Jane Finch Community Ministry 2005 Year End Report

The Jane Finch Ministry is a community ministry of the Toronto West Presbytery with the United Church of Canada. It is situated in the Firgrove, Toronto Community Housing Company (TCHC) community and works quite closely with the Firgrove Tenant's Association. Although this public housing community of 382 households is the immediate catchment area of the ministry, it provides support and is also involved in initiatives taking place in the larger area of Jane and Finch. The role of the ministry is to provide community development and community organizing support, some pastoral care and advocacy through coalitions and networks. Many of the programs and initiatives are done in partnership with others. This spring one of the Firgrove residents, Doris Mancuso, organized a surprise birthday party for me with the Tenant’s Association. The next day I received a phone call that Doris died of a heart attack. When I first came to the Jane Finch Community 10 years ago, I was struck with the "gruffness" of Doris. However, over the years we became close friends and I appreciated her ability to "tell it like it is." Deep down Doris had a wonderful warm heart and she contributed to her community in many caring ways. In conducting the funeral service I explained that, I too, as a friend was grieving her loss but it was an honour to officiate in the celebration of her life. In some ways her death was a foretaste of the year to come.

Some say that this year has been the "Year of the Gun". Gun violence has occurred all over our city. Out of the 52 gun deaths in Toronto five have taken place in the larger Jane Finch Neighbourhood and one of those was in the Firgrove community. On Dec. 23rd Cordell Skinner a 25 year old young black man was killed in Firgrove. Responding to these acts of violence is not something new. Much of the work of the Community Ministry has been organizing for systemic changes to prevent the violence from occurring in the first place. Back in 1998 when someone shoot through a Firgrove door, that became the impetus to form the Jane Finch Street Involved Youth Issues Coalition. This coalition of about twenty organizations strong looks at better ways to coordinate services and advocate for additional resources to meet the needs of at risk youth. The Black Creek Community Capacity project which is looking at how we can build on the community’s strengths was a result of Breanna Davy, the three and a half year old, being shot in 1999. The priorities of its Economic working group are: increase youth employment opportunities, engage the business and corporate sector and promote hiring opportunities with the city. It is important for our criminal justice system to deal appropriately with those who do acts of violence but it will be a loosing battle if we do not pay attention to some of the other issues such as the rising gap between the rich and poor, high unemployment rates for black youth and the lack of appropriate programs in our schools and communities.

Our monthly supplementary food day continues to help out about 20-30 families each month. In addition to this food access initiative, we again were involved with the project called Making Connections, which was done in conjunction with North York Harvest Food Bank, Toronto Heart Health Network and several other community based organizations. This project connected 5 York Region Farmers' Markets with low-income communities and several North York Prenatal programs. Our summer student coordinated the implementation of the project and over 16 weeks during the summer, 20,000 lbs of fresh produce were donated to 18 emergency grocery programs and 13 perinatal programs. Also there were 5 gleaning trips in which residents from low-income communities were able to pick strawberries, beans, corn and tomatoes for free. For an eighth year we held a free income tax clinic in Firgrove. This program was done in conjunction with the Chartered Accountants Association and assisted about 60 individuals in filling out their tax forms.

For a third summer, the ministry hosted a weekend retreat at the Five Oaks retreat centre for the board of directors of the Firgrove Tenant Association and their families. 24 attended the retreat and all had a great time. Fundraising, that the Tenant Association was engaged in, covered most of the cost of the retreat and also helped to subsidize a larger community trip for Firgrove residents. The larger community trip this summer was to African Lion Safari. In partnership with the Tenant Association, and the local housing recreation program, the Community Ministry hosted the winter festive season celebration. We celebrated Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Small gifts were given out to over 90 children. The meal for the event was prepared by the residents and included curried goat, jerk chicken, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, spanish rice, rice and peas, several salads and an assortment of baked goods. In addition to this festive season celebration we provided about 90 gifts to some of the Islamic children of Firgrove in support of their Eid. Also the ministry handed out over 130 Chum Xmas Wish gifts.

Both myself and the Office Coordinator, Halima Abdela, provide information and referral to people who drop by the office or phone in. A variety of issues are dealt with such as legal matters, immigration, housing concerns, employment, schooling, skills training, parental support, conflict mediation, access to food, translation, etc.. Halima continues to do most of the bookkeeping for the ministry.

I continued to be involved on the Network of Community Based Organizations. I have been one of the Network reps on the Black Creek Community Capacity project, which is being done in conjunction with community organizations, City staff, York University, Seneca College, TDSB, TD Bank, local businesses, faith leaders and community residents. Karla Parks did her M.S.W. placement with the ministry and provided support to this project. A community forum to further refine and prioritize the recommendations from focus groups, took place in the winter. The refinement was developed into an action plan with a new working model of a coordinating committee and four working groups. The action plan was officially approved by the city’s policy and finance committee in September. In addition to being on the coordinating committee I have been chairing the economic working group and am part of the showcasing committee.

I have continued to be an active member of the Jane Finch Street Involved Youth Issues Coalition. This coalition, in conjunction with the Young Leaders of Jane and Finch, after much consultation with youth in the community, have come up with a strategic youth services plan for Jane and Finch. As a rep for the coalition I sat on the advisory committee for the Youth Job Core program in Jane and Finch.

With Presbytery involvement I have continued with the Social Justice Committee of the Presbytery. This committee has been in the process of conducting an inventory of social justice activities of congregations within the presbytery and preparing for an educational event to highlight water issues. The United Church’s Spirit Connection produced a video of the three presbytery community ministries and was aired nationally on Vision T.V.. This last year I preached at 4 United Churches and was the key note speaker for a community event. Thanks to all the congregations who provided financial support through the Community Ministries Sunday and a special thanks goes out to Beverley Hills and Humber Valley for their continued support. Some of the proceeds from the sales of Thistletown and Century were used to support local bread delivery, a Martial Arts/tutoring program, uniforms for a basketball team in Jane and Finch, a focus group looking at the relationship between income, race and delivery of Health Services, the Firgrove recreation program, Downsview’s Sunday school program and to offset costs for the summer retreat.

National commitments have included being on the steering committee of the Urban Core Support Network (UCSN), being on the national church's Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations unit committee and it’s sub committee Justice, Peace and Creation. I also took a lead role in doing the local co-ordination with a United and Presbyterian National project called CANACOM (Caribbean and North America Council for Mission). A JOMAT team (Joint Overseas Mission Action Team) with two people from Jamaica, one from Trinidad and one from Alberta worked with area churches in Jane and Finch and Malvern as well as did placements in community based organizations from August to December. I have also continued to be on the national steering committee that has been developing administrative standards for community ministries with the United Church of Canada. In the Spring I attended the Energy from The Edges national consultation with Community Ministries. In Sept. I attended a National Anti-Poverty Consultation in Ottawa which was hosted by the ecumenical body called Kairos.

Thanks again to all the individuals, organizations, congregations and funding bodies that have contributed to the ministry with either time or financial gifts. It is only through your support that this ministry can take place.

Respectfully submitted by Barry Rieder