The event titled Confronting Poverty: Youth Speak Out was held on November 17th as a follow-up to the Poverty Forum held in April and was an overwhelming success.

Confronting Poverty included a number of youth guest speakers who participated in programs through SIA or the Open Door Society.  The youth shared their personal experiences and discussed how these programs are used as tools and stepping stones to "confront poverty" in their own lives, whether by prevention or reduction.

Over 100 people attended this event, including city counsellors, participants, members of the Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Housing Authority, special high school programs, community workers, as well as those involved in organizations and agencies that work with immigrants, refugees, and newcomers to Saskatoon.  

The second part of the event included an "information fair" that allowed the attendees to view booths set up by the various organizations and learn more about what agencies in Saskatoon are doing to both assist youth as well refugees and immigrants within the Saskatoon community. 

On May 22nd 2009, SIA hosted a follow up event to 'Linking Poverty and Racism'.
An afternoon of heartfelt discussions and experiences, ‘Poor Speak Out:  Strategies for the Elimination of Racism and Poverty’ attracted a large audience.
The event consisted of various guest speakers and facilitators of the SIA Board along with MLA's Cam Broten, Pat Atkinson and David Forbes.
The staff of SIA and its Board Members would like to thank all that attended and helped to make the event the success that it was!