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The CSMA strives to create systems and services that are responsive to the needs of diverse families and communities and support children and youth’s well-being.<\/p>\n
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The earliest activities of the CSMA focused on building partnerships with key stakeholders. These relationships were divided into those who directly partnered or collaborated with CSMA and those targeted for outreach to raise awareness on the various issues that impacted the wellbeing of Somali children and youth. List of organizations that the CSMA partnered with over the years include:<\/p>\n
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Muslim Coordinating Council Ottawa<\/p>\n
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization<\/p>\n
Ottawa Islamic Centre<\/p>\n
Ottawa Local Immigrant Partnerships<\/p>\n
Salaam Mosque<\/p>\n
Somali parents of the National Capital Region<\/p>\n
Somali Centre for Family Services<\/p>\n
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Crime prevention Ottawa<\/p>\n
Ottawa Community Housing<\/p>\n
Ottawa District School Board (Directors, Trustees)<\/p>\n
Ottawa Police Services<\/p>\n
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre<\/p>\n
Ontario Federal Prisons (Kingston and Toronto)<\/p>\n
Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre<\/p>\n
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detention centres<\/p>\n
Southeast Community Health Centre
Youth Services Bureau (William Hay and Livius Sherwood detention centres)<\/p>\n
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The CSMA engages in extensive outreach activities with a goal to understanding the workings of the Ontario education system and the criminal justice system, and how racialized children, youth and parents interact with these two sets of institutions.<\/p>\n
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The CSMA advocacy efforts in this sector were prompted by anecdotal observations and media reports of increase in the number of young Somali males coming into contact with the criminal justice system. Through multi-pronged efforts, the CSMA achieved significant milestones:<\/p>\n
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The CSMA consulted with, and reached out to, school boards to convey the feelings and concerns of Somali parents. Mostly recently, CSMA met with the school board and provided recommendations on how to support marginalized families during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
CSMA also joined other advocacy organizations and contributed to the efforts to speak against funding changes and cuts to language training for newcomers and other programs utilized by students with special needs.<\/p>\n
The CSMA hosted workshops for Somali parents to express their concerns about their children\u2019s education and learn the skills and supports available to support their children\u2019s learning.<\/p>\n
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Over the years, the CSMA outreached to parents and youth to establish supportive community networks. Some of CSMA activities include:<\/p>\n
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Ottawa-based Canadian Somali Mothers Association was the proud recipients of the 2017 Crime Prevention Ottawa Community Safety Volunteer Program award. This honour was conferred on the organisation at a special ceremony at Ottawa City Hall on Laurier Avenue West. These annual awards recognize the people, groups and programs that have made a difference in preventing crime and making communities safer across the city. It will be recalled that, in 2014, the association was the recipient of the prestigious Black History Ottawa Community Builder award for their outstanding outreach and engagement with vulnerable Somali youth (see picture above).<\/p>\n
Below is their citation for this esteemed Crime Prevention Ottawa award.<\/p>\n