Canada

MCC Alberta invites you to attend their Annual General Meeting to be held at the following locations. All meetings will start at 7pm with refreshments.

Fri, Jan 8 River West Christian Church, West Edmonton

Sat, Jan 9 Heritage Centre, La Crete

Fri, Jan 15 Lethbridge Mennonite Church

Sat, Jan 16 Menno Simons Christian School, Calgary

Schedule (7:00 pm each evening)

MCCA will be chartering a coach from Calgary to Edmonton & La Crete, with possibly an overnight stop in Whitecourt. Anyone interested in joining us (at no cost except accommodation and meals en route) please contact the MCCA office by Dec 15. All are welcome!

MCC has been in operation in Southern Alberta for over a decade. During that time we have experienced much growth in services. We have also moved our office to Taber, AB to better serve the needs of the Low German Mennonites. The original purpose of MCC was to assist the families with settlement issues. We are carrying on this tradition through our office in Taber but we are also working with issues related to better employment, education and mental health.

Low German Mennonite Services Office

5329 - 47 Ave Taber, AB T1G 1R4 

Tel. (403) 223-4144

Fax. (403)223-4143

 Ruben Bueckert - Program Coordinator

Individuals and families dealing with mental illness, physical disabilities or cognitive/ behavioral disabilities in Alberta’s Mennonite churches often find themselves challenged to “celebrate God’s love” in the midst of difficult circumstances. The congregations these families and individuals are a part of may also face challenges in demonstrating God’s love when lack of information or of confidence limits the church’s response. 

The Health Services Resource Team (HSRT) of MCC Alberta hopes to act as a resource to assist families and congregations so that all may celebrate God’s love, regardless of physical, emotional or cognitive ability. 

Our goals in 2006-2007 have continued to focus on education and individual and family support:

National and local partnerships for advocacy, education and support:

Continued MCCC Mental Health & Disabilities Network involvement by the HSRT coordinator (monthly conference calls and participation at Canadian Mennonite Health Assembly in Waterloo, ON Oct 2006 and in Winnipeg in Nov 2007; in conjunction with 2007 CMHA, the MH&D network has organized an interdenominational conference to explore possibilities of working together with other faith organizations involved with people with mental health and physical disability issues)

Networking with MCC AB programs and local mental health and disability community agencies (e.g. Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society)

Constituent education and resource regarding mental health and physical/ mental disability issues (workshops are planned at request of local congregations; MCCA and MCCC have educational, Sunday school and worship resources available for loan)

Constituent education regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (workshop by Harv and Jane Janzen in LaCrete/ other northern AB communities in fall 2006 and spring 2007, FASD presentation to adult Sunday School group in Gem May 2007)

Support to families in crisis related to FASD, mental illness, physical disability, autism spectrum (continuing support groups facilitated by Harv and Jane related to FASD: grandparent group, church leader group, family group; Harv and Jane and Linda met with parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities at Foothills Mennonite church, Calgary in Feb 2007; involvement with Calgary COSA staff in planning support group for young man with FASD on release from Bowden Penitentiary summer/ fall 2007)

Linda Janzen - Health Resources Team Coordinator

Sponsoring Education

The Global Family sponsorship program gives us the opportunity to “celebrate God’s love” by becoming a Global Family Sponsor! The cost of a sponsorship is $25 monthly or $300 annually. The funds support students involved in community-based projects in children’s homes, libraries, schools for the disabled, street children and troubled youth, orphanages, preschools, regular primary and secondary schools and churches. Call Ruth at MCC Alberta office (403-275-6935) or email at: albertaoffice@mccab.org  to learn more about Global family, or visit www.mcc.org/globalfamily/.

New projects, as of April 2007 include:

Brazil: “The Projeto Novo Cordeiro”, in the city of Recife offers help to poor children between the ages of three and six years, teaching them basic literacy skills, medical and dental care for mothers and children, and sports activities.

Burkina Faso: “ASAD” (Action Sida des Assemblies de Dieu/AIDS Action Association of the Assemblies of God in Church) helps children orphaned due to the AIDS pandemic with school (fees, uniforms, supplies), food and medical costs.

China: “Dazhou Children’s Speech and Hearing Kindergarten” in Sichuan province – provides intensive speech therapy training for 45 preschool children with hearing deficits.

