Vote for Strathcona’s Community Garden Proposal

The Strathcona Neighbourhood The Strathcona neighbourhood is Vancouver’s oldest residential community and also has one of Canada’s lowest socioeconomic levels. 2006 statistics state the average household income is $27,139 compared to $63,889 for Vancouver overall.

Strathcona residents also have lower education levels than the average for all of Vancouver. 32% of residents have an education level less than Grade 9 as compared to 9% in Vancouver and only 40% of people 20 years of age or older have some form of post secondary education compared to 69% in Vancouver overall.

While the neighbourhood has beautiful heritage buildings and a rich artistic community, it is also characterized by homelessness, open drug use and dealing, prostitution and graffiti.

Our Idea We propose to create 20 to 30 community micro-gardens throughout Strathcona. The gardens would be installed on private properties adjacent to public spaces in highly visible, underutilized areas.

How it would work Depending on the nature and size of each location, the gardeners and the property owners would decide whether the plot should be a community garden, single-owner garden, or a living wall. Vegetation would consist of native perennials and edible plants.

The gardens would be installed by qualified landscapers of Mission Possible Enterprises, a local non-profit which provides employment opportunities for individuals with job readiness barriers and assists in breaking the cycles of poverty, homelessness, and addiction. Local youth would also be employed as partners with the landscapers to learn valuable food production and community development skills.

Benefits of this project

• Edible plants would provide new opportunities for local food production. Using native plants would reduce the resources required for their maintenance thus minimizing the ecological footprint of each garden.
• The BIA has received many comments from residents and businesses regarding the need for more green spaces – they want the Strathcona Green Zone to literally become greener. By creating micro gardens, more green space would be accessible throughout the neighbourhood.
• This project would also reduce spaces available for criminal activity through the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). A public place that lacks significant ownership interest is often perceived by some as places where criminal activity is supported. By converting underutilized spaces into gardens, the BIA would help reduce areas that encourage crime.
• The most profound benefit of this project would be the generation of green jobs for individuals with job readiness barriers and inner city youth. The youth will gain tangible job experience and skills.
• There will also be opportunities for intergenerational interactions with Mission Possible’s employees and youth in a safe environment. Many of the landscapers will be able to teach the youth some of their consequences of their decisions in their lives in the hopes that the youth would not follow the same path.

An Inclusive Approach The Strathcona Community Micro-Gardens would provide an inclusive approach to addressing many of the problems affecting this community. We are counting on your support!

For more information on the Strathcona Green Zone, visit us at http://www.strathconagreenzone.com Twitter: SBIA_GreenZone

About the Strathcona Business Improvement Association The Strathcona BIA (SBIA) is a member driven non-profit business organization in Strathcona, a sub-community of east Vancouver. It represents over 850 commercial property owners, business tenants, and 7,000+ employees. The area is a broad mix of industrial, commercial, retail, and residential zoning – many who have been in the area for over 40 years.

The SBIA conducts a variety of programs to facilitate the revitalization of Strathcona including street beautification through banners, flower baskets and murals; street micro cleaning; and graffiti removal. One of its core initiatives is the Strathcona Green Zone, an initiative to promote green practices among its membership and eventually make the area a sustainable district. Programs include waste audits and a resource exchange whereby businesses find other businesses to repurpose unneeded materials to divert them from the landfill.

Besides business development, the SBIA is involved with community events, sponsoring the Powell Street Festival, the largest Japanese Canadian festival in Canada; the Eastside Culture Crawl, a three day event drawing over 10,000 people to artists’ studios in east Vancouver; and children’s programming at the Strathcona Community Centre.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!!!!

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Furniture……

EMBERS is downsizing in preparation for our move and we have lots of furniture to give away and sell extremely cheaply.  We have several dark wooden desks, a lovely corner desk, various chairs and a variety of other miscellaneous items.  If interested, please call Emma on 604 692 0781 or email embersvancouver at gmail dot com.

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Vote for First United in the Pepsi Refresh Project!

Check out this amazing video & vote for the First United in the Pepsi Refresh project. They are in the running to receive $25K to help maintain a wonderful & extremely valuable service- a storage facility for the belongings of homeless people.

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Register now for EMBERS Build a Business Program!

 

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Hope In Shadows

Hope in Shadows is a community project based around a photography contest for residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The prize-winning photos are featured in an annual calendar which residents themselves sell for a profit.

