The St. Thomas – Elgin Local Immigration Partnership (STELIP) is excited to host the eleventh annual Walk with Me Service Provider Networking Event .
This year the event returns in person. As always, this event is an invaluable opportunity for frontline workers to come together to learn, inform, and engage with other local service providers; improving the overall level of service delivery offered to clients throughout the city and county.
Event Details
Friday October 28, 2022
9am to 1pm
Registration opens at 8:30am
St. Thomas Seniors’ Centre
225 Chestnut St, St. Thomas
Registration fee is $15
Event Activities
Learning Through Play: The Empathy Toy®
Hosted by Summer Burton
Empathy is one of the 21st century’s most valuable skills. Recognizing how others feel, being able to see things from their point of view, and honouring their circumstances and perspectives are critical skills for serving newcomers and marginalized clients. Quite simply, Empathy is the skill that allows us to walk with our clients. But what does it have to do with play?
We invite you to join Summer to experience the Empathy Toy®, a collaborative puzzle game that can only be solved when players learn to understand each other. For successful Empathy Toy® play, we must consider different perspectives, adjust the way we communicate to meet the needs of others, and identify gaps and assumptions in our own understanding. Join us in play, as we explore how empathy helps us improve our ability to serve, and builds other skills including critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creative thinking.
Service Provider Showcase
You will have the opportunity to showcase your agency’s services at no additional cost. We recommend you identify some of the lesser-known or new programs that meet the needs of marginalized clients. For this reason, we suggest that agencies send at least two participants, one to run the table and the other(s) to walk around and connect with the participating service providers. The showcase is meant to help build better relationships and understanding between frontline service providers.
Service Provider Bingo
Back by popular demand! Service Provider Bingo is a networking activity that takes place during the Service Provider Showcase. Participants look for a representative from an agency that matches the description of their service or a program on the bingo sheet. There are prizes to be won, which is a bonus to learning about local services and building your contact list. Be sure to include the requested Service Provider Bingo information on the registration form.
Schedule
| 8:30 | Registration opens and booth set-up |
| 9:00-9:30 | Event start and icebreaker |
| 9:30-11:00 | Empathy Training |
| 11:00-12:00 | Service Provider Showcase Tradeshow |
| 12:00-12:30 | Debrief and Sharing Circle |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
FAQs
Who should attend?
Walk With Me is a networking opportunity for frontline service providers to expand their referral networks, receive professional development, and promote their own work to improve overall service delivery. Many clients are unaware of the scope and variety of services offered in St. Thomas and Elgin County, and a strong referral network can go a long way to correct that.
What can I expect at the event?
Registration will start at 8:30 and the event will begin at 9 am. There is assigned seating at the event to encourage developing connections. This is an interactive event, come prepared to do hands-on activities and connect with other service providers. The morning will include opportunities for networking and learning, with participating agencies encouraged to have a display table for the service provider showcase. It is recommended that agencies send at least two attendees: one to provide information at their own booth, and another to network with representatives at the other booths.
If you are unable to attend after you register please let us know to allow seating to be re-arranged.
What should the table for the Service Provider Showcase Tradeshow include?
Every agency will have a different approach. In the past tables have included displays with an overview of services and programs, banners, brochures, and handouts.
I registered but now I am unable to attend or need to leave early. What should I do?
We have a capacity for this event and may have a waitlist. If you have a change in your availability and cannot find a replacement from your agency, please let us know so that we can invite someone from the waitlist to attend. Additionally, if we know of people arriving late or leaving early we can arrange seating to ensure there are sufficient participants at a table to complete the tasks and have robust conversations.
Why is it called “Walk with Me”?
This event provides the opportunity for frontline service providers to gain local knowledge and develop their skills and understanding to better serve newcomers and other marginalized clients. That is, to walk with their clients as they navigate local services.
Registration Details
Registration is now available online. Note that we recommend that each agency sends at least two participants. Although participants must register separately, one payment can be made to cover all participants from a given agency. Registration closes on October 21 at 4pm. There is a capacity limit for the event, register early to ensure you get a spot.
Please indicate your meal selection during registration:
- Cashew chicken with rice
- Yellow curry (beef or vegetable) with rice (gluten-free)
- Pad thai (chicken or vegetable
If you have registered and cannot attend, please email phontar@stelip.ca so that changes can be made to the table arrangements.
