Presented by

Niambi Martin-John

MALTON COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT

The Malton Community Building Project (MCBP) is a unique,

five - year community development initiative funded by the

Ontario Trillium Foundation to empower community residents to

become active in fostering change in their community.

MCBP established a community engagement model to increase

civic literacy and participation in the Black ( Afro Caribbean,

Afro Canadian, African) and South Asian communities through

education, support, training, leadership development, coaching

and mentoring.

MCBP IMPACTING COMMUNITY COHESIVENESS

Malton Community Building Project takes a

collaborative approach to program delivery in

the community

The various community partners bring their

expertise in community development, parent

education, health promotion, recreation, literacy

and advocacy to host events, execute

programs, provide training and mobilize

residents

MALTON COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECT

OUTCOMES

Increased sense of community belonging

Increased awareness of services and support available in the community

Enhanced adult and parental involvement and leadership in the Community

Increased awareness of local issues, needs and opportunities and the development of appropriate action or responses

Increased youth participation in leadership roles

Malton United – bringing the community together and overcoming ethno-cultural stereotypes and barriers

WHY BUILDING BLOCKS ?

MALTON PROFILE

• High new immigrant population

• Significant cultural, ethnic and religious diversity

• High occurrence of single income/single parent households

• Large number of high school drop outs

• High unemployment among those 18 years and older

• Significant incidence of drug related and other crime

• Increasing poverty and diminishing socio-economic conditions

• Low Voter turnout

• 51% of residents with a first language other than English

• 59% immigrants

• 70% visible minorities

Formation of a Youth Advisory

Committee

Deputation to Mississauga City

Council

Applied for Youth In Actions Grants UWPR and ROP

Executing Youth Led Programming in the

community

Youth Training - How Government

Works

Empowering Youth

Creating a sustainable legacy

Youth Deputation to Mississauga City Council

Malton Moms

• Trained advocacy volunteer facilitating sessions for multicultural women’s groups

• Implemented a Creative Café for women to express themselves through various creative outlets including poetry, visual art and storytelling

• Hosting community forums to engage broader community in the change process

Malton Women’s Council

• Trained advocacy volunteer facilitating in language and culturally appropriate presentations to South Asian women

• Advocating for a safe space for women and children to congregate and receive support services in the community

• Working across cultural boundaries with Malton Moms to bring the community together

WOMEN ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE

Social Enterprise

Breaking Down Social Barriers

Building Community

Cohesiveness

Creating possibility where we live!

Caribbean Seniors

Malton Neighbourhood

Services South Asian Seniors

Multicultural Seniors Group

Punjabi Community Health

Services Seniors Groups

Aligned with Ward Councillor

Bonnie Crombie to host a

community event – Meet Your

Neighbour Day – building

community cohesiveness,

enhancing community safety,

building capacity

Advocated for and

successfully spearheaded the

formation of Malton Business

Improvement Area Association

for the beautification and

enhancement of the physical

environment

• Supported a town hall meeting to

educate Malton residents about

proposed changes to the Federal

Electoral Boundaries

• Encouraged and Mobilized community

groups to attend town hall meeting and

an open meeting of the Federal

Electoral Commission

• Empowered residents submitted over

100 letters to the commission to register

their complaints

• Delegation of Malton residents attended

and spoke at FEC meeting

• RESULTS. RESULTS. Malton WILL

remain as a part of Mississauga riding

Federal Electoral Boundaries

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MCBP AND BUILDING BLOCKS

Malton Youth Centre Initiative

Performing and Visual Arts

Social Enterprise

Recreation

Volunteerism

Civic Engagement

Leadership Development

Advocacy

Education

Literacy

Health Promotion

Mental Health

Life Skills

Events

Malton You Got Talent

Tree Planting

Meet Your Neighbour Day

Youth Conference

YOUTH

An inclusive, youth centred approach to building community

WE’RE NOT DONE!!

Advocating for:

Women’s Centre in Malton

Youth Centre in Malton

Cross Walk for Lincoln

Alexander Secondary

School

Four Way stop at Corliss

Elementary School

We have created a

sustainable model for

civic engagement and

literacy in the Malton

Community

We have created an

informal network of

trained volunteers that

are committed to

continuing civic literacy

in the community

We have moved from a

service provider led

model to a resident

driven model

We have established a

strong relationship with

elected officials in the

community and increased

access to them for

residents

We have created a strong

foundation for youth as

change champions

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF

BUILDING BLOCKS

BUILDING COMMUNITY

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

THANK YOU!