Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In Person
Workplace youth mentoring changes lives
Speaking Up
Reducing the stigma of mental illness
Reality Check
New program demonstrates the struggles of poverty
PLUS:
The high cost of low wages
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THIS ISSUE OF WE MAGAZINE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY EPCOR COMMUNITY ESSENTIALS COUNCIL AND NAIT
EPCORs Community Essentials Council (ECEC) invests in a wide variety of community causes everything from outreach support programs for seniors to workforce readiness programs for unemployed people. Learn more about the work we do beyond wires and water. Visit epcor.com/community
10 A WILLING WORkFORCE
19 SPEAkING UP
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Reducing the stigma of mental illness By Cait wills
DEPARTMENTS 22 LIFE AFTER LIFE 4 MESSAGE FROM UNITED WAY 5 COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Cliff Higuchi saw a need in the community and in response created a new event
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Finding work helps former inmates reintegrate and contribute towards a productive community By oMar MouallEM
26 JACkET REqUIRED
Coats for Kids & Families has been providing winter gear to the community for more than 20 years By MiChEllE lindstroM
6 THIS WAY IN
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United Way happenings including National Child Day and United Were Strong music video
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9 MYTH BUSTERS
Working poor: A surprising number of Edmontonians work for low wages
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29 BRIDGING BOUNDARIES
A trio of communities and their unique relationship with United Way By ElizaBEth ChornEy-Booth
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36 LEADING EDGE
A not-for-profit rebrands its image for renewed interest and support
38 BUSINESS WAY
Two Edmonton businesses commit time, talent and funds
ON THE COVER: 42 MILESTONES Frank went to P.a.l.s., improved The City of Edmonton launches his literacy, found a better job a dedicated United Way and new outlook on life. PHOTO: aaron Pedersen / 3tEn campaign
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39 LASTING LEGACY
Barbara Poole was one of Edmontons great philanthropists. Her devotion to the community lives on
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O UR WAY
WINTER/SPRING 2013 VOL 2 No. 2 UNITED WAY OF THE ALBERTA CAPITAL REGION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Nancy Critchley ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Mike Kluttig, Angela Dorval, David Odumade EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meredith Bongers, Karina Hurtado, Sheilah Pittman, Anne Smith, Jessica Smith-Perry SPONSORSHIP AND CORPORATE SUPPORT COMMITTEE Meredith Bongers, Nancy Critchley, Kevin Fitzgerald, Mike Kluttig, Stephane Hache
Karina Hurtado Community Investment Specialist United Way of the Alberta Capital Region
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC. PUBLISHER: Ruth Kelly ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Joyce Byrne ASSISTANT PUBLISHER: Andrew Williams MANAGING EDITOR: Bobbi-Sue Menard ART DIRECTOR: Charles Burke ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Andrea deBoer ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Colin Spence PRODUCTION MANAGER: Betty-Lou Smith PRODUCTION TECHNICIAN Brent Felzien CIRCULATION: Jennifer King CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Christa Broadfoot, Nancy Critchley, Elizabeth Chorney-Booth, Caitlin Crawshaw, Angela Dorval, Michelle Lindstrom, Cheryl Mahaffy, Omar Mouallem, David Odumade, Cait Wills CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ILLUSTRATORS: Nancy Critchley, Christy Dean, Dustin Delfs, Buffy Goodman, David Odumade, Aaron Pedersen / 3TEN, Eugene Uhuad ABOUT UNITED WAY United Way of the Alberta Capital Region inspires people to come together to make a lasting difference in our communities.
WE is published for United Way of the Alberta Capital Region by Venture Publishing Inc., 10259-105 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 1E3 Tel: 780-990-0839 Fax: 780-425-4921 Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276 circulation@venturepublishing.ca
Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Interweb WE is printed on Forest Stewardship Council certied paper Publications Agreement #40020055 ISSN 1925-8690 Contents copyright 2013. Content may not be reprinted or reproduced without permission from United Way of the Alberta Capital Region.
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COMMUNITY CHAMPION
Change of Focus
A big event requires a big venue. Inspired by local need, Cliff Higuchi of Edmontons Shaw Conference Centre was a founding force behind Homeless Connect
The evenT: Homeless Connect is a
one-day event, held twice a year, that brings together necessary services in one place for Edmontonians who are near or experiencing homelessness. Dental care, tax preparation, vision care, mental health care and more are offered in a judgement-free environment at no cost to attendees in need. Between 1,400 and 1,700 people attend each Homeless Connect in either the spring or fall. The venue: The Shaw Conference Centre draws attendees and customers from across Alberta, and the world, to Edmonton. The goal of the centres employees is to be a part of the economic growth of a city and traditionally, the audience they want to reach is outside the Alberta Capital Region. Homeless Connect changes the focus of the Shaw Conference Centre to an inside-the-community perspective. Cliff Higuchi is vice-president and general manager of the Shaw Conference Centre. He is a founding leader of Homeless Connect and one of its biggest champions. We: When and why did you come up with the idea of homeless Connect? Cliff higuchi: In and around the summer
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of 2007, we noticed there was a higher than normal number of people experiencing homelessness using the Shaw as a drop-in centre. In retrospect, there was quite a bit of construction in downtown Edmonton at that time. People were being displaced. At that point, my request to staff was, You believe this is an issue, what are we going to do? What are some potential solutions? We: how was homeless Connect developed? Ch: We did an idea search and came across Homeless Connect in the United States. It looked like a trade show for people experiencing homelessness. Since trade shows are a component of the business at the Shaw, it was fitting. We took the idea to corporate management and then to social service agencies. We: Was it really that simple to get homeless Connect started? Ch: At the time I was a little flabbergasted, we didnt get an immediate response. It took us between eight and 10 months to
really get the idea out to agencies across the city. It was a real issue, we were constantly asked, Why would you want to do this? I suppose the process was a little bit backwards, usually the idea for an event comes from the agencies. We did receive a lot of initial support from United Way, Homeward Trust and the Edmonton Canadian Mental Health Association. That was enough to keep us moving forward until others understood our goals. We: how do staff members at the Shaw Conference Centre participate? Ch: Homeless Connect is very exciting for us at the Shaw. The staff likes that Homeless Connect is a significant opportunity to give back to the community. Many staff members come out, volunteer and lend suggestions about how to utilize the venue. There is a feeling of ownership amongst the staff. There is a big sense of pride for the Shaw Conference Centre to be the home of Homeless Connect. Learn more about Homeless Connect and a story that inspired Cliff, at www.wemagazine.ca
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times. On NCD many people in our community came together to celebrate childrens rights which included a free swim at 14 pools throughout the city, courtesy of the City of Edmonton and the YMCA of Edmonton on Sunday, November 18. City of Edmontons Mayor Stephen Mandel and Franco Savoia, president and CEO of the YMCA of Edmonton, attended an event at Commonwealth Recreation Centre, where Mayor Mandel presented students from Clara Tyner Elementary School with a proclamation declaring November 20 as National Child Day in Edmonton. He promised to ensure Edmontons children and youth have the support, encouragement and respect necessary to reach their full potential. National Child Day is an opportunity we can not afford to miss to engage our community as a whole about the key issues affecting children in the Alberta Capital Region. As a city rich in children, it is important to recognize National Child Day, as we are all able to have a positive impact on the lives of children. For more information visit WWW.SUCCESSBY6EDMONTON.INFO/NATIONAL-CHILD-DAY/.
emotional barriers. Brittany, along with Constable Michelle Horchuk, a former Da Bom Squad co-ordinator whom she credits for helping change her life, tell a real-life story of change, hope and success. Tylers story is one of volunteerism and dedication to community. Tyler, along with his wife and three young girls, are active United Way supporters and are rm believers that the only way to get what you need out of life is by giving back. To watch Brittany and Tylers stories, or to subscribe for future issues of WE Magazine visit WWW.WEMAGAZINE.CA.
