By Fred Alvarado

Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

On May 10, 2023, the Regent Park Social Development Plan stakeholders table had a hybrid celebratory meeting on the first floor of Daniel Spectrum Centre to share with Regent Park community the SDP progress report for 2022. The first part of the meeting began with dinner, entertainment and music by Free the Revolution. The second part of the meeting was chaired by Ismail Afrah - the TCHC resident co-chair, Marlene Degenova-the Market resident co-chair, and Greg Gary, the Agency co-chair representing the Executive Directors Network and the Boys and Girls Club.

After introductions, Greg Gary invited the community to get a copy of the Catch Da Flava magazine which includes a special edition 2023 SDP progress report. After land acknowledgment, Ismail Afrah reminded participants of the purpose stakeholders table of their commitment to annually report to the community the progress that the Social Development Plan has made during the year.

The community heard the progress reports of the 4 working groups that assist in the implementation of the Social Development Plan in terms of what they’ve done in 2022 and the activities they plan to do in 2023. Walied Khogali and Joel Klassen, co-chairs of the Community Building working group began their presentation with a brief summary of their work, activities and projects in 2022-2023. Murshida Muen, the new co-chair of the Communication table and Adonis Huggins from Focus Media Arts Centre presented the progress report of the communication working group highlighting the communty's Catch Da Flava magazine special edition that includes 2023 SDP progress report, and the journalistic work done in Regent Park TV and RPTV Weekly News to inform the community. Gail Lynch, co-chair of the Economic & Employment Development table presented a progress report highlighting the Regent Park Women Entrepreneur Group and the 2022 Moonlight Market. Hajia Abubakar and Ines Garcia, both co-chairs of the Safety Network presented the safety group progress report. Regent Park residents Lizette Casule and Murshida Mueen also shared their training and learning experiences as part of the safety network workshop series. After all the workgroups presentations, there was a Q&A from the audience.