Next Up Saskatchewan is happy to have new funding commitments this year including from Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union, which has previously given but recently committed to a larger annualized contribution.
On October 7, 2015, SGEU member and Next Up alumnus (2012-13), Sarina Gersher, co-presented, along with Next Up Saskatchewan coordinator Tracey Mitchell, to the provincial council meeting. In her speech to SGEU delegates, Gersher said: “In November I will be taking SGEU’s Leadership 10 course in Saskatoon. Although I had been a union member with a former employer, it was Next Up which provided me the introduction and encouragement to pursue change in my community. With the support of my fellow members, I have learned about how to help secure rights in my workplace and strengthen the province's public service for my generation and those after me, just as you have been doing.”
Daniel McCullough, another Next Up alumnus who was in the SGEU meeting as a delegate stated, following the meeting, “I'm very proud to be both a Next-Up alumni and an SGEU member today and I encourage Nuppers who are involved in other unions to be talking to their union executives about how Next Up has shaped you as an activist and unionist and encourage your unions to help support the program.”
Next Up Saskatchewan advisory and staff are also thrilled to have received funding from Affinity Credit Union for the first time this year. Affinity board member Linh Le presented the cheque at Next Up orientation on October 31. Sharing the news on social media later, Le said, “Shout out to Next Up and STR8 UP (a program for young people exiting gangs and the criminal justice system) for all their amazing work. Affinity and I can't be more excited to throw our support behind you and we can't wait to see the positive impact your work can bring to our community!”
These new funders are vital as Saskatchewan looks to expand programming to Regina for the 2016-17 program year. New funding commitments have also been made by, Regina Public Interest Research Group, Regina and District Labour Council, University of Regina Faculty Association, and COPE Local 397. Ongoing funders include Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, Saskatchewan Union of Nurses, SEIU-West and CUPE Saskatchewan.