Egypt: “Seeds of Hope Centre” at Salam Center in Cairo – a center/school for children with disabilities. GFP helps to cover tuition fees, provide new equipment and materials, training for teachers, teachers’ salaries, and student bus service.

Syria: The Franciscan Nuns’ “After School Support Program” in Damascus helps children at risk of becoming street children to stay in school, providing free after-school assistance with homework, computer literacy, links to local social services, and free snacks before going home for night.

Ukraine: “Family-type Childrens’ Homes”. Natasha Nniklaenko, of the Sokolovskaya Baptist Church, has welcomed six foster children into her home to provide love and care. Global Family funds support Natasha and the church in renovating a little house for this ministry, defraying costs of food, education, transportation for medical care, medicine and other costs.

Highlights:

As of June 30, 2007, there are 245 sponsors in Alberta, sponsoring 400 GFP cases.

Rebecca Janzen and Ruth Neufeldt represented MCC Alberta on a Global Family Learning Tour to India last November 2007. The trip was “amazing, and very worthwhile – packed with great learning opportunities”. It was very encouraging to meet adult teachers, health workers, and workers in the public sector who, as children, had been sponsored through the Global Family Program. Rebecca was able to meet several of the young people whom she and her family sponsor – a very special time! Both Rebecca and Ruth are willing and eager to share their experiences with church groups and individuals.

Global Family Coordinator Alberta

Ruth Neufeldt (403)275-6935

The Meserete Kristos Church, an MCC partner in Ethiopia, has an HIV/AIDS Support Group as part of its AIDS programming. Some members of the group have formed a choir, composed entirely of people living with HIV/AIDS. The choir travels from church to church to share their music and their message.

The United Nations recently reported that AIDS remains on the increase worldwide. The number of people living with AIDS is over 33 million. At the same time there are hopeful reports of the spread of AIDS being brought under control, for example, in several East African countries. Still, AIDS increasingly impacts women and young girls more than any other group. Their effort to fight for their own lives and dignity against this deadly disease can not be overstated.

Mennonite Central Committee continues to support work being done through the Generations at Risk Program to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Generations at Risk responds in 4 key areas: care for orphans and vulnerable children, homecare for patients not able to be in hospital, awareness and prevention education, and blood testing kits for medical clinics.

About…Generations at Risk

Seven years ago MCC, at the request of African partner organizations and churches, began an initiative called Generations at Risk. This initiative focuses on raising money and materials for supporting partners, churches and communities in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Generations at Risk funds the support of:

orphans and vulnerable children

awareness and prevention education

homecare support for patients not able to be in hospital

blood testing kits and medical supplies for clinics and hospitals

The goal for Generations at Risk is to raise 2 million dollars every year, which is used to support more than 60 Generations at Risk projects in over 30 countries around the world.

About…HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that leads to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. HIV cannot survive outside of the body. A person can be infected with HIV through:

-shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs
-unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing, acupuncture, or drug injection
-transfusion of contaminated blood
-pregnancy, child delivery or breast feeding (HIV+ mother-to-child transmission)
-occupational exposure in health care settings
-unprotected sexual intercourse

Over a period of years, HIV weakens the body’s immune system to the point where it can no longer fight infection. On average, it takes 10 years to progress from an initial HIV infection to AIDS. People can live for a number of years with no external sign or symptom of the disease, and may unknowingly infect others. The only way to know if you have the virus is to have an HIV blood test done.

When the body can no longer fight infection, the disease is known as AIDS. The infections associated with AIDS are called “opportunistic” because they take advantage of the body’s weakened immune system. It is those opportunistic infections, and not AIDS, that causes death. Malaria and TB are two of the biggest opportunistic diseases that take advantage of the HIV Virus.

Since 1981, 65 million people have been infected with AIDS. 25 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. Between 8,000 and 10,000 a day. Approximately a Tsunami every 30 days. In 2006, 4.3 million new infections were reported, and 2.9 million AIDS-related deaths. Today, 33 million people are living with HIV – half of them are women and girls. 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related illnesses. At least 60,000 Canadians are currently suffering from HIV/AIDs

Common HIV/AIDS Acronyms
PLWHA: People Living With HIV/AIDS
ARV Medication: Anti-retroviral Medication
VCT: Voluntary Counseling and Testing

Man-to Man, Woman-to Woman

Prisoner Visitation

WHAT IS M2/W2?

