Volunteer Activities - Multicultural Social Planning and Co-Founder

As a volunteer and on my own initiative, I created a “Drop in Legal Service” providing legal information services and short next step summary orientation, counseling and referrals to low income people. The program was hosted at the Spanish Catholic Mission Centre in Vancouver (1995-2001).

These services were geared to the Latin American Community; however other new community members from various other communities including Nigerians, Somalis, South Africans, Sri Lankans, Norwegians, Germans, and Angolans came to the clinic for advice, counseling and orientation.

As a volunteer and from my own initiative, I created a television program for the Spanish speaking community which I broadcasted at the Multicultural Channel 20. The program was called “Conozca sus derechos y obligaciones legales” [Know your legal rights and obligations] (1995-1996).

The Latin American Youth Council (Community planning for Vancouver City Council), the Greater Vancouver Mental Health Service Society, the Task Force on Canadian Latin American Mental Health, the Steering Committee Access to Justice 1989 Conference (The British Columbia Public Interest Advocacy Centre), the Latin American Subcommittee, and the Canadian Mental Health Association (1988).

The Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture (VAST) and I served as a Board Member (1985-1999).

Youth Latin American Community Council (1987-2002)

Inland Refugee Society of B.C and served as a Board Member (1984-2002).

Latin American Action Research Centre and served as a Board Member (1982-1988)

Vancouver Society of Immigrant Women (1981-1988).

Field Instructor- working with Ethnic Minorities, UBC School of Social Work (1985-1987).

Vancouver Planning Committee for the National Immigrant Women’s Conference and Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of B.C. (1987).

Planning Committee, “Good Neighbor” Workshops for Indo-Canadians, Portuguese, Italian and Latin-American Communities and Association of Neighborhood Houses of Greater Vancouver. (1987). Vancouver Refugee Council, Winnipeg Planning Committee, National Immigrant Women’s Conference, Planning Committee, Canadian Mental Health Association, Vancouver-Burnaby Branch (1986-1987).

Teacher’s Conference Steering Committee, Social Psychology Department, Langara College, Steering Committee for the Family Court Conciliators Conference, and the Planning Committee for Multicultural Seminar, Douglas College. (1985)

Development Committee to Cultural Heritage Advisor: Guide to Resources and Services in B.C. (1984).

The Immigration Law Clinic, Intake work, Legal Services Society (1982-1983).

Workshop Steering Committee Professionals working with Ethnic Families. O.A.S.I.S. The Planning Committee, Visible minority perspectives of Canadian education, Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, Faculty of Education, UBC (1983).

Steering Committee, Vancouver Coalition of World Refugees, Vancouver Ecumenical Action (1982).

Board Member, Vancouver Multicultural Women's Association (1979-1980).

Planning Committee, Lecture Series, the Public Legal Education Society. And the Planning Committee, Spring Conference, School of Social Work, UBC. (1980).

Founding Member and Coordinator, of the McQueena Mother's Group providing orientation to the Italian community (1973-1975).