Community Meeting (April 18): Community engagement through comics (Althea Balmes)
Description
Presenter: Althea Balmes
Notes
- Komik (comics)
- long history of komiks in the Philippines
- first known comic was by Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero, about a monkey and turtle (Si Pagong at Si Matsing) and has become folklore
- https://sirmykel.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/jose-rizal-ang-pagong-at-ang-matsing.pdf
- many American influences on the comics
- partially due to American GIs who came to the Philippines
- made stories that by nature of the situation in the politics and economy of the Philippines, it has always been a political act — celebrating the culture and telling their stories but also criticising foreign powers
- Kwentong Bayan: Labour of Love
- literal translation: community stories
- tell stories and have political awareness
- tell stories about caregivers in a way that hasn't been told before
- empowering caregiver workers in Canada
- had to learn the ins and outs of the caregiver program
- had to challenge assumptions and biases about the program and migrant workers
- gathering of elders
- meet with caregivers and allies who will provide support and guidance on how these stories are told
- collaborate on stories being told through our lived experiences and perspectives
- reciprocal relationships, invited to and participating in each other's events
- it's not just about the subject or the researcher, but building a community with different types of people, also crossing intergenerational boundaries
- learn about issues that matter to them and to the community and the reasons why they matter – and when we can, help out
- workshops and clinics
- workshop covered
- why should they support refugees
- why is their situation as migrant workers different from someone who is coming as a refugee
- clinics
- tax clinic
- self defence class
- in partnership with Combat Science: Warrior Arts of Asia
- useful for caregivers who live with their employer and who's home/work becomes a dangerous place
- lots of power in learning about how they build community
- workshop covered
- Advocacy and Leadership training at George Brown
- for caregivers
- helping caregivers transition to another job/career
- caregivers have a hard time getting education or getting Canadian credentials
- practical and theoretical curriculum
- Community presentatio