Manitou Intentional Learning Community

The police killings of black and indigenous people and the protests that followed have received extensive media coverage.   Many voices have joined the chorus to demand change.  To be able to bring about change, it is important to understand the roots of racism and the daily experience of individuals and communities affected by racism. Please join in the Zoom presentation with Carla John (Manager, Equity, Human Rights, and Accessibility at Cambrian College), and Kelly Lee Assinewe (Coordinator of the N’Swakamok Alternative School), who will speak about issues of racism in our area and how to work towards racial equity in our local context.

This is a Zoom event to be held on Wednesday, September 30^th, 6:30 t0 8:00pm.

Presented by the Manitou Intentional Learning Community (MILC)

Registration required. Please contact gillian.schell@sympatico.ca

About our guests

Carla John is a former teacher who returned to university after 7 years of teaching and received her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Mount Saint Vincent University.

Hard-of hearing since the age of two, Carla has experienced how marginalized identities intersect and are sometimes forgotten. She’s worked with people with disabilities both as Learning Skills Counsellor at Laurentian University and as former chair of the Sudbury Accessible Sports Council.

Originally from Bermuda, Carla likes to return often with her wife and son to visit family and friends.

Kelly-Lee Assinewe is originally from the Serpent River First Nation but is now a member of Sagamok Anishnawbek. She is a mother of 3 beautiful children and grandmother to 2 grandsons.

She has been working as the Coordinator of the N’Swakamok Alternative School for over twenty years and has over thirty years of experience working with Indigenous youth and adults in educational settings.  She helps at risk students achieve their dreams of obtaining their diplomas.

She has been recognized for her work through the Indigenous Educator Award for Community Service by Indspire; Native Education Person of Distinction Award from Laurentian University and Woman of Distinction through YWCA Sudbury.

Many of us have been participants in Zoom meetings but have you ever wanted to learn how to host one or to dive a bit deeper than to just be a participant?  You can learn by coming to this online workshop being presented by MILC.

This workshop, hosted by Susan Whitehead, a staff member of the Canadian Shield Regional Council, will prepare participants to make the most of Zoom meetings.

Topics include: booking meetings, sharing screens, using security settings and waiting rooms, chat box, breakout groups, back-end settings, sharing audio and visual materials, and Zoom meeting etiquette.

Date:  Wednesday, September 16^th 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

To register and receive an invitation, please contact gillian.schell@sympatico.ca.

How to produce a video worship service with no budget, a phone, and a computer.

On March 15th, 2020 Espanola United Church held regular Sunday worship in the sanctuary. On March 17th at 9:13 A.M., the province of Ontario declared a state of emergency which shut down most of the province including our places of worship. On March 22nd, Espanola United Church produced an online worship service. Join the Rev. Stewart Walker as he shares the story of his transition from humble country minister to YouTube star with 100 views per week! Seriously though, it was a steep learning curve and I would like to share the things I learned along the way, particularly how to produce a video worship service with no budget, a phone, and a computer. We will look at free, open source software which allows production of reasonably professional videos; how to use the software; and how to post the video to the internet. The session will take place on Wednesday, September 9^th from 6:30 to 8:00 by Zoom. To register and receive Zoom invitation, please contact gillian.schell@sympatico,ca

MILC extends a very large thank you to Maurice Switzer for discussing the history of Treaties will MILC participants in May 2019 and for permitting a recording of the presentation.

Rev. Jeff Rock, Senior Pastor at Metropolitan Community Church Toronto, offered a talk on Que(e)ring Religion to MILC participants in June of 2020.

You can watch a recording of the presentation here.

Join for a conversation with Rev. Jeff Rock, Senior Pastor at Metropolitan Community Church Toronto.

Monday, June 22^nd, 2020 6: 30 p.m.

Via Zoom: Registration required

Contact:  gillian.schell@sympatico.ca

Rev. Jeff Rock

Rev. Jeff Rock was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario and attended St. Peter’s United Church. He also has deep family roots on Manitoulin Island.

His first love was theatre, but his second love was the sciences, which led him as a bright-eyed 18-year-old to Montreal where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University. During those years Jeff found his third love and true calling to serve the church and soon after graduation began a Master of Divinity degree at The United Theological College.

After Ordination Jeff spent 6 years in Ministry with the people of Gaetz Memorial United Church in Red Deer, Alberta, which became an affirming congregation shortly after his ministry there ended. During that time, he was involved in many community initiatives, culminating in running as a Liberal candidate in the 2015 Federal Election

Jeff is passionate about Indigenous issues, harm reduction, and building bridges across our differences to build inclusive community. Jeff has a Greyhound-Dalmatian named Chaz. You can often find them out and about, going for long walks and jogs, camping or cuddling.