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For more information on the RISE Awards or to purchase tickets visit HTTP://RISE .EMCN. AB .CA /.
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Sponsored by:
DISCOVERY SPEAKERS
AT UNITED WAY, we believe that community members
and organizations will make decisions and take actions that strengthen communities, families and individuals when they have the opportunity to discover our work. We also believe that it is our responsibility as a community builder to connect people to the issues that surround us. United Ways Discovery Speakers program provides opportunities for people to hear rst-hand the difference that is being made in the lives of families and individuals in our community. Our speaker group comprises people who have beneted from a front-line program or service in our community. In 2012, 29 speakers made over 335 presentations to workplace groups throughout our region on behalf of United Ways partner agencies. These speakers volunteered their time to thank our community and share the difference that our collective support has made in their lives. There is no greater testament to United Ways community impact than a story from someone whose life has improved because of the work that we do.
To hear some of the inspiring stories of the Discovery Speakers, visit WWW.MYUNITEDWAY.CA/DISCOVER-SPEAKERS.
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mYTH BUSTERS
Working Poor
Many Edmonton residents put in long hours for low pay
Edmonton has vEry low unemployment and
many working people receive excellent wages. But hidden in the wealth is a widening gap between the richest 10 per cent and the bottom 20 per cent of wage earners. A surprising number of working adults in Alberta earn less than $15 per hour and struggle to make ends meet even after a 40-hour work week. In November 2012, Edmonton Social Planning Council released a report titled Achieving the Promise, Ending Poverty in Alberta, which shows the difficult reality faced by the working poor.
by BoBBi-Sue Menard
and the Parkland Institute about Albertas reliance on food banks compared to the rest of Percentage of Alberta children in poor Canada: Alberta has the families where one or more parent has a highest rate of food bank full-time, full-year job: use by those working full-time, full-year. 60% Working in poverty 55% is precarious. Job loss, reductions in hours 50% worked and/or pay 45% cuts can immediately 40% drive a household below the poverty 35% line. Single parents, 30% especially mothers, are vulnerable to slipping 25% under the poverty line 20% and remaining there if they have weak links Source: Statistics canada 2012 to the labour market. When facing uncertain or low-paying work, it is difficult to income transfers from governments, find adequate child care and act as is still inadequate to lift children out of primary caregiver to the child. dire circumstances. Kolkman says the good news MYTH: The government is that income transfers from the provides for the working government, such as the Child Tax poor. Benefit, do help bring families above The Ending Poverty report shows the poverty line. that income transfers only go so far The bad news is that there are very when working for low wages. Fullfew financial supports for people time work, even when combined with without children.
2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 we winter/spring 2013
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ALFWAY THROUGH A LUNCHEON featuring Frank ODea, who went from being homeless to co-founding Second Cup, a few puzzle pieces clicked into place for Ken Franczek. First, ODeas life story reminded the Crystal Glass general manager how important a hand up was for him many years ago, when home was no longer a welcome place and he desperately needed work. Second, he realized that the wellspoken young man sitting next to him was experiencing homelessness and in need of a job.
Before that luncheon ended, Franczek had conspired with boss Ed Bean, the community-minded founder of Crystal Glass and Crystal Kids, to offer the young man a hand up a job, but equally important, mentorship and forgiveness for the small stuff during the tough transition from the street. After doing well at his job for several months, the young man disappeared. He may have fallen backward, but he had taken two very solid steps forward, Franczek tells me, his white shirt and smart tie testifying to his own rise in the glass industry. And you dont know what impact that one person youve helped today will have in the future. People say you cant change the world, but you can change a life. And its like a tree it grows exponentially. Franczeks story hints at some of the complex reasons unemployment and underemployment remain stubbornly high for those at the margins of work, even with unemployment at 4.7 per cent in Alberta and why it makes dollars and sense to put concerted effort into matching everyone who can work with a job that fits. Even though the effort may, at first, seem unrewarded.
BEYOND EXPLOITATION
In the midst of a city-wide labour shortage, barriers to employment still exist. People can move from the margins of the labour pool to full employment all it takes is community
by ChEryL MAhAffY
The Bissell Centre in inner city Edmonton serves people whose reasons for being unemployed range from mental illness to addiction to physical disability to life trauma to low literacy to criminal records to single parenting and more. Some are escaping violent situations, and some are aboriginal and endure pervasive prejudice, and some might be immigrants, says CEO Mark Holmgren. All those barriers bundled together make people start to feel crunched and then a person says youre a lazy bum. The lineup outside the Bissell Centre every morning testifies that dozens are anything but lazy.
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Employability
PLAYERS: Ed Bean, founder of Crystal Glass (L) and Ken Franczek, general manager, have informally worked to hire people with barriers to employment, including people experiencing homelessness.
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A WILLING WORKFORCE
DOWNTOWN PROUD: The streets are no longer mean for Jerry, Glen and Warren (L to R). They are employed members of the Downtown Proud team, a social enterprise that provides meaningful jobs to people looking to re-enter the workforce.
Theyre here even in deep-freeze temperatures, hoping for a days work at $11 to $15 an hour. The Bissell Centre began running its own placement service 20 years ago because of a need in the community for things a casual worker might be able to do. The program also offers other services a loaner pair of boots, a ride to the work site, or regulation gear. Bissell will make 13,000 casual placements in 2012, bringing close to $1 million into Edmontons economy. Seeking a win-win for both sides, the centre avoids employers who pay rock-bottom wages and stays in close contact with partner work sites to make sure each match works out. It also supplies free lunches, safety equipment, socks, gloves and other gear typically donated. As Holmgren puts it, Our model is to work with the entire community to put people to work. Besides its casual labour pool, the centre runs pre-employment training, an accredited daycare and a Jobs First pilot involving intensive coaching in work and life skills. With multiple entry points to employment and staff who build trusting relationships, Holmgren says, When a window opens, someone can suggest a route in. An encouraging number go on to nd full-time work, including some at the Bissell Centre. Suddenly theyre on a path where they can think of a future, not just about basic survival, and theyre less likely to harm themselves and others, Holmgren says. Employment is not a panacea, but its a bigger contributor than people often think.
