samples of WECSA produce

Steve Green is a caseworker and pro-gram facilitator at St. Leonard's HouseWindsor, a Federal Halfway House foroffenders. He's an active member of theHomeless Coalition of Windsor, founderof Windsor Essex Community Supported Agriculture, a volunteer Pastor at NewSong Church, and a Coach with South

Windsor Youth Soccer Club, among otherinterests and hobbies. His family includeshis wife Suzanne and two daughtersJasmin, 13 and Jade, 11. He can bereached by e-mail at [email protected] or through his blog athttp://windsorcsa.blogspot.com.

Some years ago I became con-cerned about the corporatization ofagriculture and food distribution. Ibegan to wonder if agro-industrialcorporations could be trusted to pro-vide safe, healthy, and environmen-tally sustainable food. I also becameconcerned with the distance that somuch food in my local grocery storehad travelled and the effects of theglobalization of food production onlocal farmers. Concerned about thedisconnect between the city andfarms, I felt that our communityneeded to take action and come

together to work towards a moresustainable, safe, and secure foodsystem and that this could not be leftto government alone.

Here in Windsor a hodgepodgeof rural and urban dwellers decidedto take matters into their own handsto begin the process of building localfood security. We formed WindsorEssex Community Supported Agri-culture (WECSA), a response tomany of the above concerns. Someof us are well-versed in agriculture.

Some of us have never seriouslyplanted before, but all of us have acommon goal. We want to be moreconnected to our food system. Wewant more security in our food sys-tem. We want to know where ourfood comes from and how it grows.We want our children to know whatfood tastes like fresh from theground, not transported 3000 milesto our grocery store after it has beensprayed, packaged, and harvestedbefore its prime. We worry about the

effects of children ingesting chemi-cals and fertilizers used to growmany crops today. We believe ourchildren need fresh, organically-grown produce for their health.

As the members of WECSAplant and harvest together, we arenot just putting food on our tables.

Were teaching the next generationhow to practice sustainability: howeasy it is to grow ones own foodeven on one square foot of land!

Anyone can be a part of this revolu-tion even with just a patio or a deckor a windowsill in an apartment.

On our farm, just outside the cityof Windsor, we have been fortunateto have many excellent participantsin this muddy adventure. We justfinished our first full test year at ournew site. We share the hardshipsand the bounty. We share knowl-edge and old practices passed on

from generation to generation, fromculture to culture. Together we allpull together to create our farm. Webeg, borrow, and trade for newplants, seeds and supplies and weput out money from our own pocketsbecause we believe in somethingthat is larger than just a small vege-table farm. And while we sow, weed,and harvest, we have built a newcommunity. At one time none of usknew each other. Now, we know weare not alone in our concerns. Our

children know that there is more tolife than travelling to the grocerystore, which has become a cornuco-pia of international foods. Almost allof what we really need can be grownlocally.

I believe economic revival in theWindsor-Essex area will only beginwhen we start to question our ownconsumerism. By questioning whatwe consume, where it came from,and how it was produced, we cancreate our own agricultural eco-

nomic revival in our area. I believethat it is our responsibility as resi-dents and citizens of this communityto be agents of change, ensuringthat the policies and processes ofour community, our governments,and our agencies should all pursuethe achievement of food security for

all persons. We need more coopera-tion, more commitment, more under-standing, more humility, and a de-sire to transform our community into

a place where it is not acceptable forour citizens to go hungry. Everyoneneeds access to good, safe, andhealthy food.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://windsorcsa.blogspot.com/http://windsorcsa.blogspot.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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In a few months Ill be moving backto my home province of BritishColumbia. Im particularly excitedabout this new direction in my lifebecause Ill have the opportunity tofarm some land and apply a lot ofwhat Ive learned in the last fewyears. My intensive foray into theworld of food production and foodactivism began in the Spring of2007, when I and a few othersdecided to start a food activistproject, FedUp Windsor. WhileFedUp is by no means an individualproject, I tell this story from apersonal perspective hoping, indoing so, to illuminate one of thethreads that run through the fabric

