Dr. Hawa Abdi is an internationally acclaimed humanitarian who saved thousands of Somalis during the drought that ravished the country in 2011. Her moving memoir, Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman: 90,000 Lives Changed, hit the bookshelves on April 2^nd, and she is touring North America this spring with her daughter Deqo and co-author Sarah J. Robbins.

Keeping Hope Alive: One Woman–90,000 Lives Changed, chronicles Dr. Hawa and her daughters’ inspiring work to keep 90,000 of her fellow citizens safe, healthy, and educated for over 20 years in Somalia.

Positive Change is pleased to host her Toronto stop in the North American tour. Don’t miss the chance to take part of a candid conversation about war, determination and keeping the hope alive.

Date: Friday April 19, 2013

Time: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Location: Panorama Court Community Centre, South Meeting Room

                  21 Panorama Court, Etobicoke, Ontario, M9V 4E3 

For More Information, please email us at PositiveChangeTO@gmail.com. To make a donation to the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation, visit www.dhaf.org. 

PCTO flyer-1

Rima Berns-McGown and Idil Burale were invited to discuss Somali stereotypes on CBC’s Metro Morning, January 24 2013.

Somali stereotypes on Metro Morning

Rima Berns-McGown’s paper: “I Am Canadian”: Challenging Stereotypes about Young Somali Canadians

On January 22 2013, Positive Change held a press conference with MPP Mike Colle at Queen’s Park to propose some solutions.

Somali-Canadian moms group gets MPP Mike Colle’s support

Somali-Canadian parents propose solutions to violence

Task force needed to solve 50 murders of Somali-Canadians

On Thursday November 22, 2012 the Ontario Ministry of Youth and Children services organized a Conference to tackle the issues regarding the recent increase in youth violence amongst the Somali youth in Toronto. Dr. Eric Hoskin, former Minster of Youth and Children Services, noted that this conference was a result of a recent meeting held with Positive Change. In his remarks, Dr. Hoskin praised Positive Change quoting “…when a group of dedicated citizens come together, they can make a change…”. Various notable dignitaries attended alongside many local concerned citizens. Some of the dignitaries included Dr. Eric Hoskin, Police Chief William “Bill” Blair, MPP (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) Laurel Broten, MPP (Don-Valley East) Michael Coteau, MPP (York South-Weston) Laura Albanese and singer/poet K’naan.

The eventful day started with speeches from some of the family members directly affected by the recent increase in gun-violence in Toronto. Shortly after the speeches, members of the crowd broke out into several round-table discussions to address and come up with recommendations for the Ministry regarding issues facing the Somali community.  These issues were:

• Employment
• Housing
• Criminal Justice Reform
• Policing
• Education
• Family and Parental Support
• Immigration
• Mental Health/Trauma
• Safe Communities/Neighbourhoods

Members of Positive Change are committed to collaborate with the Ministry to ensure that the recommendations are implemented. We would like to thank all of the members of the community that came out to support this event as well as all the dignitaries in attendance.

Here are some pictures of the event:

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Positive Change was once again featured in an article by the Toronto Star as a result of a public conference held on November 22.

At the end of a day spent talking about some of the most intractable issues in this city, Laurel Broten, the province’s education and now newly minted children and youth minister, gave this message to Toronto’s Somali community:

“Today is just the beginning.”

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