C35 Being an Ally

Presented by: Melissa Addison-Webster and Yvonne Kelly,

Steering Committee Members of the Put Food in the Budget Campaign in Ontario

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Critical Analysis of how Social Change can happen at a grassroots level An understanding of the Benefits of Truly Collaborative Practices Lessons learned as shared with us by People with lived experience of Poverty

Knowledge and Experience in the room  Allies – A Definition 

Power and privilege – recognition of our

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Anti-Oppression work – all forms of

own

oppression are interrelated and part of a self-perpetuating system

What is an Ally?

What is the work one must do?

What is Anti-Oppression Theory?

How does it Inform Community Development Approaches?

“I Regain Hope every time I see someone reach out past the boundaries of their own oppression to understand and support someone else’s struggle.”

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“Power with” instead of “Power Over”

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Anne Bishop’s Dream: “We can develop social, political, and economic structures that benefit everyone and we will… We are by far the majority – we can change things.”

1. Understanding Oppression 2. Understanding different oppressions and how they reinforce one another 3. Consciousness and Healing

4. Becoming a worker for your own Liberation.

5. Becoming an Ally 6. Maintaining Hope

Questions and Considerations to be made 1.

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Are the Issues and Work driven by those most affected?

Are individuals invited and supported to take on different roles in the work?

Is it a safe environment for everyone?

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Accept other people’s Anger and deal with their own discomfort?

Work through the “it’s too Political” Question?

Negotiate their role/position with the organization they’re representing?

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Share their experience and Skill without unduly influencing the agenda?

Support individuals and the group and avoid “taking over”?

Create open spaces for honest feedback from everyone?

Address the Power and privilege differentials.

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Definition and Context around “Poor Bashing.”

Reveal the extent and pervasiveness of the Poor Bashing as part of the Austerity Agenda.

Examples of how PFIB has Challenged the Economics of Austerity -

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Look for opportunities to connect people and groups together with common interests and values – be a SILO JUMPER. Don’t assume that it is already happening or that if it isn’t, that it can’t.

Make the connections for people between poverty, poor health and limited life outcomes.

Be an Ally and an example to others.

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 Beginnings

 Birth

with SPNO in 2008

of PFIB and the $100 Healthy Food Supplement

â—Ś Creates integrated, trans-sectoral partnerships, solidarity and collaborations. â—Ś Supports community health and well-being â—Ś Identifies and develops new creative and energizing ways of advocating for social justice.

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Grass roots – driven by those most affected Solidarity between those with lived experience of poverty and staff from

community based organizations such as CHCs, faith groups, community food security organizations, labour, and community members.

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Cross-sectoral and very much SHARED.

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Social Determinants of Health – Talking so People will Listen Poverty as the main determinant of health and the underlying root cause of hunger Redefining Health and health outcomes in “real terms” The Costs of Poverty to all of US

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MOH – Toronto Community Health Centres – AOPHA Endorsement

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Heart and Stroke Foundation

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Next Steps – future opportunities

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Do the Math Budget Survey

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Eat the Math Food Bank Challenge

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MPPs – Allies or Foes

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Sometimes Allies come in the most unexpected forms… Deborah Kelly Editor

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Building Grassroots Support in 30 Communities across Ontario Cultivating Allies and Alliances with Crosssectoral Groups. Examples Discerning your Allies from your Opponents

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Gauging Your Capacity

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Focussing your Energies

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Picking your Targets and Secondary Targets

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Spheres of Influence

Poverty Free Ontario Minimum Wage ISARC Social Assistance Review Special Diet Allowance and CSUMB

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Provincial Rallies

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Marches

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Dollton

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Valentines for Duncan

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Grew up and out of the PFIB work in York Region It was an attempt to identify allies for the anti-poverty work we were doing with people on the lowest of incomes Senior volunteers who had been through it all emerged as allies who had a unique story to tell.

Lay us off!

Mandatory retirement by the age of 90!

Freeze our wages! Or double them!

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There’s nothing like Real Life Experience to make sense of things There are no SILOS in Real life Life and Health, Income and Poverty, Barriers to Opportunity - all converge.

Learning from those who “truly understand” the convergence of all of life’s issues – Those

who are living it.

As Shared by PFIB Membership

“Overall, we want alliances amongst people because: it is important to not be alone in our actions. Allies amplify the noise those affected by the issues directly, are making and can add numbers and impact. It is important for people to feel they have others in their corner.�

Cross Provincial Rally in January 2011

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Awareness

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Owning your own Biases and Privilege

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Taking Responsibility – patriarchal and colonial lineages; past and current forms of oppression

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Examples: Faith Groups, Anti-Poverty Activists, Social Planning Groups, Labour, Student Unions, Academics, Food Security Workers, Media, Municipal councillors, Artists,

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Attracting Allies - Snowball or Magnet Effect Greg “Ritallin” Frankson

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Brainstorm how to be an Ally in each example.

How would you challenge stereotypes and discriminatory practices and comments?

When to? How to?

How would you engage and work in a community context around your example?

- Outreach - Planning - Evaluation

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How was it different, thinking of your Role from the perspective of an ALLY, instead of someone in a helping profession or position?

Power Dynamics – your thoughts..

 Around  In

the Room

your Handouts

On the Ground At the Provincial Level And with Cross Community Collaboration

On the Ground At the Provincial Level And with Cross Community Collaboration

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Look for opportunities to connect people and groups together with common interests and values – be a SILO JUMPER. Don’t assume that it is already happening or that if it isn’t, that it can’t.

Make the connections for people between poverty, poor health and limited life outcomes.

Be an Ally and an example to others.

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Revise or tweak your responses accordingly Report back to larger group

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How will this inform and influence your work with individuals and communities?

Next Steps Opportunities for Collective Action and Advocacy…..

OUR ASK….

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Support the increase to Social Assistance Rates

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Advocate to maintain the Special Diet Allowance

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Support the increase to the Minimum Wage to $14.00 NOW! Support Living Wage Campaigns where they exist.

Advocate for the Guaranteed Annual Incomes.

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Sign on as a Supporter of the PFIB Campaign Support the Minimum Wage Campaign Become a Friend of Freedom 90 – the Union of Food Bank and Meal Program Volunteers.

ISARC Book Release - 2011

“An Ally doesn’t have their head in the sand or in the clouds. An Ally keeps their head squarely fixed on their shoulders. They work shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with those with lived experience of oppression in order to fight together for social change and social justice.”

Yvonne and Melissa