Finding Home » Dialogue

From Victims To Champions – A New North Shore Seniors Speakers Bureau

admin — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 19:46:25 +0000

Our first Finding Home™ seniors dialogue series on Elder Financial Abuse was with a multicultural seniors group. The dialogues were hosted by North Shore Neighbourhood House and John Braithwaite Community Centre. During the dialogues participants explored the meaning of home, ways family members can take advantage of seniors, and strategies to prevent elder financial abuse. Out of the dialogues they have started a phenomenal Victims To Champions Seniors Speakers Bureau and have already spoken at Seniors Day, North Shore Services To Seniors Coalition, North Shore police, City Council, and have several other speaking gigs lined up. In addition, they have created a flyer on ‘Tips on Personal Power’ for seniors and are currently working on a video project.

Applause for Victims to Champions Speakers on the North Side

Check out the Victims to Champions mural..

Click to enlarge

Download Posters HERE.

Read Related Blog Posts:

From Victims To Champions – New North Shore Seniors Speakers Bureau

Love Is Powerful and Precious

North Shore Seniors Share Stories And Share Home

North Shore Seniors Learn About Community Resources

Seniors Share 5 Tips on Moving Past Embarrassment

How To Spot A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Recovering From Con Artists – Seniors Share Their Stories

Seniors Counsel for Elders Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project

Building a Safety Net – Elder Abuse Prevention

Iranian River Party

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:42:11 +0000

During Finding Home™ Iranian Seniors Dialogues at John Braithwaite Community Centre and the North Shore Neighbourhood House, dialogue participants shared stories about the meaning of home, how to live well together, and tips for newcomer Iranians on how to create home in Canada. Throughout the dialogues, participants expressed the importance rivers play in creating home for them. One dialogue participant broke into song about the Karoun River in southern Iran and told us that all human beings should see this river, because once you see this river you will know the love of the world. Consequently, we hosted their celebrating success event at a local North Shore river, where the seniors, sang, read poetry, danced, gave speeches and shared food. Now these creative and inspiring seniors are busy preparing for BC Rivers Day where they hope to share their love of rivers with the wider community.

Iranian Seniors Finding Home™ Dialogue Participants

See a Video Clip HERE

Download Posters HERE

Teaching Kindness & Caring Prevents Elder Financial Abuse

admin — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:42:58 +0000

During South Asian Punjabi Seniors Finding Home™ dialogues, participants identified raising their sons to be selfish is one of the root cause of elder financial abuse in their communities. They offer tips on how to prevent selfishness and greed from taking root by teaching kindness and caring to both boys and girls at an early age. Read more to learn about their tips and strategies….

South Asian Punjabi Seniors Finding Home™ Dialogue Participants

7 Tips To Teach Kindness & Caring …
•   Raise sons and daughters the same
•   Teach sons to work hard & earn their own money
•   Give sons jobs & chores
•   Encourage sons to show love & kindness
•   Stop treating men as gods
•   Praise boys when they are kind and caring
•   Read proverbs and stories to children about caring and kindness

8 Strategies To Prevent Elder Financial Abuse…
•   Start a cultural ceremony that celebrates girls’ long lives
•   Don’t give to people who don’t respect you
•   Keep your independence
•   Listen to your gut feeling & instinct
•   Don’t give in
•   Realize you can’t buy respect
•   Don’t set up joint accounts or joint tenancy
•   Make a will

Download Posters HERE.

Read Related Blogs:

How To Spot A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Recovering From Con Artists – Seniors Share Their Stories

Seniors Counsel for Elders Financial Abuse Awareness Dialogue Project

The Art of Convening and Hosting Dialogues

Building a Safety Net – Elder Abuse Prevention

Love Is Powerful & Precious

Newcomers Say Making Friends is Top Priority

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:03:54 +0000

Alexandra Neighbourhood House hosted a Finding Home Newcomers Dialogue in South Surrey, White Rock. 40 Newcomers from Chinese and Korean origins attended. Dialogue participants shared stories about moving to Canada, finding work, learning English, trying to access services and workplace problems. Despite the myriad of hurdles they all overcame to find home in Canada, all agreed the most important priority is to make friends, they rest they say will take care of itself.