that is FedUp.Let me start with the name. In thelate 1960s my parents left Ontario,

joining several other people in B.C.to create a different kind of life, onethat strove to challenge the normsby which their own parents lived(often in suburban settings). Many ofthe projects that my parents new

community built (some of which stillexist today) were structured aroundprinciples of cooperation and equity.Many of these projects were,indeed, called co-ops, collectives, orunions , inc lud ing Isadora sCooperat ive Restaurant, theWomens Health Collective, theCCEC Credit Union (founded by theCommunity Congress for EconomicChange Society), and varioushousing co-ops. (Of course, thesesorts of projects were not distinct toB.C.) One such project in Vancouverwas FedUp, a consumer co-op. Bothmy parents tell me stories about themassive amount of work anddetailed planning that had to go into

receiving, separating, and distribut-ing piles of organic produce, barrelsof molasses, and mountains of riceand lentils. At one point, FedUpbought a second-hand cube truck,which my mom would use to makedeliveries for the co-op, with mesleeping in my car seat as she drovearound.

This hippy movement of which myparents were part was anexperiment in living sensitively toboth social and environmental

justice. Many of the cultural

elements that are associated withthat time and place have been co-opted and transformed into apresent that is so wholly unlike thattime that recalling it is generallytaken as purely nostalgic. While Icertainly have feelings of nostalgiafor my childhood and the world ofsolidarity and vital activity where Ispent my formative years, I am notcalling for a return to that time. I dorecognize, however, that there aremany aspects of that world that are

trying desperately to find air, space,and attention here and now.

The new incarnation of FedUp,FedUp Windsor, is one suchattempt. The concern for food, whicheasily extends into concerns forsocial and environmental justice, iscentral to the work that FedUpWindsor has been doing sinceSpring 2007. My own experiencehas led to a much deeper under-standing of the interdependencebetween agriculture and humanculture; as our food provisioningsystem has become more global,industrial, and trade-centred, thecommunities that work to supporthealthy, sustainable, food-rich anddiverse agricultural systems havecome under attack.

Annette Aurlie Desmaraisoutlines the distinction between adominant agricultural paradigmand an alternative paradigm:where the former is based on

centralization, dependence (onscientific and technology experts,high cost inputs and distantmarkets), competition, domination ofna ture , spec ia l i za t ion , andexploitation, the latter is based ondecentralization, independence,community, harmony with nature,diversity, and restraint (2007, 69-

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FedUp: a brief personal history of food activismBy Maya Ruggles

Participants on a bicycle tour of FedUp community gardens


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70). FedUP represents such analternative paradigm.

FedUp Windsor has been alearning experience for manypeople, and I believe (supported by

comments from several individuals)that our presence has helpedenliven the general discussion inWindsor of food security and the riseof food activism here. It has recentlybecome clearer to me that one ofour greatest difficulties has been inmatching our visions and desires(which only grew broader as welearned about all the issues involvedwith food) with our resources (mostlymade up of peoples time, effort, andskills). There is so much that can be

done, so much we want to do, andso little time! The challenges that weall face are many: soil contamina-tion, dispersed communities,irresponsible use of land, themisguided priorities of most CityCouncillors (for example, supportingroad building over efforts to buildlocal food security1), to name a few.But if we truly want to live in a worldthat takes care of its environmentand its people, where the importantand imperative work of growing foodfor all to eat is supported andrespected, we must take on thosechallenges, one step at a time. And,trust me: being involved in foodactivism is fun and inspiring... andtasty!

Here is what I recommend to thoseinterested in local food security:

Grow some food and learn fromthe experience. Some of the

issues and concerns that farmershave to contend with arepresented at a smaller scale foramateur gardeners, and can beunderstood at a deeper levelwhen actually doing the work ofgrowing food.

Start a community garden withyour neighbours, or start with a

community compost that can bedonated to someone whoalready gardens (who can thenshare some of their produce withyou).

