Archives for August 2014

Archive for August, 2014

Nellie’s Summer Kid’s Program

Posted on: August 21st, 2014 by Nellie's No Comments

It’s been a busy 6 weeks at the Nellie’s Summer Children’s program.

The 15 campers ranging from the ages of 6-12 immediately made new friends and were very welcoming to one another.

With the incorporation of team building activities such as snowball messages, suggestion circle the campers were provided the opportunity to express their personal experiences in a safe environment throughout the program. It was great to see the open discussion occurring as the children engaged with one another.

The campers also had the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents numerous times throughout the program. All the games we played such as I Like My Neighbor, Chairs, Heads up Thumbs Up gave the children a chance to build their social skills in addition to making friends.

An important goal of the program was to develop leadership skills. Providing opportunities for the children to be responsible and leaders helped them foster their self-worth. Doing suggestion circles where we got the campers to brainstorm on a “real-life” problem that they may encounter was way for the children to express great suggestions and feel like their ideas matter.

A highlight of one of the art workshops was when we had a special visit from Acts of Kindness who helped the children crotchet bracelets, necklaces, etc. All the campers were really proud to take home their art projects. Another activity the children enjoyed was baking which was wonderful community-building activity. Being able to work as a team to make food, and then to sit together and eat is a great experience. Everyone was eager to participate and got to practice taking turns and respecting everyone’s contributions.

The campers also went on field trips such as the AGO, the ROM , the Toronto islands, etc. Exploring the city in which they live and interacting with their community at large was something that children really forward to each week.

As the program has now come to a close, we wish all the campers a great school year!

STWM Team Nellie’s!

Posted on: August 17th, 2014 by Nellie's No Comments

With the Scotiabank Marathon only 9 weeks away, we have only 7 runners registered and we have only raised $785 with a goal of $25,000. We are $24,215 from reaching our Goal!

In order to reach our goal, we need to raise $2,700 each week from now until the day of the run: Sunday October 19^th, 2014!

We are counting on the $25,000 to maintain our programs and services at the current level! Therefore, we MUST reach our goal. We need your support and we cannot do it with only the 7 people already registered. You can help us by registering to participate and raising funds or you can participate by supporting already registered runners.

Please join the Team Nellie’s and help us to reach our $2,700 weekly goal. We still have 9 5k and 2 half marathon free registration spots left, hurry up and take one of these spots!!

From now until the day of the run, I will be posting weekly updates of our advances towards our Goal!

Please go here to register or here to donate today. Please ask Julia at julia@nellies.org for the free entry code today! Click here to download a pledge form!

GO TEAM NELLIE’S GO!

Prisoners’ Justice Day – August 10th, 2014

Posted on: August 11th, 2014 by Nellie's No Comments

August 10^th was Prisoners’ Justice Day, a day to mourn and remember those we lost to an apathetic correctional system. It is a day to highlight the inhumane conditions faced by those behind bars. It is day to advocate for change, to advocate for a society capable of recognizing human dignity, of showing compassion, and of eliminating injustices to whomever and wherever these injustices occur.

On August 10th, we remember those that have died, either through suicide or lack of adequate health care. We remember “Ashley Smith” whose pleas for help were ignored.

On this day, we draw attention to the experience of women in the penal system. We see society’s response to those with mental health issues, and draw attention to the correctional system’s increased use of segregation for those with mental disabilities and the use of a risk classification system that equates mental health needs with risk.

On this day, we draw attention to the increased number of incarcerated women at a time when the number of crime and the severity of crime are decreasing, when most women are incarcerated for non-violent crimes.

We see a correctional system that ignores the context of many incarcerated women, the structural inequities that exist outside of prison that marginalize women and that may relate to behaviours leading to imprisonment. It is a system that continues to marginalize women – shackled to a male-centric approach to programming, the system offers little in terms of access to meaningful work skills or training programs. It is, in effect, an environment that does little to facilitate life outside bars.

So on August 10^th, we stand together and advocate for change. We advocate for a correctional system that does better, that eliminates the use of segregation and a risk classification system that equates mental health needs with risk. We advocate for a society that treats those with mental health issues more proportionately, more humanely. We advocate for a society, one that does not see prison as an appropriate response to an erosion of education, social and health services.