New project shines spotlight on newcomers

WE SUPPORTED GROUPS ADDRESSING INCLUSIVENESS

NEW PROJECT SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON NEWCOMERS

NSTORIES CONNECT PEOPLE. WHETHER IT’S BY READING, “Newcomers and Black, Indigenous LISTENING OR WATCHING OTHERS, and People of Colour (BIPOC) are underrepresented in local media and STORIES HAVE A WAY OF BRINGING culture. This project seeks to promote newcomer storytellers and narratives PEOPLE TOGETHER. THIS IS WHY that aren’t as popular,” he adds. SOUTHWEST NEWCOMER WELCOME As part of this project, newcomers created videos of their stories. The CENTRE (NWC) LAUNCHED A WELCOME most popular video featured a local Cuban-Canadian resident, Jorge CENTRE STUDIOS PROGRAM THAT Marquez, as he cooks his favorite traditional cuisine, seafood paella, USES STORIES TO INSPIRE GREATER in the NWC's new kitchen. The short video was well-received by the INCLUSIVITY AND A SENSE OF community . BELONGING IN THE COMMUNITY. “We hope that Welcome Centre Studios will increase the visibility and The Welcome Centre Studios is appreciation of the rich contributions an online initiative, launched in that newcomers and BIPOC individuals February 2020 that encourages bring to our communities.” Supported newcomers to share their stories, by SaskCulture’s Multicultural traditions, and cultures, and Initiatives Fund, the initiative continues provides opportunities to learn and hopes to partner with Indigenous about Indigenous perspectives Knowledge Keepers to share their through programs focused on stories and perspectives. intercultural exchange. While sharing their stories, the NWC

“The Welcome Centre Studios hopes that the participants will also seeks to elevate the voices of gain new skills and confidence to share newcomers and other marginalized their unique perspectives with the communities, by letting them tell public. “We hope to achieve this by their stories in their own terms,” linking participants with professional says Joey Donnelly, community storytellers and media artists, connections worker, NWC. promoting professional and personal development.”

THE WELCOME CENTRE STUDIOS SEEK TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF NEWCOMERS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, BY LETTING THEM TELL THEIR STORIES IN THEIR OWN TERMS.”

~ JOEY DONNELLY

WELCOME CENTRE STUDIOS PARTICIPANT JORGE MARQUEZ SHARES THE PROCESS OF MAKING HIS FAVORITE TRADITIONAL CUISINE, SEAFOOD PAELLA. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NWC.