Community Capacity Building Initiative
One of the main pillars of a Community Health Centre is its holistic approach to health care. Issues of Poverty, Housing, Immigration status, Unemployment, Education, Culture/Language, and others directly impact health outcomes and particularly so for Ottawa’s African Caribbean and Black (ACB) population. The relationship between poverty, for example, and health is widely documented. Addressing poverty is key to addressing poorer health outcomes. One of the issues identified during the 2011 and 2013 annual ACB symposiums and also in an evaluation report of PHAC funded project is higher unemployment rate among the ACB population.
The rate of unemployment among the ACB population is very high compared to other groups. A consultation document commissioned by Quebec Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities in 2005 identified the ACB population of facing unique barriers many of which even their high academic qualifications could not overcome. These challenges increasingly keep them underrepresented in many good areas of life. Also, studies by Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership (OLIP) and Social Planning Council corroborate the Quebec findings.
One way of resolving this issue and creating a healthy and vibrant ACB community, is to encourage active economic participation among the ACB population. Empowering people through creative skills development, entrepreneurship and business start-ups is one such solution. However, the world of business is very complex and often intimidating. There is therefore an urgent need for community capacity building to demystify the myths of entrepreneurship. This will encourage full economic participation of the ACB community, particularly, black youth.
The Good news is, Somerset West Community Health Centre, Ottawa Service Providers’ Hub and The City of Ottawa together with other partners have joined hands to turn the curve on unemployment among the African Caribbean and the Black people in Ottawa.
Funded by the City of Ottawa, the Community Capacity Building Initiative will offer cutting edge workshops and seminars on how to become an entrepreneur and /or grow your business. Starting in July, there will be 8 workshops around the city for would-be entrepreneurs and those interested in growing their start-ups.
The themes are 1).Business information sessions- types of businesses, the legal requirements and registration, etc. 2) Partnership and Business Plan Development, 3) the use of IT/Web 2.0 in Business Growth and 4) Business Mentoring sessions.
Do you have an idea you want to turn into a business venture? Do you want to learn how to grow your start-up into profitable venture? Do you have the burden to eliminate poverty and reduce unemployment among the ACB Community? If so we invite you to be part of this project. If you need more information on these workshops and business information sessions please contact Solomon Lome @ [email protected] or on the phone 613-709-1171 or 613-238-8214 ext. 2291