A letter from our Executive Director, Francesca Allodi-Ross.
“At Romero House, as in Canada, we speak many languages and come from many places. This year we have housed residents from Ecuador to Ethiopia, Sierra Leone to Sudan, Uganda to Ukraine. Across our differences, we look out for each other. Whether it’s housemates working together to put out yard waste or a family offering me dinner when I’m working late in my office, we care for one another.
While politicians abroad spread lies to turn neighbour against neighbour, in Canada we reject those divide and conquer tactics. We will not be distracted by those who chip away at the healthcare and other services we all need while letting housing prices spiral.
We are proud to be a country that welcomes newcomers, and we expect our leaders to carry on that legacy and make this a place where all families can thrive. At Romero House–as in Canada–we know we’re better off together.”
This was a message I worked on recently at the Canadian Council for Refugees consultation in Winnipeg. It is adapted from a campaign that the CCR recently launched with the goal of growing public support for immigrants and refugees.
We had studied Canadians’ changing attitudes towards newcomers at the CCR Consultation the year before in Calgary. We looked at policies on polling on how and why this had happened. We looked at what we could do to push back against some of the harmful but effective narratives coming from Trump. We got a crash course in communications theory and strategy. The importance of expressing emotion, shared values, naming the problem, and putting forward a vision and call to action. The need for clarity, repetition, and hope. Following the 2024 gathering, the CCR worked hard to bring us this public messaging campaign: We’re Better Together.
I hope you will join the campaign today. This will be a multi-year project. The first phase is to get as many of our core supporters to sign up. There are already 100 organizations on board! Joining the campaign will keep you updated on the next phases of the campaign and how you can help spread the word and be part of restoring Canadians’ pride in who we are as a country of welcome.
In addition to being important in public messaging, I need hope to keep doing the work of Romero House. To fight for change, we need to believe that it’s possible. I hope this issue of Life with Romero will give you a slice of that inspiration. Tania’s story of building a life in Canada, Mary Jo’s reflections on joy, and so many milestones: babies born, refugees accepted, weddings, and celebration of life for those who have passed on.
In hope and love,
Francesca Allodi-Ross
Executive Director
Call To Action:
Please join this campaign today: https://bettertogethercanada.ca/Take-Action/
Sources:
Canadian Council for Refugees, “We’re Better Together Message guide: Building Public Support for Immigrants and Refugees”