Have a potluck, meet some newpeople, and find out how othersrelate to food.

Plant a wildflower garden forpollinators, or put up a house forbirds.

Become more familiar withexisting food sources in yourneighbourhood (wild and/orunharvested). Contact theWindsor Guerrilla Gardeners foradvice on how to prepare someof our more common wild edible

plants. Do a community food mapping

exercise, on your own or, betteryet, with your neighbours. If youhave kids, suggest doing suchan exercise with them and theirfriends or classmates.

Start a Community Supported/Shared Agriculture project(contact the Canadian OrganicGrowers local chapter to get intouch with local organic farmershttp:/ /www.cog.ca/chapters/essex-kent-lambton/).

Contact your local governmentalrepresentatives and tell themthat local food security isimportant. Petition to amend by-laws to allow backyard chickencoops.

Tell the supermarket where youshop to stock local, organicoptions (though be advised thatlarge supermarkets are tied to amandatory distribution system

that ships local produce to aninspection depot in the GTA,then back to us).

Take a trip to Detroit to visit (andvolunteer at) Earthworks, anothercommunity gardenhttp://www.detroitagriculture.org/).

Send information about all localfood-related ini t iat ives to

[email protected], to bedistributed to our updates vialistserve.

Some important concepts

in food activism

A consumer co-op is a group of peoplewho jointly source food in bulk, which isdelivered to a central location, separatedaccording to individual orders andredistributed or picked up.Food Security means long term accessfor all to nutritious, affordable, andculturally appropriate food. FoodSovereignty means utilizing (andsupporting) the diversity of local/regionalskills to produce a sustain-able andavailable food supply (for that region).Food is valued for its nutritional value, notits trade value, and trade in food is done

through direct, small-scale relationshipswhere producers/farmers are valued andreceive the benefits of trade. FoodDemocracy means that decisionsregarding food production, distributionand preparation are made by thecommunity within which food is producedand consumed (and the production/consumption cycle is much shorter than itis with global, industrial trade-basedfood), and those decisions benefit thatcommunity.

1 The benefits of keeping backyard chickens arenumerous. It provides healthy, pesticide-free eggsand reduces weekly food bills. Additionally,

chickens consume kitchen wastes and chickenmanure is great garden compost. Raisingbackyard chickens is also a hands-on way toteach kids about food sources. They make greatpets, and serve as a lesson in local action leadingto global environmental sustainability; less foodtransportation means less greenhouse gases.

References:CBC news. Windsor man seeks chicken by-law

change. Uploaded Monday, November 2,2009 to http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/11/02/windsor-chickens-bylaw-091102.html

Desmarais, Annette Aurlie (2007). La vacampesina: Globalization and the power of

peasants. Halifax: Fernwood Publishing.

FedUp Online: www.fedupwindsor.blogspot.com.See Food Justice links at this site.

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Maya Ruggles is a PhD student in Sociologyat the University of Windsor and is a pastmember of the Centre for Studies in SocialJustice Co-ordinating committee.


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With more than 38,000 people livingin poverty in Windsor and EssexCounty, there is a clear need for apoverty reduction strategy in ourcommunity. Pathway to Potential(Pathway) is a poverty reductionstrategy for Windsor and EssexCounty that aims to address localpoverty-related issues in a collabo-rative and comprehensive way. Theidea for a local poverty reductionstrategy was developed in 2008,thanks to the dedicated efforts ofcommunity leaders from the City ofWindsor Social and Health Services

Department, Legal Assistance ofWindsor, the United Way/CentraideWindsor-Essex County, and theSchool of Social Work at the Univer-sity of Windsor.

The collaborative nature of thestrategy stems from the fundamentalbelief that poverty is a shared re-sponsibility. Since the entire commu-nity stands to benefit from povertyreduction, it only makes sense toengage the entire community in thisstrategy.

Pathway, which has been en-dorsed by the City of Windsor andthe County of Essex, is aligned withthe Ontario Governments PovertyReduction Strategy, which initiallyaims to reduce child poverty rates by25% by the year 2013.