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ties to Edmontonians living with addiction and mental illness: pre-employment training, working in a greenhouse at Alberta Hospital, staffing a bistro at the Northeast Health Centre, cleaning apartments and for those ready for the challenge marketplace jobs with supportive employers. Her staff worked with just over 400 people last year; given that one in five of us will experience mental illness at some point, many more could benefit, she says. When people obtain satisfying employment that is individually matched, I really think that is one of the keys in recovery.
days, doing tasks that dont use their skill set. As soon as you carve out a job that somebody else is happy to have, youve upped the production and lowered the cost of getting another part of your work done. Easy to say, harder to do, Taylor adds. People are so busy running their business that somebody has to tell them how. Rather than just banging on doors saying youve got to hire the disabled or people with other barriers, we need people who can go in and help get it done.
Employability
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A WILLING WORKFORCE
TRANSFORMING POWER: Shirley Sandul (L) executive director of P.A.L.S. and Frank are all smiles. Improving adult literacy boosts lifetime employment outcomes and improves individual standards of living.
people can be when theyre in transition. My dad used to say Ken, if you hard it is to nd and keep work without a place to call home. want to be a dentist, dont hang out with the garbage man. If we want people Edmontons 2010 homeless count found 2,421 people on to contribute to our community, we have to the streets, in shelters or surng insert them into it and allow them to learn from couch to couch. With average rent If you dont have a residence or give their environment. eating up 65 per cent of full-time the address of one of our shelters on Franczek has seen the good that can come minimum wage and nearly half an application form, an employer from hanging out with the right crowd not of Albertans living paycheque to only in his own life but in the downtown boxing paycheque, thousands more teeter is going to at least think twice about club where he volunteered for years among kids on the edge of eviction. If you dont hiring you. with rough lives, moulding negative energy have a residence or give the address into positive. I can easily count 10 of those of one of our shelters on an applicayoung adults who have made it who have jobs, who have relationships, who tion form, an employer is going to at least think twice about have put their lives on track, he says. Then they become positive contribuhiring you, Freeman says. And simple things about nding tors. And if you really want to take it full circle, theyre all going to need a and keeping a job become huge obstacles. Waking up on windshield. time, showering, putting on clean clothes, getting to work in a sprawling city every step takes an extra dose of ingenuA TRIO OF BARRIERS ity. Not surprisingly, sleep deprivation is endemic among the homeless, he adds. If youre not sleeping properly, youre not SLEEPING ROUGH going to be very productive at work. No home, no job. No job, no home. Thats how Freeman sums up the close Edmontons Housing First program has placed more than link between life on the streets and unemployment. He sees rst-hand how 2,000 previously homeless Edmontonians in safe, sup-
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ported, permanent, affordable housing in recent years. Some will never be able to work, but the vast majority can and crave the companionship and sense of worth a job can provide, Freeman says. Whats more, they need the money. When we go and visit their apartments, their fridges are still empty. Theyre still poor. Easing back into the workforce after years of sleeping rough is not easy. The concept that when you say I have to be at work at 8:30 you really mean it theyve kind of lost those skills and need a compassionate employer, Freeman says. Yet without work, the previously homeless all too easily spiral back down. Its absolutely critical they get reintegrated back into the workforce and frankly the workforce needs them.
a community support worker, aiming to give back while pursuing a lifelong dream of being in police work. His family takes pride in the new Frank, whos now setting his sights on finishing Grade 12. I never thought that was a possibility before, he says. I know now that I can do whatever it is I want.
How much would it cost to fit a person with a disability into your workplace? Employers in one Bank of Montreal study overestimated the cost by as much as $10,000. In reality, more than half can be accommodated at no cost and others typically require adjustments costing no more than $500, according to an employers surveyed by the Job Accommodation Network. In return, employers retain or gain workers who more often than not prove loyal and productive. LOW-LEVEL LITERACY Yet among the 350,000 individuals with one or more disTwo years ago, Frank was in hiding. Barely able to read, abilities in Alberta, only 67 per cent are employed; for those hed found a job in security but with mental illness, the figure drops worried the reports he had to below 30 per cent. According write at the end of every shift to the Premiers Council on the With low level literacy youre more would find him out. At home, Status of Persons with Disabililikely in a low-paying job, more likely he was irritable and testy. ties, half of those with no work the first person fired and less likely to It wasnt just that I couldnt want a job and believe they would take any further training or even be read, but that I didnt believe be capable of full participation if offered it at work. in myself, he says. barriers and disincentives were Frank is not alone. Forty permanently removed. People per cent of Edmonton adults with disabilities are an untapped dont have enough reading, writing, math or computer source of people power in a group that includes lawyers, docskills to meet daily living needs, says Shirley Sandul, tors and engineers. executive director of Project Adult Literacy Society Its really important to think about people with disabilities (P. A. L. S.), which pairs adult students with volunteer as potential employees and focus on their abilities, because tutors to improve those skills. With low level literacy they have much to contribute to the workplace, says Iris youre more likely in a low-paying job, more likely the first Saunders, executive director of EmployAbilities in downtown person fired and less likely to take any further training Edmonton. Her clients have hearing or vision loss, or menor even be offered it at work. And you have access to fewer tal illness, or developmental or physical challenges, but with resources because you cant read and you dont want to the agencys support, 75 per cent find jobs. Truly the biggest admit you cant. challenge and you would think it would be the easiest is the Literacy gaps limit potential so drastically that any myths that surround people with disabilities. change has a huge effect, Sandul says, pointing to a Fifty-six per cent of small businesses in Alberta (and 44 35-year scan of OECD data that found a one per cent per cent across Canada) say theyve hired a person with a disrise in average literacy translated into a permanent 1.5 ability, according to a survey conducted for BMO Financial per cent increase in GDP per capita. She would love to see Group. In the time-honoured tradition of seeing is believing, a comprehensive, community-wide effort to reach everyone successful match often leads to more. Especially with the one with literacy needs. shortage of workers in Alberta, recruiting people with disabiliFrank is proof of the potential. After two years with ties makes good business sense, Saunders says. It increases P. A. L. S., he re-entered the market with new confidence, the size of the population you can choose from and compalanding a job in a transmission shop. Whats more, he is nies with a diverse workforce are seen as more progressive taking courses at the Citizens Police Academy to become and dynamic.
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Employability
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DONOR PROFILE
FACE TIME: Mentor Victor and Ben nd there is no substitute for spending time together. WorleyParsons employees and their protegs look forward to their weekly meetings.
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LOCATION,
WorleyParsons mentorship program brings youth to the workplace and changes lives
by CAITLIN CRAWSHAW
LOCATION, LOCATION
Photography by BUFFY GOODMAN
HREE YEARS AGO, VICTOR LIN STOOD AT THE front door of WorleyParsons south-side campus, welcoming a gaggle of elementary school kids into the building for the first time: I remember overhearing one of the kids, a little girl, who walked in the door and said, Well, this looks like a nice place to work!
