Brown Canada

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Volunteer Postings “Brown Canada” Community Animators for Sikh, Tamil and Indo-Caribbean Communities

Volunteer Position: Community Animator - Project: Brown Canada - Documenting and Creating South Asian Histories in Canada Duration: Immediate Start - June 29, 2012 Compensation: Honourarium-based

Brown Canada is a 2-year comprehensive South Asian history project that seeks to document and create history from a diverse range of perspectives that fall under the ‘South Asian’ umbrella. During this project, we will be creating a comprehensive website with photos, videos and articles, creative and digital storytelling workshops, resource booklets, a DVD, as well as a memorial website and youth-led play dedicated to exploring histories of the Komagata Maru.

CASSA is looking to fill three Community Animator positions. The Community Animator will be responsible for gathering content and mobilizing interest in the Brown Canada project within a specific South Asian community or experience. We are currently seeking animators to work with people identifying as Sikh, Indo-Caribbean and Tamil.* The project aims to document intersecting identities in each theme based on contributors’ preferences and self-identification. The Community Animator will be expected to create and obtain content for the Brown Canada website and DVD’s primarily through interviews with community members in the form of video, photography or written submissions.

Responsibilities: -act as a liaison between Sikh/Indo-Caribbean/Tamil Community and overall ‘Brown Canada’ project -research and compile information with regard to specific community -Assist Brown Canada’s Outreach Team with community outreach and volunteer recruitment/coordination -coordinate interviews and record oral histories of community members -use creative art/media such as video, digital storytelling, and creative writing to encourage story-telling -obtain informed consent from all individuals and groups interviewed, ensure permission forms are signed -Submit articles, photographs, stories to the project manager within the week they are completed so that they can be shared on the Brown Canada website -other administrative duties as assigned

Qualifications:

-Self-identification with the communities specified (e.g Sikh or Tamil and/or Indo-Caribbean) -Knowledge or interest in the above South Asian communities along with community contacts interest and/or experience in areas of South Asian history, issues, politics or activism -Enthusiastic about learning and sharing knowledge

-Interest in arts, media, research and writing -Ability to work effectively independently and in a group -Good verbal and written communication skills -Knowledge of anti-oppression analysis -Ability to work under tight deadlines*In addition to documenting the Sikh, Tamil and Indo-Caribbean communities, the Brown Canada project is also interested in documenting communities and experiences that include but are not limited to, people identifying as Bangladeshi, Indian, Muslim, Pakistani, Punjabi, Mixed-Race, LGBTQ, Women, Disabled, Workers, Artists, Cultural workers and Healthcare providers. Please contact anita@cassa.on.ca if you are interested in working with any of these communities or any others that are not listed.

How to Apply: Please submit your résumé and cover letter by May 9, 2012 at 5 pm, either: By Mail to:

Anita Khanna, Project Manager CASSA, 2401 Eglinton Ave. East, Unit 212 Toronto, ON, M1K 2N8

Or by Email with one email attachment if possible: hr@cassa.on.ca

CASSA is committed to employment equity & encourages applicants from members of equity seeking groups. While we appreciate all responses, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Call for Event Planning  and Outreach Volunteers Brown Canada Project

About the “Brown Canada” Project:

Brown Canada is a 2-year comprehensive South Asian history project that seeks to document and create history from a diverse range of perspectives that fall under the “South Asian” umbrella. During this project, we will be creating a comprehensive website with photos, videos and articles, creative and digital storytelling workshops, resource booklets, a DVD, as well as a memorial website and youth-led play dedicated to exploring histories of the Komagata Maru.

1) Call for Event Planning Volunteers:

We seek a committee of dedicated volunteers to assist the Event Planner with the various logistical responsibilities involved in:

a)     Setting up a series of community dialogues taking place across Ontario that will also feature a theatrical piece;

b)     Coordinating contents and logistics relating to a Brown Canada exhibit that will tour within the Greater Toronto Area during South Asian Heritage Month in May and;

c)      Planning and overseeing the final Brown Canada event in June.

Our core team will consist of about 6-10 volunteers who will work out of the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) office, located at 2401 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 212 in Toronto. Occasionally these volunteers will also work from home.

We will also have teams of 3-5 volunteers located in various cities outside of the Greater Toronto Area to assist with the setting up of the theatrical play and community dialogues component of this project. These cities (tentatively) include Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, Windsor, London and Ottawa.

All volunteers will report back to the Event Planner for the Brown Canada Project, Shameela Zaman

Skills Required:

• Excellent communication and outreach skills
• Experience with social media and networking platforms such as Facebook, and Twitter is an asset
• Event planning experience is an asset
• Must be able to work independently and with a team
• Must be able to follow orders, work within a limited time frame and under tight deadlines

Time Commitment:

Members of our core team are expected to commit 5 – 7 hours per week at the CASSA office, with the possibility of extra hours at home.

Members of teams located outside of the GTA are expected to commit 2-5 hours per week. These hours will increase as the event date draws nearer in each city.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining the event planning committee, please email Shameela Zaman at shameela@cassa.on.ca by May 4^th at 12pm.

2) Call for Outreach Volunteers:

We seek a committee of dedicated volunteers to assist the Outreach Coordinator with the following responsibilities:

a)     Setting up a series of outreach events and workshops within the Greater Toronto Area, on the Brown Canada Project

b)     Attending various Outreach Events for South Asian Heritage Month in May, and general community events in June to set up Brown Canada booth

c)      Engaging with community members to elicit participation in activities including creating community collages, art activities, documenting oral histories and assisting at community workshops

Our team will consist of 6-10 volunteers who will work out of both community venues and  the CASSA Office located at 2401 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 212 in Toronto. 

All volunteers will report back to the Outreach Coordinator for the Brown Canada Project, Krittika Ghosh

Skills Required:

• Excellent communication and outreach skills
• Experience in doing outreach in the South Asian community
• Arts based experience including photography, painting, graphic design
• Knowledge of organizations, cultural groups, student groups and other resources in the South Asian community in the GTA
• Must be able to work independently and with a team
• Must be able to follow orders, work within a limited time frame and under tight deadlines
• Knowledge of a South Asian language such as Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi an asset
• Access to a vehicle would be an asset (but not required)

Time Commitment:

Members of our core team are expected to commit up to 5-7 hours per week which could include weekend and week nights.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in joining the event planning committee, please email Krittika Ghosh at  krittika@cassa.on.ca  by May 4^th at 12pm.