Immigrants, business leaders make key connections in new Local Immigration Partnership program
Release. Business is all about networking and connections.
And if you are new to Mission and you don’t have a job or friends or family, what do you do?
Mission’s federally-funded Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) and its nine-member council of community leaders in April introduced a Connector Program to help solve that problem for those new to Canada.
The concept is simple and helps create a network for both employers and immigrants in Mission.
“Volunteer connectors are asked to provide three contacts for a client to follow up with and the new contacts repeat the process. The conversations are not job interviews,” said Rick Rake, program coordinator and chair of the Mission LIP council based at Mission Community Services Society (MCSS).
Participants benefit by gaining knowledge of the local job market and provides them with information key to upgrading or retraining for a career they would like to pursue in Mission and the region.
For small and mid-size employers, the program helps answer significant questions they may have about new immigrants, their knowledge of the country and their skillsets. It puts them directly in touch with skilled newcomers in the community.
The Connector Program is just one of several initiatives introduced by the LIP in its Action Plan for Mission, including an Ambassador ‘buddy’ program for immigrants, partnership development, and guerilla marketing campaign to ensure MCSS Settlement and Integration services are top of mind in the community. The LIP was launched in Mission in April of 2014 at MCSS.
To volunteer as a Connector or to participate as a client, contact Rake at 604-826-3634 or email rick.rake@missioncommunityservices.com. MCSS Welcome Centre is located at 33179 Second Ave. To learn more about MCSS, click on www.missioncommunityservices.com.
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For more information, contact Rick Rake at Mission Community Services Society. Call 604-826-3634 or email rake@missioncommunityservices.com
- WHO ARE CONNECTORS? They are people who know large numbers of people and are in the habit of making introductions. Connectors know people through social, cultural, professional and economic circles, and have a special gift of bringing people together who work or live in different circles.
- The Mission LIP is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.