The logistics were simple. Once a week, BGCBigs would bus in two groups of kids one from Menisa Elementary School and the other from T.D. Baker Junior High School to the companys head ofce. For just one hour, mentors and protegs would spend time together in a casual environment and focus on having fun. When we rst started, the caseworker brought this Tupperware box full of games, says Lin, whos also a mentor with the Lin still laughs at the precocious nine-year-olds evaluation of elementary school side of the program. It was the perfect icethe Edmonton engineering companys main ofce but admits that, breaker and kids happily engaged with the adults over puzzles at the time, it was reassuring. After all, or games of Life. Over the course of the before the rst group of kids set foot at year, that container of treats began to The kids have been adopted grow, mysteriously. Soon, it was overWorleyParsons, no one really knew if the by our group not just the pilot program would be a hit. owing (the treasure trove now takes up Months before, United Way had apan entire closet), and Lin discovered that people mentoring, but a lot proached WorleyParsons about a potential other WorleyParsons staff members were of other people. mentorship program between their staff quietly donating toys, puzzles, games and and kids involved with the Boys & Girls other fun stuff that their own kids had Club Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) program in Millwoods. outgrown. The kids have been adopted by our group not just The idea was to bring protgs to their mentors, allowing the the people mentoring, but a lot of other people, Lin explains. adults to squeeze volunteer time into their busy schedules. The game closet continues to be popular, but oftentimes menFor many years, WorleyParsons had been a keen supporter of tors and protegs have their own projects on the go. Lin and his several United Way fundraising and volunteering initiatives, and mentee, who participates in Scouts, tend to work on achieving the pilot program seemed like a natural t. Nevertheless, an innew badges. Other pairings do crafts, art projects, make cookies house mentorship program was unfamiliar territory. At that point, and much more. It depends on whatever spark of interest works in 2009, wed never expanded into a mentorship capacity, says for the mentorship relationship, he says. Lin, a project manager with WorleyParsons who co-ordinates the There are also group activities from time to time. We have the mentorship program. good fortune of having a two-storey atrium area, so one day we
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DONOR PROFILE
FUN AND GAMES: There is a mix of group and one-on-one activities. The common goal is to have fun together.
decided to have an airplane competition, says Lin. Adults and children the challenges of teenage life: peer pressure, puberty and designed and folded paper airplanes with specic goals in mind (such as self-esteem issues, among other things. having the plane hit a target or y through a hula hoop held by the menThis isnt just conjecture. Lin has surveyed the kids to nd tor on the ground oor). To teach kids about the importance of safety, out how well the program is working. He recalls one comanyone on the ground oor was required to wear a hard hat, goggles ment from a former mentee that still makes him emotional and gloves. We were over-teaching the safety element, he laughs. years later: My Big Sister is someone I can look up to. After a successful rst year, the pilot We talk about my future program became a permanent initiative and what is important to My Big Sister is someone I can look up between WorleyParsons and BGCBigs. me. When I talk to her, it to. We talk about my future and what is The rst group of 15 volunteers has reminds me that no matter important to me. When I talk to her, it grown to about 23, and the program now how tough life seems right reminds me that no matter how tough involves the companys downtown ofce now, everything will turn and a third school, Abbott Elementary out OK at the end. After life seems right now, everything will turn School. Three years ago, we planted the chatting with the girls menout OK at the end. seed and proved it could work, says Lin. tor, he was sad to learn that In fact, thanks to WorleyParsons experithe girls family was divorcence, several other companies in town have decided to follow suit and ing and shed been struggling personally. The mentor was host in-house mentoring programs with BGCBigs. Lin is excited at the shocked to learn shed had so much inuence on a young life. prospect of the program spreading throughout the city and helping more Like the protegs, the mentors come to the program for kids: Imagine if all of the companies in Edmonton did this. We could different reasons, says Lin. But, when it comes down to it, really cover a lot more of the mentoring need in Edmonton. for most of them, its a karma thing. Someones helped them While it may seem like fun and games on the surface, Lin knows that in the past, and they want to give back. While the experience theres a profound benet for the kids, who come to the program for helps kids, Lin says its a personal development opportunity a variety of reasons. Some are experiencing major problems at home, that employees appreciate. And while the program takes up while others have simply been referred by teachers who gure they could work time, even the company benets, since happy employees benet from some extra one-on-one attention from a caring adult. For tend to be more productive and engaged: When you put it all the junior high kids, quality time with a mentor can help them navigate together, theres a three-way, win-win-win that happens.
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SPEAKING UP
Mental illness affects people from all walks of life. Returning to work can be a challenge, but as understanding grows, stigma diminishes
by CAIT WILLS
t started with being tired all the time. Thats not unusual; busy professionals often feel like they need to catch up on their sleep. But as the days and weeks passed for Nancy McCalder, her fatigue didnt get better, it got worse.
I had very low energy, she says. I remember coming into work and, by noon, I felt like I was looking at the world through a black cloud. I was pushing to get through the day and I felt drained and exhausted. I worked in an environment where mental health is important, and I knew something was wrong, so I spoke to my doctor.
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Employability
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SPEAKING UP
Its a non-issue, she says bluntly about the health status of her employees. While she says the goal as a supervisor is to manage employer-employee relations with exibility and enough rigour to meet operational goals, You hire someone based on their skills and how they help you achieve your mission, not their mental health status. Challborn admits, though, that the employers desire to support their staff wholeheartedly while managing operational needs, can be a challenge. You hire someone to do the job, and because an employee may be afraid they are going to be discriminated against, they dont say anything at the interview stage or beyond. If someone is employed and they have a [health concern], they may not say something, which makes support minimized and can negatively impact recovery. What ultimately matters, though, says Challborn, is the individuals recovery and it is critical for employers to learn all they can about mental illness in order to support their employee. One in ve people will suffer mental illness in their lifetime, says Challborn, so as an employer you are going to come across it. Its illegal to discriminate against an employee who is suffering from mental illness, so it makes sense to be very well-educated about opportunities and what you can do.
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like the CMHA, which has programs in place to help with coping strategies and mechanisms for recovery from a mental-health illness diagnosis. The Support Network also offers programs, including an information directory service, 211, and a 24-hour distress line. If you have a friend, family member or co-worker in distress, call the distress line, urges McCalder. You can get some advice and receive coaching on how to ask the right questions, which she knows from experience is critical to reaching an employee who may be suffering. I had an employee who was suffering from postpartum depression, and I [initially] missed the signs, says McCalder. But, because of her personal experience with depression, she says she was comfortable initiating a conversation. I approached my employee and told her that I thought I knew what was going on because of my own experiences with depression. When she asked me what I knew about it, I shared my personal story with her. McCalder believes that her personal experience helped her assist an employee who was potentially in crisis. I recognize the symptoms and, as an employer and as someone who suffered from depression, I will do something, she says. In order to balance supporting her employees mental health with her organizations operational priorities, McCalder, like Challborn, believes the solution is simple: I will speak out.