The Pathway Roundtable wasformed in January of 2009, bringingtogether a broad cross-section of theWindsor-Essex community. TheRoundtable reflects the fact thatpeople experiencing poverty, busi-

ness leaders, all three levels of gov-ernment, and public sector and not-for-profit organizations all bring valu-able expertise and perspectives tothe table. The work of the Roundta-ble is supported by action-orientedSubcommittees, each of them focus-ing on one of five key areas of pov-

erty reduction: affordable housing,childcare and early learning, educa-tion and skills training, health andincome support. This structurehelps ensure that the strategy ad-dresses the interlocking aspects ofpoverty in a comprehensive way.The Roundtable and the Subcom-mittees are currently consulting withand assessing the needs of thecommunity, researching the mosteffective ways to reduce poverty,advocating for policy changes, lever-aging resources toward poverty re-duction, and developing and recom-

mending solutions that will ultimatelyreduce poverty in Windsor and Es-sex County.

Given that a crucial part of Path-ways mandate is to broadly engagethe community, I was pleased toparticipate in the Centre for Studiesin Social Justices panel discussionon Community Economic Revival inWindsor during the Recession heldon May 14, 2009 at All Saints Angli-can Church. A common theme thatarose from the discussion was the

need for a local response to thechallenging times facing Windsorand Essex County. While the im-pact of the recession on Windsor-Essex residents has been particu-larly harsh, it has also forced us, asa community, to consider the waysin which we might need to work to-gether differently in the future.

As a starting point, we need tochallenge the widely held assump-tion that poverty reduction and eco-nomic growth are mutually exclu-

sive. As countless studies and re-ports have recently highlighted, in-vesting in poverty reduction canproduce widespread social and eco-nomic benefits for communities.There is hope that mainstream per-ceptions of poverty are beginning toshift. In a recent Environics poll

commissioned by the CanadianCentre for Policy Alternatives, Cana-dians were found to overwhelminglysupport their political leaders takingconcrete action to reduce poverty.With public support growing, manycommunities across Canada havebegun to develop local poverty re-duction efforts, focusing on suchissues as food security, affordablepublic transportation, and a livingwage. Regardless of which aspectof poverty a community chooses tofocus on, the decision to work col-laboratively helps lay the foundation

for success. And the Windsor-Essexcommunity, with its long history ofgenerosity, resilience and collectiveaction, certainly has what it takes tomake poverty reduction a success.

Pathway to potential: Tackling poverty in Windsor and Essex CountyBy Adam Vasey

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Adam Vaseyis a Coordinator of Path-way to Potential, Windsor EssexCountys Poverty Reduction Strategy. Hecan be reached at 519-966-8203 ext.224, by email [email protected], or

join our Facebook group atwww.facebook.com/pathway.rep.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/pathway.rephttp://www.facebook.com/pathway.repmailto:[email protected]


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Being enrolled in the University ofWindsors Social Justice Programhas broadened my insight into theissues that affect the worlds mostvulnerable populations. It providesstudents with the tools to criticallyexamine issues, making sense ofcauses and consequences, thusallowing for the conceptualization ofreal social change. One of thecourses offered in the program is theSocial Justice Practicum. The practi-cum presents students with the op-portunity to apply their academicknowledge in a practical setting. It

was through this course that I wasable to fulfill my placement at theWindsor Refugee Office.

The Windsor Refugee Office is anorganization based on the values ofsocial justice and is committed toadvocacy and providing vital ser-vices needed by refugees. They areone of a kind in the city of Windsor,helping vast numbers of individualsand families each year. Their ser-vices offer hope and assistance tothose who would otherwise be left

feeling isolated and desperate. TheOffice is funded by the Diocese ofLondon. There are two sections, onewhich assists sponsored refugees,and the other, which assists refugeeclaimants. For both of these groups,emotional, financial/material, andlegal support is provided. The of-fices success is based on their abil-ity to provide an environment that iswelcoming, safe, and respectful. Thestaff is empathetic, attentive andhardworking, often meeting with

individuals for hours at a time. TheWindsor Refugee Offices capacityto touch the lives of many individualsis not hindered by their lack of fund-ing and resources. In my opinion,their work is unprecedented in thisregion.

