HIPC's Community Plan
As a collaborative community table, HIPC is in a unique position to focus on the collective impact of efforts to improve local settlement outcomes.
To this end, in 2024 a small team of HIPC members began working with advisors from the Centre for Community Based Research. Meeting regularly over the course of a year and collecting input from two large public sessions, we drafted a new Community Plan to shape our focus until 2028.
It is hoped that HIPC partners and the wider community can see how their own work can move our community towards these outcomes.
HIPC’s impact statement is tri-fold, focusing on making Hamilton a welcoming community where newcomers have a positive settlement experience and feel a sense of belonging.
Graphic Designer: Tatiana Subbotina
Inclusion Principles
These principles inform all of our work:
Working Collectively
Newcomer Leadership
Centring Newcomers
Anti-Racism
Focus Areas
Welcome
Focus Areas
A Welcoming Culture
Responding to the Unexpected
Settle
Focus Areas
Language & Education
Healthcare
Housing & Affordability
Belong
Focus Areas
Public Spaces
Inclusion
Committee Members
| Cansu Ekmekcioglu | McMaster University |
| Colleen Hynes | Service Canada |
| Evelyn Arrua | Templo Nueva Vida |
| Ghanwa Afach | CAPC-SPRC |
| Ghayt EL Gouach | RIFCSO – CFA Hamilton |
| John Coburn | YMCA |
| Juhainah Hussein | Mohawk College (Programs for Newcomers) |
| Maham Khalid | The YWCA Hamilton |
| Michaela Trincado | Good Shepherd |
| Phellan Kaburu | Refuge Newcomer Health |
| Queenette Martins | FirstOntario Credit Union |
| Samwel Langat | Community Member |
| Sandra Penagos Arboleda | Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area) – SACHA |
| Sara Omar | McMaster University |
| Stefa Sokolowski | City of Hamilton – Economic Development |
| Tracy Akitt | Hamilton Health Sciences – McMaster Children’s Hospital |
| Tyler Bouman | Micah House |
| Yaima Frosseard Rodriguez | Welcome Inn |
| Yesha Panchal | Community Member |
| Aida Masuka | Goodwill Amity |
| Amanda Rice | YMCA HBB |
| Chantelle Ashley | Empowerment Squared |
| Erin Carr | Solidarity Place Worker Education Centre |
| Ersa Lybesha | Good Shepherd Reaching Home (Employer) |
| Frances Madukwe | Community Member |
| Funmilayo Daramola | Community Member |
| Jennifer Patterson | City of Hamilton – Economic Development |
| Liliane Kabamba | Rafiki Hamilton Centre |
| Mary Anne Peters | Mohawk College |
| Mathiu Berlaud | College Boreal |
| Nilofar Yousof | HMC Connections |
| Obiageli Marien Diru | Neighbour2Neighbour |
| Omar Mahamed | Mishka Social Services |
| Ovee Mirza | Popular International, Quebec INC |
| Paula Castano | Immigrants Working Centre |
| Purity Mbogoh | Community member |
| Raul Morales | Asociación Fraternidad Hispana (AFH) |
Rita Ventresca | Fedcap Canada |
| Sushmitha Thirumalaivasan | Treefrog Accelerator |
| Tariq Ismati | Wesley |
| Tehreem Zafar | YWCA Hamilton |
| Terri Bedminster | Refuge Newcomer Health |
| Tracie Daigle | Centre de Santé Communautaire H/W |
| Abir Alsaid | YMCA HBB |
| Ala Mohamed | Hamilton Police Services |
| Alison Bailey | Community Member |
| Bita Pejam | McMaster University |
| David Quezada | Community Member |
| Eveyln Myrie | Afro Canadian Caribbean Association |
| Jen Anisef | City of Hamilton |
| Jennie Hamilton | Hamilton Public Library |
| Lil Acive | Community Member |
| Mahsa Tavassoly | Community Member |
| Michelle Shivbarran | Refuge Newcomer Health |
| Mouna Bile | Hamilton Wentworth District School Board |
| Rami Safi | Community member |
| Sarah Razek | Community Member |
| Suad Badri | McMaster Research Ethics Board |
| Theresa Phair | Public Works / Enviro Business Services |
| Theresa Vidal | Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services |
| Violetta Nikolskaya | YWCA Hamilton |
| Wasan Mohamad | Immigrants Working Center |