Walk away from a vicious cycle He is soft-spoken and hesitant in his speech but very candid about where he is today and how he got here. Joseph (not his real name), works part-time at a large organization in Edmonton in an ofce that focuses on supporting individuals in crisis within his workplace. He also works part time at the Canadian Mental Health Association, where he was formerly a client, providing practical supports to current clients. The work is meaningful and, most important, shows him that he is contributing. But that wasnt always the case. I was a client at CMHA for close to two years, he says. Suffering from a form of depression that goes back to his time in university, there was a sense that friends were moving on with their lives, getting good jobs, while he was just sitting at home, unemployed. It was a vicious cycle, and I didnt see any way out. Becoming a client at CMHA meant trying something new. Although he had previously had one-on-one treatment, the group-setting dynamic was uncharted territory for him: It was really essential to have that structure and that dynamic. I met other people who were also struggling and I found it really helped to know I wasnt alone. I wasnt a freak. The long-term aspect of the group setting was important because it provided a non-judgmental, positive environment. The results are measurable, Joseph says. I think its been a gradual process, but I denitely feel better about things. I have made contacts and I have some friends. I feel like Im in a better position, although I still struggle with work issues. The advice he would give to employers who may be struggling with how to support employees who are suffering from mental illness is simple: Ive met a lot of people who have had a hard time, and it helps that employers understand that people dont necessarily t into a mould of the stereotypical employee. Have patience and concentrate on the strengths of the employee. Ask about their ideal working environments; that can make a big difference. Recognize each individual. Everybody, no matter the diagnosis, has certain strengths.
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Employability
JOSEPHS STORY
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STANDING TALL: Daryl Clark in the kitchen at Lendrum Mennonite Brethren Church, helping prepare the food for an annual Christmas supper for former inmates.
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HERE IS HOPE FOR PEOPLE RETURNING TO THE COMMUNITY after they have paid their debt to society in prison. Employment is the single best inuence that reduces the rate of reoffending. Paid work gives purpose, resolve and resources to people striving to reintegrate into society. In return, employers, neighbours and the wider community gain a productive citizen.
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Employability
By most peoples denitions, Sean Munroe is a big guy. But sitting at a long meeting table, hunched in his heavy white winter jacket and gazing down at the bent white paperclip in his tattooed hands, he looks small. Its the 37-year-olds rst time at St. Leonards Society of Canadas Peer Mentoring Program, and the only person he knows in the room is John, his escort from the nearby Stan Daniels minimum security prison. We should open the blinds, says John. See the trafc. Its a small luxury for his client. As the room lls with more people, theres no judgment of Sean. They are like him: Lifers. Men and women who committed varying degrees of murder and are on the road to recovery, to redemption. Even Daryl Clark, the volunteer facilitator, is a lifer. But then Allan, an older, condent man in a black leather jacket enters. You. He points to a dazed Sean. I knew Id see you again. Sean remembers him now. His old neighbour from Drumhellers medium security prison punches him in the shoulder. Its nice to see people you know and theyre actually smiling, says Allan. Sean has a lot to smile about these days. At 22, he was sentenced to 15 years for second-degree murder. He worked diligently toward recovery and got therapy however he could woodworking, arts and crafts and In Search of Your Warrior, a rehabilitation program for young incarcerated aboriginal Canadians. When he
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But theres another slip of paper that they come for, a tip sheet on how to handle your criminal record on job applications and in interviews. Even for construction jobs, youre required to get a criminal record check, says Claire Whittal-Williams, intake and employment counsellor, but three, four years ago, anyone could walk on site and say, Can I get a job? And you were usually told, Yes. Get some work boots and work for us. But now, she says, the development market has cooled and new hires are closely scrutinized. Education, poverty, learning disabilities all these factors can lead to crime, but once you have a criminal record, the mountain of obstacles gets taller. At an interview, the questioners quietly stewing from across the desk wonder if they can trust you with customers and co-workers. Will you steal inventory? Will you even show up on time? We tell our clients that when theyre asked to disclose if theyve had a criminal record, be honest and say you do, says counsellor Sara Riddle. If you lie about your past, youll most likely be found out because your reference mentions it or your parole officer visits you at work. Or a lie could be discovered if time off is required for a rehabilitation program. Instead, John Howard trains its clients to emphasize the positive things in their lives what theyve learned and the steps theyve taken to keep the past from repeating. And, says Whittal-Williams, if youre going to disclose that you have a criminal record, do it in the middle so that at the end you can say, Yes thats happened, it was a part of my life, but Im going to AA meetings, or Ive done skill-building programs. She adds, Sell your skills. And leave it to them to find those marketable skills in just about anything. Say you had to do janitorial work in the institution, proposes Whittal-Williams. OK, so you worked on schedule, you made sure you met every requirement and you checked in with your supervisor until you were done. So you can follow protocol. With dramatic pauses she emphasizes her point: There. Are. Skills. In. Everything. She laughs. And theyre looking at you like, Are you kidding me? Of course theyre not, because half of the battle is restoring the clients confidence. In the institution the only decision they ever made was waking up, says Riddle. Theyre told when they can eat, when they can go to the bathroom, when they can shower. And then theyre released. That power of self was taken away.
Whittal-Williams points out that they cant do it alone. Currently, employment counsellors help about 1,000 people, mostly men. Women often choose to seek help across the street at the Elizabeth Fry Society, which offers many of the same services as John Howard, but exclusively for women. Executive director Toni Sinclair says the employability challenges facing women are often greater. We know that in our society its more difficult, in general, for women to seek certain kinds of employment than it is for men, that pay remains unequal and advancement can often be limited for women in certain fields, says Sinclair. For women with criminal histories, the landscape becomes even bleaker. Many of the women seeking the societys assistance are mothers. Single mothers. Add to that the challenge of regaining custody of your children and suddenly the task of finding time to write a resum, send it out, get from interview to interview and then hold the job down becomes more complicated, more frustrating. But programs like Work4Women, which tailors the process for
There is something in their eye, a sparkle, and a spring in their step. People who find work after being in contact with the justice system are incredibly proud and simply transformed.
each woman served from application to working help ease the frustrations. Maureen Collins is executive director of the John Howard Society and she has seen the positive affect of meaningful employment in the lives of people looking for a chance to start over. Somebody has to give you a shot. You need stable housing and you need meaningful employment where you earn a legitimate living, says Collins of people who are moving through the process of returning to everyday life after prison. For Collins its the success stories that spring to her mind. For example, Chris, who after a series of stints in prison due to addiction-related behaviours, got clean and got on track. Chris worked intensively on personal development and after incredibly hard work he is now married, a father, an employee and the owner of a seasonal landscaping business. That first chance is huge, says Collins. Once the first job is a success, Collins says anyone can see the results. When someone who has been in prison finds meaningful employment you can see it in their face. It is night and day. They look like a different person. There is something in their eye, a sparkle, and a spring in their step. People who find work after being in contact with the justice system are incredibly proud and simply transformed.
