Offering a hand to newcomers to the city

Claire Ryan’s latest FUSION Saint John article appeared in today’s Telegraph-Journal:

FUSION’s immigration committee will join forces with the Saint John Multicultural and Newcomers Centre (SJMNRC) to host June’s Party with a Purpose, which will take place this Friday and highlight the services offered at the centre.

The SJMNRC helps newcomers to Saint John settle in the city and effectively navigate the many obstacles that can arise when trying access services or find work or housing. FUSION offers newcomers a vehicle for establishing new contacts and broadening their social networks, allowing new Saint Johners to better acquaint themselves with the organizations and opportunities that exist in the city.

“Working with other community groups such as FUSION, PRUDE Inc. and the YMCA is critical to assist our clients in making a home in Saint John,” says Luisa Montoya, project co-ordinator with the SJMNRC. “Through these partnerships we can accomplish greater goals; we can maximize our resources by working with organizations with expertise in other areas.”

Developing a sense of community is an important factor that compels people to put down roots in a particular place. “The people who stay are doing so because of other people,” Montoya says of the volunteers who have mobilized throughout the city to help newcomers acclimatize to their surroundings. The diverse social networks that exist within Saint John are a result of these connections, and add to Saint John’s overall appeal, for locals and newcomers alike.

“I would like for the attendees to understand the challenges that newcomers experience in settling into the city, as well as to know our organization and the array of volunteer opportunities that we offer,” Montoya says. Approximately 70-80 people have accessed the services available at the SJMNRC since it opened, including accreditation and job preparedness. This event will give SJMNRC clients a chance to meet new people and learn about the value of joining FUSION. FUSION members, meanwhile, can learn about the services offered and volunteer opportunities available at the SJMNRC and other affiliated organizations, including Prude Inc. and the YMCA-YWCA.

Much of FUSION’s success can be attributed to the efforts of newcomers to Saint John. FUSION members have found themselves in Saint John for a variety of reasons, and joined simply as a way to get to know people. June’s Party with a Purpose will give Saint Johners an opportunity to learn more about the SJMNRC, and how we can work with the centre and its clientele to strengthen Saint John’s social landscape. Through these combined efforts, Saint John will be a better place to work and live, whether you came from North Africa, northern New Brunswick or the north end.

June’s Party with a Purpose will take place June 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at A Khord. For more information, please visit FUSION online at www.fusionsj.com.

Claire Ryan works with MT&L Public Relations Ltd. and is a member of the FUSION Saint John board. Her column appears on Tuesdays. She can be reached at cryan@mtlpr.ca.