Inspired by Community

It is a peculiar feeling to be writing about our previous year and the successes the agency has seen, while also being present to what is taking place at this time in our neighbourhoods, in our country, and around the world. The publishing of our Impact Report puts us in that rare place of reflecting on the challenges we have faced; our positive accomplishments and successes; and looks hopefully towards our future and what lies ahead.

Both perspectives, of our past year’s success and of our future goals, have been unprecedentedly shaped by a tremendous demonstration of community support. We have indeed been inspired by community. Our group of champions has included donors, clients/ guests/members, volunteers, staff, board of directors, partner agencies, and funding bodies, all of whom played a part in launching the campaign that resulted in the building of our new Youth Centre. Dixon Hall’s little jewel in Regent Park did open its doors in spring 2020, though we have not yet been able to celebrate with an official opening. You will see more on the story of the Bill Graham Youth Centre within this report.

We know that we asked a great deal of our community, and they have been with us on a journey that enabled the creation of a very special space for our deserving youth participants.

Dixon Hall has accomplished a great many things during our 2019-2020 fiscal year, and we looked to the community to help us do it – they were always there. On the volunteer side, the agency welcomed more than 240 new volunteers to our team. And together, our Dixon Hall community raised more money for the agency than has been raised in previous years for Dixonlicious, which supports our many food programs, and for Music for Life, helping to provide music lessons to children who are a part of our Dixon Hall Music School. Thank you for that support.

The idea of community is not just a notion for us: it is tangible, reliable, present and of late, proven to be comforting, stalwart, adaptive and powerful. Our vision, mission and values have been realized by our family of support that resides in Toronto’s downtown east, and we are pleased to be able to share some of their stories in this year’s Impact Report. We’re also offering some insight into how we have adjusted our programs to address the growing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll see how strong a role our community played in keeping our programs up and running to support so many of those in need.

We are in the midst of challenging times, and during our last fiscal year we started the strategic work necessary to plan for our next five years. We’ll be ready to share these developments with you in the months to come, and you will see that our initiatives are ground-breaking and exciting. We are taking all the necessary steps to center our initiatives on race, equity and inclusion to be certain that our work remains focused on the social determinants of health and to honour our employees who have persevered, lifted us up and made us a better agency over the past 90 years. We’re thrilled to be able to share some of our heart-warming and life changing agency stories with you, as we also thank you for the positive impact you have had on our work and our community!

Mercedes Watson CEO

Rod Bolger Chair

A Sense of Community Inspires Trust and Resilience

Adolescence can be a tough time for any youth. For the young people of Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods, challenges are heightened by other factors including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, financial insecurity and stigma. Our Children & Youth department works with youth to support them in overcoming barriers and to offer a deep sense of trust and community.

Custom programs are created and adjusted to meet the needs and concerns of our participants and their families. We offer a range of initiatives for children and youth aged 3-29 including after-school, evening and weekend programs, March Break and Summer Camps, and parental and family support groups. Recreational programs focused on sports and music are offered to engage youth in healthy, team-based activities where they can express themselves in a safe environment. Mentorship and girls-only programs offer support, encouraging strong social connections, healthier lifestyle options, and confidence-building opportunities to support youth in achieving their goals.

Creativity Inspires Self-expression and Personal Growth

Creative outlets are so important for youth. Participating in the arts and musical training allows young people to develop skills like language, reasoning, and self-expression, all of which help them succeed in their adult lives.

At Dixon Hall Music School, we’ve been working with youth from the Regent Park, Moss Park and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods for over 40 years. Our staff are committed to guiding students in their musical training, offering a sense of community and unity, and an opportunity to explore their self-identity. Students’ stories and successes inspire others in the community, creating a cultural lifeline for families and youth regardless of social status.

Since 1978, we have continued to explore and expand the offerings at Dixon Hall Music School. Today we offer a comprehensive program that follows students through all stages – and ages – of their musical and personal development. That includes lessons on musical theory, ear training, rock band, and orchestra – more than 20 different disciplines – to help them flourish regardless of their life’s circumstances.

Overcoming Adversity Inspires Transformation

The shelter system in Toronto is under constant stress as the number of individuals experiencing homelessness continues to grow. There are roughly 9,000 persons without adequate housing in the city at present*. To support this vulnerable population, Dixon Hall works with clients to help them find temporary or preferably permanent housing solutions; to assist with food security through community meals; and to offer harm reduction assistance.

Dixon Hall maintains that the solution to homelessness is housing. Last year we successfully enabled 159 clients to move into permanent housing. With every placement, the Housing Services team learns more about the homeless population and our clients’ needs, and the strategies and tools needed to combat the housing crisis.

Community Impact

Steven is a client of Dixon Hall’s Housing Services, and is described by staff who know him as resilient and inspiring. He is the father of a young child with special needs who was taken into foster care when Steven was dealing with addiction and homelessness. Determined to get his child back, Steven took on the challenge of addressing his addiction and getting his life in order. Steven has now been sober for almost two years. During this time, he also developed and maintained a positive relationship with his son and his son’s foster parents, who were very supportive in his recovery. With the help of Dixon Hall, working in collaboration with Children’s Aid, Steven was able to exit the shelter system, find housing in a two-bedroom apartment in a quiet family neighbourhood where he now awaits reunification with his son. This has been delayed by the pandemic but is still imminent thanks to the support of Dixon’s Housing Team. Congratulations Steven, we are so proud of you.

Caring Inspires Community Connections

As the population of seniors in Toronto continues to grow each year, our Seniors Services department becomes increasingly essential to the well-being and livelihood of our community. According to Statistics Canada, we know that 92% of seniors are living more independently, in private dwellings, and for longer*, making the need for services and support programs even more important to our city.

At Dixon Hall, we are recognized for offering a wide range of programs to support diverse populations. For seniors, that includes services such as Housing Support, Adult Health & Wellness, Case Management, Community Transportation, and Meals on Wheels. By offering a comprehensive range of programs at highly-subsidized rates, we’re able to have a greater impact in serving the needs of individuals and the seniors’ community at large.

Creating Opportunity Inspires Ambition

Dixon Hall Employment Services is dedicated to helping under-served communities of downtown East Toronto find training and employment opportunities. We work with clients of all ages to enhance their skills and prepare them to enter the workforce. These individuals may be overcoming personal and professional obstacles, or returning to the labour market after time away. They are resilient, determined, and eager to learn.

The Employment Services department offers a variety of programs to enhance clients’ qualifications, skill sets, and career opportunities; these teachings are done with the changing labour market top of mind. As a first step towards employment, we offer a Literacy and Basic Skills program. Members enrolled in this service develop literacy, numeracy and basic technological skills, which help them to achieve their employment goals. In 2019, we served 48 learners through this program, and completed the first cohort of Northstar Digital Literacy certified clients. We also celebrated three learners who contributed pieces to a collection of short stories published by the Toronto Public Library, Line By line: Sharing Our Stories and Ourselves.

The Employment Services team took part in a number of community events and job fairs including International Women’s Day, held by Voice of Immigrant Women, CSSP Job Fair for Trans and Gender Non-confirming People, and Women in the Trades Practitioner Round Table at GBC. The department co-facilitated resume writing workshops at the Revitalization Youth Ambassadors Forum, where 34 youth attended, and supported Community Update Meetings, organized by TCHC.