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MOUNTAINOUS JOB: George Seanor volunteers his weekends to clean outerwear donated by Edmontonians.
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Jacket RequiRed
by Michelle Lindstrom Photography by BUFFY GoodmAn
Program brings new or gently used coats to those who need them
any United Way volunteers and supporters are surprised to hear that donations of mens winter coats never quite meet the annual need in Albertas Capital Region. [Men] are at the highest need and at the lowest donation, so year to year were always short of menswear, says Jenn Dermott, Discovery program co-ordinator for United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. The ratio of men experiencing homelessness, or males in poverty, to women, is currently about 60/40 in our community.
Coats for Kids & Families is a well-known United Way initiative in partnership with Page The Cleaner that tackles the lack of warm outerwear many people face in this cold region because they dont have the means to purchase enough for themselves or family members. Womens coats are generally more plentiful because women tend to shop more frequently than men and also have more than one coat in their closets therefore,
more opportunities to donate new or gently used coats to the program. Additionally, children grow so rapidly that a winter coat usually only fits for one season, meaning an abundance of small coats make their way to Edmonton-and-area Page The Cleaners to be cleaned and shipped to community depots for distribution on United Ways behalf. George Seanor is a long-standing Page The Cleaner employee of 35 years, and United Way volunteer. For 21 years, Seanor has been dry cleaning the donated coats that come to his location. Hes been at the main Page The Cleaner location 11416-142 Street in Edmonton for about 10 years and cleans donated coats after hours or puts in full Sundays to keep up with the volume. Roughly 11,000 coats per year are distributed to Capital Region families through the campaign, and most garments pass through Seanors location for cleaning. I put in a fair bit of extra time but thats OK; its not a problem, he says.
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Employability
JACKET REQUIRED
Were talking certied work boots, says Christa Broadfoot, Discovery director for United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. Thats the difference to somebody who may have secured work outdoors and they need the proper certied equipment to maintain that job thats really expensive when you dont have any money. Those needing a coat can call 2-1-1 to nd out which community depots distribute to the public at large. With that call, a 211 representative will let the person know where the closest depot is to his or her current location, the times and dates the depot distributes coats and what coats were provided to that depot to give out. Twice a year, theres another initiative in which United Way takes part in order to provide people experiencing homelessness and those on the cusp of homelessness with coats, work boots and care kits. Homeless Connect is an event that started up in 2008 and has now been held eight times at Edmontons Shaw Conference Centre. It isnt run by United Way but is instead a large community collaboration between multiple partners and service providers in Edmonton. The biannual event (spring and fall) offers attendees warm coats, haircuts, dental checkups, a good meal and information on housing, taxes and other resources all in one day, at one location. United Way has been a part of the event since its beginning and witnessed October 2012s Homeless Connect become an even greater success than previous years because Parlee McLaws LLP came on board as a sponsor. Parlees three-year commitment to Homeless Connect secured United Ways ability to provide more than 1,700 people living in poverty with standardized kits full of personal care items including shampoo, deodorant, and razors. Prior to that sponsorship, everything was generated solely based on community donations, so there wasnt the same number of every item or some things would be different, Broadfoot says. There are 400,000 Albertans living in poverty and 123,000 of them fall within the Capital Regions boundaries. Coats for Kids & Families and Homeless Connect are just two of the many initiatives United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and its Discovery team oversee. Dermott says its important to know that even with long-standing programs in the community such as Coats for Kids & Families, each year theres still a need for donations, volunteers and public awareness.
HIGH VOLUME: The commercial cleaning equipment at Page The Cleaner operates extra hours to handle the volume of donated outerwear.
Edmontons such a good community when it comes to volunteering and for donating, Seanor says. The amount of coats we get is just incredible. He can include himself in that good community considering he began helping United Way with the program from the start. And he volunteers his time and expertise simply for the satisfaction that people in need, like friends from his childhood, who he recalls shivering each winter, will be better-equipped for Albertas harsh weather. United Ways main campaign, or peak coat donation time, runs each year in late October to early December and has done so for over two decades. We try to time [the campaign] when people might be going through their closets as the weather starts to turn, Dermott says. United Way will accept jackets year-round, though, if somebodys closet is bursting with winter wear and they just cant wait until the fall to clear it all out. Work boots and other cold-weather gear toques, mitts and scarves are also items United Way gladly accepts for Coats for Kids & Families.
LEARN MORE
See http://coatsforkids.ca and www.homelessconnect.ca for more information.
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STURGEON COUNTY
LEDUC COUNTY
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES:
by ELIZABETH CHORNEY-BOOTH
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Capital Region supporters know about the great work that the organization does with people from all walks of life in the city of Edmonton, but the need for United Way funding does not stop at the city limits. United Way funds groups in municipalities in the Capital Region, which it refers to as Greater Service Areas, or GSAs. The funding is distributed for three reasons: people
in GSA communities contribute to United Way campaigns, each community has a strong relationship with Edmonton and the mission of United Way is an important part of regional health. GSAs located in Fort Saskatchewan, St. Albert and Strathcona County all run their own Community Investment Committees (CICs), which each include various local ofcials, members of the community, and a member of United Way staff.
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BRIDGING BOUNDARIES
Fort Saskatchewan CIC: Established 1998 Funding distribution approach: Provide funding to a broad range of programs
FORT SASKATCHEWAN
United Way has a long-standing relationship with Fort Saskatchewans Community Investment Committee, dating back to 1998. The committee was formed after a group of local citizens became concerned that many donations that originated in the Fort Saskatchewan area were being funnelled into Edmonton-based projects even though there was plenty of need in the local community. Since its inception, the Fort Saskatchewan Committee has funded over 20 different community groups, ranging from recreational services for kids and youth with disabilities to a restorative justice program focusing on youth and community involvement. Fort Saskatchewan Community Investment Committee chair April Jennings says she appreciates that United Way allows the committee to direct funds in ways that specically serve the needs of the population of Fort Saskatchewan, rather than trying to mimic programs that exist in Edmonton. Smaller communities have unique needs and different needs than a larger community, Jennings says. One example is we dont see a great deal of homelessness in Fort Saskatchewan. Thats an issue that Edmonton is dealing with on a huge scale. Were nding that thats not something were dealing with, but our family violence statistics are higher than other communities. Fort Saskatchewans CIC is allocated $50,000 from United Way each year. The money is typically awarded through two annual granting cycles. Jennings says the impact on the local community at large has been huge. Even an initiative like the Next Steps Senior High Breakfast and Lunch Program, which addresses the nutritional needs of a select group of young people, ultimately affects the entire Fort Saskatchewan community. When we support groups like that, we nd that the graduation rate is increasing, Jennings says. So were putting more citizens into our community that have a high school diploma and are going out there with basic nutritional information so they can keep themselves healthy throughout their adult years. Its hard to pinpoint, but the trickle effect is huge. The Fort Saskatchewan CIC has chosen to distribute its United Way funds among as many groups as possible so as to impact a greater number of citizens. Jennings says that the needs of the greater community are varied, which is why the committee tries to spread the wealth. The money is being put towards prevention so that later on down the line our community and our government doesnt need to put those dollars into intervention situations, Jennings says. We can tap in at the root problem and help before it gets into a crisis situation.