40 Newcomers gather for Finding Home Dialogue in Crescent Beach

Alexandra Neighbourhood House Welcomes Newcomers

admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:01:07 +0000

Alexandra Neighbourhood House Newcomers and long time residents alike are working together to welcome recent newcomers. In preparation for a multicultural dialogue to be held on November 21st, 2009, Alexandra Neighbourhood House hosted Finding Home’s Community Engagement workshops. Seniors, ESL youth and long time residents of all ages gathered to share experiences and learn new tools to engage newcomer communities in a dialogue. It was decided that the dialogue would be called a “Tea and Chat” and the motto they created is “Today you come here by yourself. Tommorrow you come here with friends.”

Moving From A House to One Bedroom

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:02:20 +0000

During Fining Home seniors’ dialogues at John Braithwaite community centre and the North Shore Neighbourhood House today, seniors shared experiences of moving into a smaller place. One dialogue participant shared his story of having to move from a house to one bedroom after a recent health and financial crisis. He had no time to adjust to the change or decide what to keep and what to let go of. For him, it was a traumatic experience to discover his most cherished momentos had been given or thrown away. Together the group brainstormed how to find a sense of home in a smaller place. Drawing on past experiences as a student, living on a boat or as a traveler they generated new solutions for this present day challenge.

Alexandra Neighbourhood House Community Dinner

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:03:06 +0000

Tonight Alexandra Neighbourhood House launched their Building Welcoming and Inclusive Communities (BWIC) strategy by hosting a community dinner and a Finding Home presentation and dialogue. Over 30 people participated, including youth, seniors, newcomers, long time residents, service providers, artists and community organizers. Many ideas were generated and a new BWIN advisory group was formed. I look forward to continuing to work with this dynamic community. In October, I will be giving a community engagement workshop to their BWIN advisory group and youth group. In November I will facilitate a Finding Home Multicultural Dialogue for Newcomers in Crescent Beach South Surrey.

Seniors Share Tips About De-Cluttering Our Minds

admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:47:00 +0000

Seniors at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House gather once a week for Finding Home Dialogues. Each week, they choose their Finding Home priority need and I custom design a dialogue around that theme. Today’s theme was How To De-Clutter Our Minds. Dialogue participants shared reasons for a cluttered mind such as feeling overwhelmed, covering up sadness, having inner chatter about the past, or being critical of yourself or others. After generating many strategies to de-clutter your mind, they decided cultivating self awareness and learning to celebrate yourself is key.

Laughing Is Good Medicine

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:47:39 +0000

A new Finding Home Elders dialogue series is underway at Spirit of the Children’s Society with their Aboriginal Grandparents Raising Grandkids group. These remarkable grandmothers, ranging form about 50 to 80 years old, share stories, insights and love about raising their young grandchildren. They identified one of their priority Finding Home needs as Self-Care. Today, they shared their insights on how to care for one self in the midst of such busy and demanding lives. Topics ranged from the importance of daily exercise, eating well, traditional culture and laughter to making sure you have time for yourself. They also shared the dangers of self-neglect when things feel overwhelming. Everyone can learn from their strategies of breaking the cycle of self-neglect. They include spending time with people who care about you, having sun in the fun, re-decorating, prayer, ceremony and good music. It is such an honour to spend time with these women every week!

Seniors Food Forum – Meals For The Future

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:48:13 +0000

I was invited to give a keynote address today at the Forum for Seniors Food Service Providers hosted by The Centre for Health and Community Partnerships at Douglas College. Using the Rattlesnake Lessons for Change metaphor we explored what is the nature of the current change process with regards to seniors and meal service providers. We then explored everyone’s memory of a good meal in small groups. Each small group synthesized the common elements that create a good meal. It was interesting that not one small group identified the details about food as an element that creates a good meal. Things like good conversation, good company, and a beautiful environment were the majority’s experience of what creates a good meal. In addition, we explored the transitions that most seniors undergo that need food service providers and what best supports them during these, often difficult, times. In exploring these themes new ideas began to be generated about what is needed to enhance seniors food services. For a final report, contact The Centre for Health and Community Partnerships. To learn about our keynote addresses contact us