On Wednesday, August 25, Prairie Skies Integration Network invited Moose Jaw and area residents to join them at Crescent Park for their official launch, to introduce themselves, explain their role in lowering barriers for newcomers to the area, as well as highlighting the partners they’ll be working with to make that happen.
“Whether you’re a community member or you work in an organization or government, we all will find success when we come together,” said Dalise Hector, project manager for Prairie Skies Integration Network.
Hector has a 10 year history of working in the settlement and integration sector. While working at the Newcomer Welcome Centre in Moose Jaw, newcomers would often contact them to discuss challenges that they were struggling to overcome. Often, what was needed was more coordination with different community partners to provide services they may be struggling with, including language and housing.
“What inspired me was watching newcomer after newcomer dig their way through challenging processes, when I knew that if he worked together as a community, we could lower those barriers,” Hector said.
The vision statement at Prairie Skies is ‘Vibrant communities through coordinated community newcomer integration.’ The partnership they are highlighting includes a 15-partner guiding body they call their Partners of Council as well as approximately 15 members on their Immigrant Advisory Table, a body of expert advisors who can share the experience of migrating and making a new home in their area.
Gabriela Carmona, member of the Immigrant Advisory Table, immigrated from Mexico to Moose Jaw five years ago. She has been delighted with the city, and emphasizes that she and so many other newcomers are very eager to fit in and contribute to the community, but figuring out the best way to do that isn’t always easy, due to language barriers and other obstacles.
“We still need the help of social organizations that can better explain the ways and options we have towards achieving our goals. That’s the reason I’m so thankful that Prairie Skies Integration Network is working behind the scenes with other various organizations to make things as smooth as possible for us.”
