CCBR worked with the Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership (CK LIP) to develop their Community Plan. We also co-created an Impact Statement to clearly articulate and communicate the LIP’s vision to all interest holders. This work integrated anti-racist and GBA+ approaches to planning and communication.

These research questions guided our inquiry:

1. What impact has CK LIP’s current strategy achieved?
2. What conditions and issues are prevalent in the region that would indicate future priorities for CK LIP to act on, including anti-racist and GBA+ related priorities?
3. What new Impact Statement, priorities, and high-level actions/outcomes are indicated from the research?

CCBR was guided by regular check-ins with CK LIP Staff and milestone meetings with the CK LIP Community Plan Steering Committee. Our methods included the following:

1. CCBR worked with CKLIP staff to conduct a document review that includes internal documents such the Theory of Change and evaluation reports, and external documents such as the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and recent immigration and demographic data. Drawing from this review, CCBR drafted discussion materials to guide Partnership Council engagement sessions. This foundation supported the refinement of CK LIP’s strategic plan and helped identify opportunities to integrate an IRCC Anti-Racism Plan, and GBA+ considerations.
2. CCBR created a survey that includes all members of CK LIP to broadly understand the strategy’s level of impact, and conditions and issues prevalent in the region. The survey findings informed the planning of engagement sessions.
3. One half-day workshop with the CK LIP Partnership Council members will focus on 1) sharing findings from the document review and survey; 2) facilitating discussion of the potential priorities and an Impact Statement indicated by that research. We also shared and discussed best practices concerning anti-racism and GBA+ in the settlement sector, as it informed the deliverables.
4. CCBR then hosted a two-hour focus group with the Immigrant Advisory Group to share and deliberate on the draft priorities and Impact Statement that arise from the Partnership Council conversation. We gathered their feedback to ensure alignment with lived experience.

Following the engagement sessions, CCBR synthesized the feedback and findings into a concise and visually engaging strategic plan, detailing the LIP’s new strategic priorities and Impact Statement.