M2/W2 is a program of Community Justice Ministries, which is supported by the Mennonite Central Committee, Alberta. M2/W2 stands for Man-to-Man, Woman-to-Woman. This is a visitation program involving volunteers from the “outside” and their matches on the “inside.” M2/W2 believes that one-to-one relationships are vital for personal growth and change for everyone. By becoming involved, we invite people to better understand the issues of incarceration from both within and without the prison walls.

THE VOLUNTEERS...

Most of our M2/W2 volunteers commit to visit a prisoner once a month on a one-to-one basis, within a group setting. Our volunteers come from the Christian faith community and are motivated by their commitment and call to follow Christ's example of love and reconciliation toward one another. They care about people on the inside and their families on the outside. Volunteers submit applications to the M2/W2 Coordinator and are interviewed to determine whether or not they are compatible with the program.

WHAT WE OFFER...

Friendship is the basis of M2/W2. As a faith-based program, we do not work for the government. Our volunteers don’t intend to be counselors, pastors, employers, or landlords with their respective matches. We do hope that our volunteers will provide encouragement, respect, and acceptance in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Having a sponsor will not necessarily increase chances for parole, passes or institutional privileges. It is our hope, however, that relationships established during incarceration will continue to be supportive when the prisoner is released. We also train our volunteers based on the principles of restorative/transformative justice – a healing response to crime.

WHAT WE EXPECT...

We expect this relationship to lead to a friendship that includes mutual honesty. We hope that a meaningful two-way friendship can result in greater understanding of, and support in dealing with, the struggles of incarceration – both for offenders and for their families. The degree to which a person wants to disclose personal information is completely up to her/him. We hope that the lives of both the prisoner and the volunteer/visitor will be transformed by this experience.

WHO IS IT FOR...

We serve men and women in federal prisons in Alberta who have at least six months left to serve at the point of being matched with a volunteer. We currently have M2/W2 Coordinators at Bowden, Drumheller, Edmonton Institution for Women, and the Edmonton Max. Our priority is with those who do not receive regular visits and/or have long sentences. Prisoners may request to be part of the program by completing an application and being interviewed by the M2/W2 Coordinator.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED...

For application questions, or further information about the program, contact:

Edmonton Max Coordinator
Gary Garrison

 
Drumheller Coordinator
Gord Hutchinson

 
Edmonton Institute for Women Coordinator
Janet Anderson

 
Or write to:

M2/W2 Alberta (Provincial office)
#210-2946 – 32nd Street NE
Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6J7
403-275-6935
888-622-6337 (toll-free)

What is Community Chaplaincy?

Community Chaplaincy supports offenders (and their families) as they re-enter society. It involves a chaplain and numerous volunteers from the faith community. They serve out of a deep sense of vocation and conviction and offer a wide variety of assistance. This service is provided under contract with Correctional Service of Canada although it operates independently of it.

Core Values and Objectives
 

Community Chaplaincy:

Respects the dignity of individuals, and the rights of all members of society.

Believes in the potential for human growth and development.

Respects the social, cultural and religious differences of individual offenders.

Recognizes that offenders have the potential to live as law-abiding citizens.

Purpose

Community Chaplaincy contributes to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to safely and successfully re-enter society by providing them with practical, spiritual, emotional and social support.

Key Roles

Journeying is central to the work of Community Chaplaincy. Key areas of involvement include:

Spiritual support

Emotional support

Support with medical concerns

Mental health support

Practical assistance

Finding appropriate housing

Finding employment

Addictions

Self-help programs

Community access

Various mentorship groups

Others, as needed

Volunteers

Community Chaplaincy needs volunteers who are interested in serving their community and able to commit to journeying with individuals as they re-enter the community from prison. Volunteers receive training and support for the opportunities that exist.

Volunteers are motivated to give of themselves and their time for a variety of reasons which include:

Wish to promote restorative justice

Desire to give back to their community

Care about the safety of their community

Feel drawn towards working with marginalized people

Need a valuable place to offer their free time

Wish to promote healing in their community.

