The Community Alliance for Social Justice celebrated its sixth anniversary with a Gala Night early this month. It was attended by about two hundred seventy guests, most of whom were Filipinos from various organizations in the Greater Toronto Area. Attendance came from beyond the GTA as the guest speaker was from Manitoba and the Hon Art Viola of Niagara on the Lake was also there. It was indeed an evening of Filipino celebration highlighted by some of the well-known and loved Filipino “kundimans” rendered by our very own soprano Lilac Cana.
Like most Filipino social gatherings, it was very successful in that the floor was always full whenever dance music was played. But the evening was different from most in that numbers included opportunities to inform, update and make the guests aware of the accomplishments of CASJ in its six years of existence.
The Community Alliance for Social Justice exists for some very passionate encompassing and committed goals that the organization has consistently pursued from the time of its inception. The organization was born at a time out of a great need when the Filipino community cried for group action to support a family that was a victim of injustice.
At the time with the hundreds of Filipino organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, very little support was heard from the Filipino community when Jeffrey Reodica was killed by shots from the police during a youth altercation. It was CASJ that openly offered a leaning shoulder to the family and consistently followed the inquest proceedings that led to recommendations for better police training, with a budget of $439,000.
` Since 2004, the Community Alliance for Social Justice has worked steadily on issues involving the rights of the disadvantaged youth, caregivers and immigrants especially underemployed professionals and elderly people.
CASJ has participated in movements to improve the Live-In Caregiver Program in Canada as well as in the Philippines. In 2005 a presentation of a policy paper on the Live-In Caregiver Program was made to the Federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Canada, and support was given to the Philippine Congress initiative to investigate the abuses and exploitations of caregivers under the Live-In Caregiver Program in Canada and in other countries.
In 2007,CASJ participated in the justice campaign related to the death of a Filipino caregiver, Jocelyn Dulnuan, which led to reform in the Canada’s Live in Caregiver program, to ensure caregivers’ rights and well-being in their work places.
In 2005, CASJ acquired membership with Urban Alliance on Race Relations, a Toronto Community leader in anti-racism and social justice campaign. The organization has devotedly followed up issues that it has supported.
In 2008, CASJ again inquired on the states of the recommendations of the jury on the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Jeffrey Reodica to insure their implementation. In the same year, a position paper, “Respect and Dignity for Caregivers” was directly submitted to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal leader Stephen Dion and Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney to call their attention to the caregivers’ issues and their demand for changes.
One of the most significant accomplishments of the Community Alliance for Social Justice is its promotion of education to eliminate injustice. This has been accomplished through training sessions on anti-oppression, development of position papers on priority issues, attendance in community meetings discussing issues related to social justice and collaboration in research studies involving issues related to settlement, economic development and empowerment of Filipinos in Canada. These educational initiatives serve as outreaches to the Filipino community that develop awareness of one another, increased pride in identity and promote unity and cooperation.
The Leaders’ Speaker Series that was launched in the same evening is a laudable step. Towards the recognition of our fellow country people who have made a name for themselves through hard work.
The first guest speaker Honorable Flor Marcelino, Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism in the Province of Manitoba, is truly a role model for any immigrant. She is the first ethnic female in the Manitoba Legislature and probably the first Filipino woman in mainstream politics in Canada.
Like most immigrants she started and stayed for a long time in a low paying job, filing and typing in an office. She started outreach work through her church and developed friends and connections through volunteer work, her personal integrity and courage to stand by issues she believes in led to recognition of her leadership skills and to mainstream politics.
Hon Flor Marcelino is a very humble and realistic lady. She is quite aware that power is not forever and believes that it should not be held for a long time. The CASJ Board had wisely chosen its first speaker.
The Community alliance for Social Justice is an organization made up of seasoned leaders whose records in social activism are well established in Canada as well as in the Philippines, as well as young promising members whose enthusiasm and commitment to the goals of the group are indeed their assets. The accomplishments of the Alliance have extended not only for social justice for also for assisting victims of natural disasters like typhoons and earthquakes.
One very important asset of the organization is its clear mandate which is pursued with vigour, consistency and passion. May it continue to receive the support and appreciation of the Filipino community and other ethnocultural groups it is affiliated with.