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ST. ALBERT
St. Albert CIC: Established 2007 Funding distribution approach: Provide consistent funding to a specific program Program: Outreach worker who works with people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness
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BRIDGING BOUNDARIES
Strathcona County CIC: Established 2006 Funding distribution approach: Consistently fund two programs with different targets Programs: Boys and Girls Club and Saffron Sexual Assault Centre Secure Connection Program
STRATHCONA COUNTY
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Walking in the shoes of low-income community members creates empathy and understanding
by MICHELLE LINDSTROM
solid nancial base to empathize with the relentless pace of difcult decisions faced by community members who live in poverty. United Way of the Alberta Capital Region is seeking to increase poverty awareness with a live-and-learn experience for community members to step into the day-to-day lives of the regions less fortunate.
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REALITY CHECK: Participants were asked to imagine a world where choices and circumstances are consistently difcult.
bank card to use the bank machine. Waiting for the bank to open tomorrow minutes of real time simulated one week in the is not an option; your family needs food tonight. You decide to go to a 24program.) I believe the people of Edmonton look out hour cash store and see if you can afford to cash your cheque there. You lose for each other and what I learned was that people need from ve to 20 per cent of your cheque to processing fees but at least you have to know how to look out for each other, she says. enough money to be able to buy food for the week. Then you catch a bus home. Karina Hurtado, community investment specialist Another eight minutes pass and youre given circumstance number with United Way, serendipitously got the ball rolling two. You get home and your son hands you a list of school fees due Friday for Edmontons poverty simulation. In 2007, an of this week. You just spent a good chunk of your paycheque on groceries Edmonton public school principal invited her to take and you still need to pay rent you dont have enough money to cover the part in a similar program and she found the idea was school fees. You tuck your stereo under your arm and walk to the closest too good not to pursue it further. pawn shop. Its cold outside, but you dont want to waste another bus ticket Hurtado says reports and statistics are the go-to because you need them to get to work for the rest of this week. Your boss methods of informing people about poverty and, doesnt care what your reasons are hes heard enough. Youve been warned although they are helpful, theyre not always memorable. that if you miss one more day, youll be red. This poverty simulation The bell chimes as you enter the small store full allows participants to I believe the people of of miscellaneous items on overloaded shelves. experience the stress of Edmonton look out for each You know your year-old stereo (a present from a living with a low income and other and what I learned was friend) is worth $200, but you bite your tongue empathize with someone that people need to know how when the pawn shop owner offers you $50 for it. who is in that position. to look out for each other. That red bill handed to you, after you slide your In May 2012, Hurtado and stereo across the counter, is all you have to keep her supervisor, Joanne Currie, your son in school. You dont have another option. director of nancial stability and independence at United Thats the persona and set of realistic, low income-related roadblocks Way, participated in a Calgary-run poverty simulation. A Liz ONeill took on for an hour, similar to what 42 other participants did at few months later, with the nancial support of EPCOR, United Ways pilot poverty simulation project on November 1, 2012. ONeill, they purchased the tool from the Missouri organization executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters Edmonton that founded it. In consultation with United Ways in and Area, says the simulated four weeks of poverty she experienced was Calgary and Winnipeg, the original version was modied, accurate to what 123,000 Edmonton households face each month. (Fifteen from its American realities to a Canadian context. Hurtado
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became the poverty simulation project co-ordinator and spent two months adjusting the details before Edmontons pilot version ran in November. Hurtado followed the basic framework of the original poverty simulation that was built to accommodate 88 participants, creating roughly 26 families that will use 12 different community agencies such as banks, daycares, an employment centre, homeless shelter, community centre, payday loan and more.
bills for the one month in the simulation, and maybe youve pawned some stuff, but you have to do it all over again in the second month and its not like its going to get any easier. Hurtado says the future of Edmontons poverty simulation is still under discussion but the feedback for the pilot version was extremely positive. Many participants told her the tool will facilitate a better understanding of life for low-income families. There is a debriefing session following the simulation where United Way members explain to participants how to get involved and what they can do next in the community with their new-found knowledge. That information varies from group to group company owners versus employees, for example based how the network participants connect with and help others. After working her way through the simulation, ONeill has empathy for the tough choices many community members face. People get up in the morning and they just want to do their very best, but sometimes were lacking the knowledge in order to perhaps turn left instead of right. Her hope for United Way is that the poverty simulation will be made available to those who want to help others in the community, but are unsure how to begin. Hurtados hopes align with ONeills. Shed like the public approached in a non-traditional way to sensitize more people to the reality of families living in low-income situations.
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L EADING EDGE
STABILITY AND COMFORT: Sable Souliere has found a home at StART House.
Restart
A new brand and vision draws new attention to YESS
by BOBBI-SUE MENARD Photo by CHRISTY DEAN
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BUSINESS WAY
Opportunity
Knocks
HANDS ON: Michael Sharp, a lawyer at Parlee McLaws, helps build a care kit.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY: its a core
value at FIRMA Foreign Exchange, a global currency exchange rm that got its start in Edmonton. The company maintains a charitable fund and, when it came time to decide how to invest that money, the team looked to those core values, says FIRMA Foreign Exchange HR assistant Bridget Gryschuk. The No. 1 goal at FIRMA Foreign Exchange is to support Edmonton children and families, she says. This is something that is very important to us. In exploratory meetings, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region showed Gryschuk and the team several options of how to get involved in the community that aligned with FIRMA Foreign Exchanges goals. The FIRMA Foreign Exchange team chose to sponsor a National Child Day activity. On November 18, 2012, YMCA and City of Edmonton pools around the city hosted a free family swim, sponsored by a $6,000 donation from FIRMA Foreign Exchange. In addition to the nancial support, 10 FIRMA Foreign Exchange employees volunteered at various pools to help the event run smoothly. A free swim is pretty rare, and we
were excited about getting kids into the pool to have fun, Gryschuk says. The free family swim was an event that would have suffered without the support of a sponsor, says Angela Dorval, communications advisor with United Way. Without FIRMA Foreign Exchange, we wouldnt have had the resources to host as successful an event, she says. The sponsorship made a big difference. In fact, there was no other budget to pay for the day, and I cant believe the success weve had.