My placement at the Windsor

Refugee Office met all my expecta-tions as a student looking for anopportunity to expand my knowledgeand gain insight into the issues andprocesses surrounding refugees.Since I had an interest in refugeeand immigrant populations, I felt thatthis organization would be the per-fect fit. During the duration of myplacement I was able to complete avariety of diverse and interactivetasks. A great deal of work at theoffice involved gathering researchand I specifically assisted with twosensitive client cases. In the first

case, I wrote a letter of appeal to Amnesty International regarding itsdenial to assess the case and advo-cate for the individual concerned. Inaddition, I corresponded with theclients legal representatives bothlocally and overseas.

Secondly, at the onset of myplacement I expressed my interest inthe issue of trafficked individuals.Sister Helen, the offices RefugeeCo-coordinator, invited me to joinThe Windsor Essex Anti-Human

Trafficking Action Coalition and at-tend its monthly meetings. She alsoinvited me to attend a workshop heldfor various service providers andcommunity members, entitled NewHome, New Hope, New Normal.The workshop addressed issues andbarriers faced by refugees and immi-grants, and included topics like ad-aptation/settlement, human traffick-ing, the impact of torture, multiple-traumatization, and the role of agen-cies and their services.

I also prepared and hosted aworkshop on the topic of humantrafficking at the University of Win-dsor. I worked with Bachelor of So-cial Work student Lacey Prail andtogether we presented this informa-tion in the CAW commons area onMarch 27, 2009. We described dif-

ferent scenarios of trafficking andoffered current information regardingthe statistics, legislation and policiesregarding victims and traffickers.

Furthermore, this past summer I

produced an educational displayaddressing the controversial issue ofbottled as compared to tap water.This display was featured at therefugee office to inform refugeesabout the misconceptions regardingbottled and tap water and the conse-quences of the widespread use ofbottled water. Sister Helen alsobrought a picture of the display to aSocial Justice conference in Mont-real this summer.Overall, my experience at the Win-

dsor Refugee Office was eye-opening and invaluable, not only asan academic/professional experi-ence, but as a personal experienceas well. Although my placement hasconcluded, I continue to volunteer atthe office and I hope to maintainclose ties for years to come.

Social Justice Practicum at the Windsor Refugee OfficeBy Fadia Ibrahim

The Diocese of London Windsor RefugeeOffice received the Social Justice Personof the Year Award for a full story pleasesee Vol. 1 Issue 1 of this newsletter.

Fadia Ibrahim graduated from the Uni-versity of Windsor in Spring 2009. Shereceived a Combined Honours degree inSocial Justice.

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CSSJ Newsletter


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Building Welcoming Communities

Canadian Council for RefugeesFall Consultation in Windsor

Over the past months and years,Canadas vision of refugee protec-tion and immigration and how theycontribute to building stronger com-munities has been the subject ofmuch debate. The realities thatrefugees and immigrants face havereceived less attention, however.Here are a few examples:

Challenges to Canadas refugeeclaim process:Canadas refugeedetermination system has beenthe subject of recent public com-mentary, much of it focusing onabuse and alleged problems inthe system. Refugee determina-tion is complex and challenging.It is not easy to decide whoneeds protection and who doesnotwhether a person is in arefugee camp overseas or livingdown the street from us. Howcan we ensure that those whoneed Canadas protection re-ceive it? How can we ensurethat refugees are not sent backto face persecution?

Temporary migrant workers:Canada is bringing in more andmore workers on temporary workpermits, rather than as perma-nent residents. This shift in tem-porary migration is a dramatic

change in policy, yet there hasbeen little public debate. Whatdoes temporary status mean forworkers? What does it mean forCanadian society? Why shouldwe be concerned?

