Melissa Lai has been working within the nonprofit sector for over 10 years in roles of active community engagement, including 7 years in a Settlement Counsellor position. In addition to her work on the Vaccine Engagement Team (VET), she is currently participating in a community arts project. Through her work, she aims to keep Toronto communities connected, offer support, and inspire others while being inspired herself. She started serving seniors during the pandemic and joined the North York VET as the Chinese Community Ambassador.
“We have our own subculture,” says Melissa.
She explains that North York has a large population of Chinese Canadians, many of whom are unvaccinated. Willowdale East is her main focus, as it’s a community that needs significant language support, but since she is also using online platforms to connect with North York Chinese Canadians, her scope is much larger.
These communities face unique challenges related to government and political systems in their home country, as well as language barriers. She says a basic trust for political systems goes a long way, and without trust, it is very difficult to set up a connection and make further impact. She speaks to the importance of civic literacy and social media literacy for newcomers.
Melissa sites discrimination and family challenges as barriers. She speaks about astronaut families, which are common in the Chinese-Canadian communities in which she works. These are families where one parent lives in China, while the other parent lives in Canada with the children. The family members often travel back-and-forth to stay connected.
“Because of the lockdowns,” she says, “it hasn’t been easy to get information out.”
She explains that the work has been “half and half” when it comes to online engagement and on-the-ground work in her community. She enjoys posting information posters in Willowdale East and the “real interaction” she has with people who approach her and ask questions. She says she does not initiate these conversations but she is more than happy to talk.
Online and in-person, she assists her community members by offering information on resources, such as VaxFacts, which is an anonymous medical consultation hotline. She also helps community members talk to doctors one-on-one, with translation assistance made available. She uses WeChat to engage with the North York Chinese-Canadian community online.
“There have been so many touching moments,” says Melissa.
She recounts being able to assist a new mother with a 2 week old baby, as well as a memorable senior, in accessing support and helping them get vaccinated.
“I have never ever experienced anything like this before!” Her voice is filled with excitement and passion when she talks about her work.
“I will tell my children and grandchildren about what I did during the pandemic. This is very meaningful to me. I think about what my role means for me, my neighbour, and my community” — Melissa Lai
The message she hopes to get out to her community is to be more open.
“Be open!” Melissa says. “Be open to Canadian culture, build trust in support systems, and trust each other. Share your own experiences. Show your love!”