Montreal, QC
Jashim Emilia Paniagua Rodriguez
I see myself as a community builder committed to creating spaces of inclusion and solidarity. Through projects like Chimbites, I’ve led fundraising efforts to support and connect trans organizations in Latin America and Canada. My commitment also takes shape through art. With my multimedia collective, I provide a platform for young immigrant artists, giving them the opportunity to exhibit in established institutions such as Fonderie Darling and the Phi Centre. My journey reflects a desire to bring people together, build bridges between cultures, and amplify marginalized voices in order to create more just and inclusive communities.
Light Alba
Alba Lumière is a non-profit organization that supports the integration of newly arrived immigrant families through a unique sponsorship model. A local family mentors a newcomer family for one year, sometimes longer, to help with concrete needs such as language, schooling, employment, administrative procedures, and cultural orientation. Unlike institutional services, this human, personalized, and long-term approach helps break isolation, build trust, and support successful social integration.
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
Our project works through a sponsorship model. A Canadian family takes a newly arrived family under its wing and helps them find the information and resources they need to settle and integrate here in Quebec. We develop initiatives that encourage cultural exchange, build community connections, support access to jobs, and defend the rights of people from immigrant backgrounds. Our goal is to make our spaces and services accessible, useful, and uplifting for the communities we serve. By building a support network, fighting poverty and discrimination, and valuing each person’s cultural strengths, we actively work to improve the living conditions of newcomers and strengthen the social fabric.
Project Impact
Our organization’s mission is to actively combat poverty and discrimination by putting in place concrete initiatives that help New Canadians take their place socially, culturally, and economically. We work to improve the living conditions of people from immigrant backgrounds by creating mutual aid groups and advocacy networks. We also develop services tailored to the specific needs of the communities we serve, in order to strengthen their autonomy and ability to navigate their new environment. By encouraging cultural exchange and building connections between different communities, our organization helps create a space for dialogue and collaboration. Through multicultural events, community projects, and a support network, we encourage connection, respect, and mutual understanding. We also aim to support the professional integration of New Canadians by creating opportunities for employment, networking, and skill development. By making our spaces accessible and inclusive, we work together to build a more supportive and prosperous future for everyone.
Project Mission
At Alba Lumière, our mission is to support the integration of immigrant families through meaningful and lasting mentorship. Each host family supports a newly arrived family for one year, offering guidance, trust, and solidarity. This model fosters autonomy, language learning, access to employment, education, and cultural understanding, while reducing isolation and creating lasting connections.
Project Team
Alba Lumière team: my mother, the coordinator; my father, who handles family support; Adriana Martinez, in administration; my brother and me.
- Alba Lucia Rodriguez Agudelo
- Jashim Emilia Paniagua Rodriguez
- Leo Giraldo
- Francisco Javier Giraldo
- Adriana Martinez
Optional Photo Gallery
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