Protection for trafficked persons:Trafficking happens in Canada

and Canadian law sets out to

punish traffickers. But Canadianlaw does NOT protect traffickedpersons. Currently, women,children, and men who are traf-ficked into or within Canada of-ten fall between the cracks in thesystem. Detained and deported,they may be treated more ascriminals than as victims of acrime. How can we improveprotection and services for traf-ficked persons in Canada?

These questions and many otherswere the focus of the CanadianCouncil for Refugees (CCR) FallConsultation on the theme BuildingWelcoming Communities in Windsorfrom 3-5 December, 2009. Twice ayear the CCR organizes nationalconferences, or consultations, indifferent cities on different themes.This fall, it was held in Windsor forthe first time. With Windsors statusas a key Canadian gateway, Build-ing Welcoming Communities was aunique opportunity to explore to-gether how to improve protectionand services for newcomers and tobuild communities across Canadathat are welcoming to refugees andimmigrants. Windsor-based organi-zations and individuals played keyroles in organizing and leading dis-cussions. More than 300 partici-pants gathered at the conference toshare information, network, developstrategies, and discuss emerging

issues. The Consultation resulted innew approaches on these key is-sues and plans for future actions.

For more information on futureconsultations see:http://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htm

About the Canadian Council for

Refugees (CCR):Founded in 1978, the CanadianCouncil for Refugees is a non-profitnetwork of more than 180 organiza-tions across Canada involved in thesettlement, sponsorship, and protec-tion of refugees and immigrants.The CCR is committed to the rightsand protection of refugees in Can-ada and around the world and to thesettlement of refugees and immi-grants in Canada.

For more information about the Ca-nadian Council for Refugees and theCCRs work, check out the websiteat: http://www.ccrweb.ca

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Colleen French is a Communicationand Networking Coordinator, CanadianCouncil for Refugees.

Building Welcoming CommunitiesCanadian Council for Refugees Fall Consultation in Windsor

By Colleen French
http://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htmhttp://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htmhttp://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htmhttp://www.ccrweb.ca/http://www.ccrweb.ca/http://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htmhttp://www.ccrweb.ca/eng/about/meetings.htm


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CSSJ Newsletter

Centre for Studies in Social Justice Upcoming Events

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Monday, February 1, 7:00pm

Burning Issues in Social Justice DiscussionSries:"Canadian Immigration Policy and the Increasing Insecurityof Migrants"Windsor Workers Action Centre, 328 Pelissier, Windsor, ON

A Panel Discussion with

Tanya Basok, Director, Centre for Studies in Social JusticeTemporary Migrants in Canada: Unprotected and InsecureWorkers

Emily Carasco, Professor, Faculty of LawTemporary Workers: Systemic Gender Discrimination inCanada's Immigration System"

Shelley Gilbert, Co-ordinator of Social Work Services,Legal Assistance of Windsor, and, Co-chair,

Windsor-Essex Anti- Human Trafficking Action GroupTemporary Foreign Workers and the Potential for HumanTrafficking"

As the Canadian government opens up temporary migrant

worker programs to more sectors and employers across thecountry, independent contractors are getting in on the businessof bringing workers to Canada both through legal and illegalchannels. Labour, legal and community activists, as well asacademics, have become progressively more concerned withthe increasing number of temporary migrants recruited to workin Canada as well as the working conditions they face here.

The Centre for Studies in Social Justice invites nomi-

nations for its SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT OF THEYEAR AWARD.

The Centre for Studies in Social Justice invites nominations for itsSOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD. This year theCentre wishes to honour a student group. Eligible nominees includestudent groups whose project(s) have demonstrated an outstandingcommitment to the rights of the marginalized or oppressed, the healthof people and the environment, or the well-being of animals.

Nominations should include:- a letter from the nominator explaining why the designated groupdeserves the award- two supporting letters from individuals familiar with the nominatedgroups contributions or a brief overview of the project from the partici-pants- any appropriate supporting documentation (articles that describe the

project, testimonials, etc.)

