Sarah Fraser-Smith, MCA, MSW’s Post

#ForUsForYou #Ontario needs to close the wage gap now.

This afternoon I had the opportunity to present to Social Work students at Carleton University about the amazing work happening at Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre. The course was SOWK 2203A: Introduction to Social Work with Communities. In my presentation, I connected social work theory to practice. Through a variety of programs, activities, and initiatives, PQCHC is doing community development (Asset-Based Community Development), community capacity building, supporting and creating bridging and linking social capital, and taking a participatory approach. According to the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) "Community social workers help to build an inclusive environment that makes residents feel integrated and empowered. They know that people can work together to improve circumstances, using their experience and knowledge to solve problems and make change." This is what we do at PQCHC! We create safe and inclusive spaces. We acknowledge and celebrate the gifts and strengths that residents bring, and we work with these residents to build a safe, just, and healthy community for all. Thank you to Professor Tsitsi Mpofu-Mketwa for providing a platform for me to share this information. I hope my presentation inspires more Social Work students to do community work (or at least consider a placement with us.) https://lnkd.in/gyV-zU2B #communityhealthcare #communitysocialwork #communitydevelopment #communitycapacitybuilding #socialcapital #participatoryaction #paticipatoryapproach #advocacy #nothingaboutuswithoutus #socialchange #equity

Personally, stress always shows up as tight muscles and knots in my neck and shoulders which leads to tension headaches and pain. I will also clench my teeth at night and wake up with a stiff and sore jaw.. I feel that as I have aged, my stress has increased (and is mostly linked to anxiety). Yes, the pandemic has definitely had a ripple effect, but I worry about my family (my kids, my aging parents, and parent-in-laws, my partner, etc.), the environment, the divisiveness of politics, all of the wars, my health, and even my work (workload at times but mainly the increased struggle of clients and the pressure to do more to support). Through reflexivity and reflection, I have realized that I am a very empathetic person and I tend to take on a lot of people's emotions. While caring for others is noble, caring too much leads to burnout and it can be very difficult to strike that perfect balance. #stress #anxiety #thegreatexhaustion #parentingisstressful #sandwichgeneration #costoglivingcrisis

It was so much fun being a judge for this event. All of the pizzas were delicious. However, I don't think I will be able to eat another piece of pizza again for at least a month. 19 slices is a lot (not full slices thankfully, I had my kids there to help me out)! Kudos to the team at Bayshore- Ziba G., Hazar Aboualawar, and Moniela! Great job!

This morning on CBC news, I heard an interview with Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin. Her short documentary "Waapake (tomorrow)" is available to view on the National Film Board of Canada (NFB Canada) website. In the short documentary "Dr. Koostachin unravels the tangled threads of silence suffered by residential school survivors through truth, freedom, and power"(www.nfb.ca). Dr. Jules Arita Koostachin is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, an award winning filmmaker, and completed her PhD at the University of British Columbia with the Institute of Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice. You can find out more through her page below. https://lnkd.in/g4r4fMEF https://www.nfb.ca/ #generationaltrauma #residentialschoolsurvivors #storytelling #truthandreconciliation #tomorrow #hope

#truthandreconciliation #orangeshirtday #communityevents #ottawa https://lnkd.in/gw6gZhUz

I feel privileged to represent PQCHC at these events. I am proud of the work we are doing and always happy to share opportunities with my organization. #hiring #communityhealth #careerfairs #globaltalent #dreamteam

Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to represent Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre at Councillor Theresa Kavanagh's Volunteer Appreciation & Welcome to Fall Event at Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre. It was a wonderful event with live music, door prizes, food, and information sharing. I was happy to speak with 33 residents about our free services and programs and to connect with partners. I was lucky to be positioned between the Ottawa Public Library / Bibliothèque publique d'Ottawa and the Ottawa Tool Library. We had some great conversations. I want to highlight how heartwarming it was to meet so many residents who are volunteering to make their ward an amazing place to live. Their commitment to their community is incredible and even the smallest act makes a difference. Thank you! #volunteerappreciation #makingadifference #celebration #recognition #communitydevelopment #communityengagement