Archives for February 2023

Archive for February, 2023

Meet Maria Belfon: One of Nellie’s newest board members

Posted on: February 22nd, 2023 by Nellie's No Comments

When Maria Belfon was approaching the end of her maternity leave with her second child, she realized it was the perfect time to do something she’d been thinking about for a long time: join an organization working on a community level to help women in domestic violence situations.

“Being a parent, you have that much more at stake in making sure that other kids are doing well, and that our community is helping to support other families,” explains Maria. “I really wanted to join something meaningful, and fortunately the timing lined up perfectly.” In September 2022, Maria became one of the newest members of the Nellie’s board of directors.

As a family lawyer in Toronto, Maria is a passionate advocate of social justice issues for underserved groups. Early on in her career, she was exposed to the social injustices in the legal system, through her work representing children’s legal interests at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, as well as in family courts across the GTA, assisting unrepresented litigants in navigating the court system. “Having the opportunity to represent children’s interests in court, and work with families in that way, was a wonderful experience,” says Maria. Prior to her career in law, Maria also worked as a research assistant on a project working with children who had experienced abuse, an opportunity that she says really ignited her passion for child and family welfare.

Currently, Maria practices family law and frequently works with women in domestic violence cases. “I wanted to be a part of Nellie’s so that I could do work in this area on a community level,” says Maria. “It’s amazing to be a part of the strategic planning process for Nellie’s future, overseeing how a non-profit is run, and making a difference in our community.”

“Nellie’s is an incredible part of Toronto’s community services — the reach is so much greater than just the day-to-day shelter work,” explains Maria. In fact, Maria says that she was particularly interested in being a part of the Nellie’s board because we are so much more than just a shelter, citing our community engagement, children’s programming, advocacy work, and more. As a member of our governance board, some of Maria’s priorities include expanding Nellie’s reach within the community, fostering more relationships with sister organizations, and continuing to ensure a smooth and expeditious transition to stable housing. “When women and their children come to Nellie’s, we want them to feel safe, welcome, and supported — always.”

Because of her work with children and families in the legal system, Maria has seen first-hand how important organizations like Nellie’s are for the overall health of our communities. “There need to be safe, welcoming spaces in our community for people to go. Otherwise, there will be really serious repercussions, and a trickle down effect from adults down to their kids,” explains Maria. “Having a shelter system and community resources that work well is critical. Having a place like Nellie’s available can literally change and save people’s lives.

What you can do to honour Black History Month

Posted on: February 17th, 2023 by Nellie's No Comments

Every February, Canadians participate in Black History Month events to celebrate the heritage, traditions, and culture of Black people in Canada. This year, the theme for Black History Month is “Ours To Tell”, which represents both an opportunity for Black Canadians to share their own stories, as well as a commitment to learning more about the stories Black communities in Canada have to tell us about their histories, successes, and sacrifices.

As a community-based feminist organization, which operates within an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework, Black History Month is an opportunity for us to recommit to listening and sharing the stories of Black Canadians. At Nellie’s, we are dedicated to creating social change through education and advocacy to achieve social justice for all women and their children.

This year at Nellie’s, we kicked off our own Black History Month celebrations with a reading from a young Black woman named Anora, who shared a poem called “The Silent Scream of a Young Black Woman”, which she wrote when she was 16. Nellie’s amazing cooks — Sharmone, Sandra and Nichola — also joined the discussion to talk about the shelter’s menu for the month of February. Throughout the month, they will cook dishes from Africa and the Caribbean, and share stories and discussions about the recipes.

We encourage all Canadians to learn more about Black communities in Canada, and how their stories continue to help shape our country’s history. Here are a few ways you can do this:

Educate yourself about the history of Black communities in Canada: Brush up on your history with these overviews on significant events in Black history in Canada, noteworthy figures in Black Canadian history, and the legacy and impact of organizations led by Black women in Canada.
Learn about the lives of Black Canadians today: The CBC website Being Black in Canada highlights the stories and experiences of Black Canadians all year round. One of their newest series is called “Black Changemakers”, which recognizes individuals who are creating positive changes in their community, from creators and community organizers, to students and entrepreneurs.
Read: One of the best ways to immerse yourself in Black stories is to read them. The Toronto Public Library shared an excellent list of Black Canadian authors to discover, and we also love CBC Books’ list of six Black Canadian writers to watch in 2023.
Watch: Celebrate Canadian perspectives from Black filmmakers with this extensive collection of films and documentaries from the National Film Board of Canada.
Support: Volunteer with local Black-led charities and support local Black artists and businesses.
Share: Help to raise awareness around Black History Month with the hashtags #BlackHistoryMonth, #BHM, or #BlackExcellence on social media.