For more information on Community Chaplaincy, or on how to get involved, contact:
Peter Worsley
Community Chaplain
Mennonite Central Committe Alberta

(403)275-6935

MISSION STATEMENT

To substantially reduce the risk of future victimization of community members by assisting and supporting high risk released individuals in their task of integrating with the community and leading responsible, productive and accountable lives.

What is a CoSA?

Circles of Support and Accountability are groups of 4 - 7 volunteers who are primarily from the faith community. They are committed to enhancing public safety by supporting community re-entry for former high risk offenders through covenanting, meeting and walking daily with them. The full Circle meets on a regular basis. It serves both as a caring community offering support, and as a responsible community,concerned that public safety not be compromised. CoSA acknowledges the ongoing pain and need for healing of survivors of abuse.

Volunteers

Community-based volunteers possess a broad range of skills and experience. Many also have previous experience working with marginalized people. It is vital to the goal of achieving greater community safety that a caring, supportive Circle be created for the former offender. The Circle members need to be committed to the principles of responsibility, accountability and healing.

What makes a Circle work?

Circles are not like a program which has an ending date. They are about relationships that are ongoing. On a continuum, Circles are more about being family than they are about therapeutic interventions. Modeling is a major focus of what occurs in a Circle and, in that sense, what is caught is more important than what is taught. It has been observed that the most powerful aspect of a Circle is the sense of belonging that occurs both for the offender and for the Circle members. It is because of this belonging, because of the degree of attachment that is formed, that CoSA has such a profound impact. 

Community Based, Professionally Supported

A successful CoSA is a group of well-trained and dedicated volunteers who are supported by the professional community in the jurisdiction. Local professionals can include: the police, community chaplains, community and institutional correctional personnel, members of the victim/survivor community, psychologists, politicians and other key community workers. 

Under normal conditions, once a person is convicted and sentenced, levels of incarceration and restrictions of freedom start high and are gradually decreased over the course of the sentence. Corrections research suggests that facilitated community reintegration and treatment reduces the risk of re-offense. As well, mental health research suggests that strong social networks reduce negative symptoms and difficulties during the re-integration process. Unfortunately, offenders with the highest risk of re-offending are often released at sentence completion with no official community reintegration process in place.
Circles of Support and Accountability attempt to address the dilemma of individuals who have been convicted of violent offenses and have no positive, pro-social mechanisms to assist with their safe adjustment to the community upon release.

For more information, or to get involved contact:
Moira Brownlee or Melanie Weaver
Circles of Support & Accountability
#210, 2946 32 Street NE
Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7

Phone: 403-275-6935
Fax: 403-275-3711
Email:

Our youth program provides opportunities for young people to connect, serve and grow.   Youth can participate in workshops, service and learning trips, volunteer opportunities and annual events like the Relief Sale camp out.

Welcome to the new MCC Alberta website!  Please feel free to explore our new content and features 

MCC Alberta Golf Tournaments

The Olds, Tofield and La Crete golf tournaments were great days of great weather, great fun, and great golf! Thanks so much to our participants and sponsors for making the event a success. We hope you enjoyed the tournaments as much as we did.

The Coaldale Golf tournament (Sept. 19th) is now full, but there is still room to attend the dinner. Click below to see how.

More info

New Thrift Shop in Taber Opens Its Doors!

The shop held its Grand Opening on August 5; a celebration of all the hard work by volunteers, board members and more that went into making the new MCC Thrift shop in Taber a reality.
After many years of talking and dreaming, the Low German Mennonite community in and around Taber formed a board with representatives from 7 different church congregations. A building was purchased and renovated. Eva Cool, former MCC Alberta Board member, was hired as shop manager. The new shop opened its doors to the public on July 2.

We are grateful for the many volunteers who are helping to make the shop successful. If you are ever in the Taber area, stop by for a visit.

Bergthal Youth Group Raises Money for Kenya

Joseph Kiranto is an MCC partner worker in Kenya, and served as an IVEP participant in Alberta this past year. He works with an HIV/AIDS project that provides counselling and home-based care for clients. To visit these clients, Joseph walks 75 km in 5 days, twice a month; that's an average of 93, 750 steps per trip. To help raise money for Joseph's work in Kenya, youth from Bergthal Mennonite Church served a chili fundraising lunch and raised almost $1000! Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make this event possible.

MCC Thrift Shop Taber
5320 49 Ave
Taber, AB T1G 1T8
403 223-4156
Manager: Eva Cool