PARLEE McLAWS
To help determine the best way to give back to the community, Edmonton law rm Parlee McLaws undertook a process to prioritize its charitable donations and efforts. The rms committee decided to focus its efforts on abating homelessness, poverty and hunger, explains Jerri Cairns, managing partner of Parlee McLaws. The rm made a three-year commitment to the causes. Once the areas of focus were dened, Parlee McLaws decided the best way to pursue its goals was through Homeless Connect. The twice-a-year Homeless Connect event provides services such as dental care and haircuts to event
attendees who are homeless or likely to become homeless. Everyone who comes to Homeless Connect is given a care kit full of personal hygiene products and other necessities. Care kits are vital to people living in dire poverty, says Christa Broadfoot, director of Discovery at United Way. For many people, personal hygiene products are not a reality, she says. To stretch donation dollars and provide the highest value inside the care kits, supplies are purchased for the kits with complete three-year funding from Parlee McLaws through United Ways In Kind Exchange at volume discounts and then assembled by the teams of volunteers. Staff and partners from Parlee McLaws helped with assembly and distributed 1,800 care kits at the event. The number of people who need assistance is always staggering, says Cairns, who participated in assembling and distributing the care kits. The number of families and children living in poverty is shocking. Efforts such as those of FIRMA Foreign Exchange and Parlee McLaws help ease the burden on families in Edmonton and area.
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L ASTING EGACY
COMMUNITY PILLARS: John and Barbara Poole were passionate supporters of Edmonton.
A LIFETIME OF GIVING
B
ARBARA POOLE, ONE OF EDMONTONS MOST passionate philanthropists, passed away on December 17, 2012, at the age of 83, leaving behind a long legacy of giving.
Barbara and her late husband John were an inspiration to many, not only for the millions of dollars they donated to a myriad of causes, but also for their genuine desire to help others and strengthen their community. For this, in 2004, the Pooles became the rst joint recipients of the provinces highest honour, the Alberta Order of Excellence. They were passionate advocates for many local causes. In 1989, John and Barbara Poole, along with George and Rae Poole, and Robert and Shirley Stollery rejuvenated the Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) with a gift to the Community Fund of $5 million on behalf of each of their families. Since then, the ECF has allocated more than $139 million back into the community, a portion of which has provided funding to United Way and its partner agencies. Within our local business community, the Poole family is well known for launching a venture that would evolve into Canadas largest construction company. Poole Construction Ltd. was founded by Johns father, Ernest E. Poole, in 1906 and after seven decades of operation was sold to a group of senior managers in 1977. The resulting organization the PCL family of companies continues to foster the community-minded roots instilled by its founders. In 2011, PCLs Edmonton ofce made a record-breaking $2 million dollar donation to United Way of the Alberta Capital Region; surpassing their preceding record of $1.6 million dollars in 2010. As part of its 2012 campaign, PCL will reach another signicant milestone by becoming the rst ever organization in the 70-year history of United Way to achieve a cumulative $10 million in donations in our community. The Poole familys legacy will continue to inspire countless people within and outside our community; and Barbara, who has often been referred to as Edmontons First Lady of Philanthropy, will be greatly missed. Her generosity has not only been a benet for our community, but a shining example of how one persons life can change the lives of many.
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SPONSOR PROFILE
LEARNING
TO FLY
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The workforce is an ocean and the Water Wings program helps Edmontonians learn to swim
HE HAND-CUT YELLOW PAPER LETTERS ABOVE the door of a classroom in Edmontons Boyle Street Community Services building spell Water Wings. But inside, clients arent just trying to stay aoat some are getting ready to soar.
Clients like Zeny Marte, who sits against the back wall, focused in front of a PC. Shes learning computer and other ofce skills after an injury prevented her from continuing her physical labour job. This place is amazing. Other programs cost money. I would not be able to afford it, she says. The warm temperature and atmosphere in the room today is a stark contrast to the frigid December day outside in the Citys downtown north. Its crowded here as students of a broad mix of ages and ethnicities sit around tables in the middle of the room or, like Marte, in front of computers along the perimeter walls. Its a little tight, admits Water Wings program coordinator Joe Pillay, whos one of three instructors. Well soon be moving to the larger classroom next door. Founded in 1971, Boyle Street Community Services works with people who face multiple barriers including mental illness, addictions, racial discrimination and social exclusion to help them transition from survival to greater stability and independence. Water Wings began in January, 2010. Its an employment readiness program that helps homeless and unemployed individuals prepare for the workplace. Some come to create a resum, learn job interview skills, or send out applications. Others are working towards completing trade entrance exams or achieving safety tickets like the Construction Safety Training System course.
Getting their wings: Boyle Streets Joe Pillay helps clients like Zeny Marte achieve their career goals.
EPCORs Community Essentials Council (ECEC) donated funds to Water Wings in 2011, and 2012. Made up of community leaders and EPCOR employees, the Council launched in 2011 and it focuses on initiatives that provide food, shelter and safety, and education. It has given $700,000 in grants to date. A key portion of the ECECs donation is used for bus tickets. This helps clients travel to and from Boyle Street, job interviews, and exams. Simply getting to these appointments is a big step towards helping people get back on their feet, explains Pillay. Last fall, nearly 2,800 bus tickets were distributed to over 200 clients. Boyle Street deputy executive director David Berger says funding for programs like this ensures there is prompt and accessible support to best serve each particular situation. We could not have done this without the help of funders like EPCORs ECEC, he says. Other major supporters include Alberta Human Services, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and the Edmonton Oilers Foundation. Since February 2012, 52 clients have secured placement in jobs such as labourers, truck drivers, apprentices, cooks, and cashiers. Others like Marte are steadily building their wings one feather at a time. Our goal is for them to become role models and truly make a difference in their community and families, says Pillay. We want them to come away believing that they can and will accomplish great things. Dont ever be afraid to strive for more.
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MILESTONES
City Engagement
City of Edmonton employees have a new United Way campaign to rally around
by BOBBI-SUE MENARD BUILDING EXCITEMENT: Mayor Mandel takes to the podium to introduce a fashion show fundraiser for United Way at City Hall.
ing grants to the United Way through the Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund (ECECAF). Founded in 1941, the ECECAF was originally called the Civic Employees Welfare Chest Fund. The ECECAF is funded through pay cheque deductions from over 9,800 unionized employees from nine different unions and associations. Our whole mandate at ECECAF is impacting lives and promoting healthy communities, says Brenda Waluk, volunteer chair. It is so satisfying to us to see that as an organization we are helping the community and making a difference. In the past 15 years the ECECAF has donated over $8,000,000 to a broad spectrum of organizations in Edmonton including United Way. The organizations we donate to are
all important to the community, says Waluk. The 2012 United Way Campaign at the City of Edmonton is an opportunity for every city employee and manager to give back to the community and take part in a dedicated campaign. It is an opportunity for city employees, as an organization, to come together as a team and support the community. To help build excitement for the City of Edmonton United Way campaign and establish long-term expectations, Mayor Mandel has promised to personally match $10,000 in donations. We have been doing all kinds of things for this. It is dynamic and exciting. In the next ve to 10 years, the City of Edmonton should be the No. 1 campaign for United Way in Edmonton.
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