Deadline for Nominations: Feb 22, 2010* Send nominations and all supporting documents to the Centre forStudies in Social Justice, 251-1 Chrysler Hall South, University ofWindsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4.Please direct any questions to Dr. Tanya Basok, Director, Centre forStudies in Social Justice, at 519 253-3000 Ext. 3498 or E-mail:[email protected] award will be presented at a reception to be hosted by the Universityof Windsor Centre for Studies in Social Justice in early April.

Monday, March 1, 4:00pmDr. Wayne Lewchuk, Working Without Commitments:The Health Effect of Precarious Employment.

Windsor Workers' Action Centre, 328 Pelissier, Windsor, ON

Dr. Wayne Lewchuk,School of Labour Studies and Department of EconomicsMcMaster University

Across Europe and North America, employerssearching for greater labour market flexibilityare increasing the use of temporary employ-

ment contracts and the hiring of employees through tempo-rary employment agencies. The already limited commitmentsbetween employers and employees are eroding as terms ofemployment become shorter and employers provide feweremployee protections and benefits. From this perspective,

employment has become more precarious and commitmentsbetween employers and employees more tenuous. Are therehealth implications of this shift from the perspective of work-ers, their households and our communities? This talk willpresent evidence that this is the case, and that the cost ofincreased labour market flexibility is being born by thosedependent on working for a living. It has resulted in a newtype of occupational risk that we call Employment Relation-ship Strain.


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CALL FOR PAPERSwww.www.studiesinsocialjustice.org

Studies in Social Justice publishes articles on issues dealing with the social,cultural, economic, political, and philosophical problems associated with thestruggle for social justice. This interdisciplinary journal aims to publish workthat links theory to social change and the analysis of substantive issues. The

journal welcomes heterodox contributions that are critical of established para-digms of inquiry.

The journal focuses on debates that move beyond conventional notions of

social justice, and views social justice as a critical concept that is integral inthe analysis of policy formation, rights, participation, social movements, andtransformations. Social justice is analysed in the context of processes involv-ing nationalism, social and public policy, globalization, diasporas, culture,gender, ethnicity, sexuality, welfare, poverty, war, and other social phenom-ena. It endeavours to cover questions and debates ranging from governanceto democracy, sustainable environments, and human rights, and to introducenew work on pressing issues of social justice throughout the world.

Editors

Tanya Basok, University of Windsor, CanadaSuzan Ilcan, University of Windsor, CanadaJeffrey Noonan, University of Windsor,Canada

Editorial Board

Franck Dvell, University of Oxford,United KingdomNancy Fraser, New School for SocialResearch, United StatesBarry Goldson, University of Liverpool,United KingdomCarol Gould, George Mason University,United StatesRobert Hackett, Simon Fraser University,CanadaDavid Harvey, City University of New York,United States

Jane Helleiner, Brock University, CanadaEngin Isin, Open University, United KingdomCecilia Menjvar, Arizona State University,United StatesArun Mukherjee, York University, CanadaJackie Smith, University of Notre Dame,United StatesDaiva Stasiulis, Carleton University, CanadaGary Teeple, Simon Fraser University,CanadaSylvia Walby, Lancaster University,United KingdomGordon Walker, Lancaster University,United Kingdom

Principal Contact

Nicole NolJournal ManagerCentre for Studies in Social JusticeUniversity of WindsorWindsor, Ontario N9B 3P4CanadaPhone: 519-253-3000 ext. 3492Email: [email protected]

Newsletter Staff:

Editor: Nicole NolLayout: Galina Yeverovich

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Involved in Social Justice Research?

Contact the Center for Studies in Social Justice if you want to form aresearch interest group in your field of research.

FREE MEMBERSHIP!If you are interested in joining the Centre for Studiesin Social Justice you can join on-line by visitingour website, www.uwindsor.ca/socialjustice, and followingthe links to Membership. Membership gets you invitations toour events and you will receive our email announcementsand newsletter.

CSSJ Newsletter Winter 2010

Documents

Transcript of CSSJ Newsletter Winter 2010