We here at the EMBERS office have just purchased our 2011 Hope In Shadows Calendar, pick up yours on their website today!

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

EVENING the frayed edges: a collection of first-hand accounts of Mental Health Recovery.

THE RECOVERY NARRATIVE PROJECT WRITERS**

**Dori Jaffe, Deniz Burton Ismen, Jude Swanson, Margo Robinson, Susan J. Katz (editor), and Susan Trapp**

WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE CELEBRATION OF THE LAUNCH OF THEIR FIRST ANTHOLOGY:

EVENING the frayed edges:
a collection of first-hand accounts of Mental Health Recovery

AT THE JOHN BRAITHWAITE COMMUNITY CENTRE
145 West 1st Street, North Vancouver
http://maps.google.ca/places/ca/north-vancouver/w-1-st/145/-john-braithwaite-community-centre?gl=ca

ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2010

OPENING AND GREETINGS BEGIN AT 7:00 PM with music by Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan and Charles Kaplan

followed byWORDS AND READINGS BY THE AUTHORS
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

BOOKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SIGNING AND PURCHASE
and are also available from the authors, First Choice Books, or Odin Books
(http://www.firstchoicebookstore.com/product.php?id_product=178)

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Thank You Letter from a Client

Below is a thank you letter received by Reza Roodi, Director of Recruitment at EMBERS.

“Dear Mr. Roodi,

Thank you for sending me my wages for the house I worked at ***.  The cheque was deposited into my account and a receipt was issued.

I would like to apologise for not being able to continue working with your company.  During my interview with you I presented myself as someone you could count on and a person with all his sh*t together.  I know I don’t need to tell you this but I feel that you deserve an explanation.  You treated me with respect and dignity when we spoke in your office- not too many people would do that knowing I came from a federal prison.

Your company was the first place I worked for in the free world in a great many years.  When you phoned me the evening before to give me the address and contact information I was so excited.  I know this may sound kind of silly but it felt like the night before Christmas when I was a kid.  I could hardly sleep.

In was so proud to be able to represent your company and have a purpose.  I worked hard and did a good job.  Walking away with my time sheet at the end of the was the best.  It wasn’t the money that made me feel that way either.  It was because I accomplished something positive in my life and that I had completed an honest day’s work.

Thank you for providing the opportunity for this to happen.  If it wasn’t for your company I would not have experienced there type’s of feelings.  I hope you keep helping people like you did with me.  Please do not let my short involvement with your company reflect negatively on all parolees who may want employment with your agency.

Yours truly,

(Name withheld)”

EMBERS

http://www.embersvancouver.com

Hiring for Project Leader for Green Vancouver Project!

EMBERS Staffing Solutions is looking for an experienced Project Supervisor for an air sealing pilot project starting Mid August. . This is a project through the City of Vancouver to improve the energy efficiency of homes. The work involves air sealing the attics, basements, doors and windows in people’s homes to reduce drafts and increase energy efficiency..

This pilot will last between 4-6 weeks. beginning with training in the United States (cost will be covered).The position of Project Supervisor has a strong possibility to become a permanent position.

Main Duties:

• Supervising a team of 4 workers
• Making calls to customers to prepare for the visit
• Completing one or two air sealing jobs per day – each job may be between 2 and 10 hours long
• Selecting and installing appropriate air sealing materials for the job
• Following all safety and installation standards
• Running blower door tests to determine the leakiness of customer’s home
• Performing air sealing in attics and basements using caulk, foam, metal flashing, and reflectex – most of the work occurs in confined space.
• Installing weather-stripping, door sweeps, and caulking inside homes
• Tracking materials used, time spent, and air tightness achieved
• Other duties as may be assigned to meet business needs

Experience and other requirements:

• More than 8 years of experience in home construction/renovation and carpentry skills. Carpenter Certification would be an asset
• Experience managing crew workers.
• A demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and business
  relationships, including customer service.
• Reliable, hardworking, trustworthy
• Ability to work in attics, crawlspaces, and on ladders (involves ability to work in hot and cold temperatures, good balance, and ability to crawl and kneel for extended periods of time)
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written
• Positive ‘can do’ attitude
• Good organizational skills
• Drive to different project sites
• Must be able to travel to attend training in the United States
• Must be bondable.
• Valid BC driver’s license and good driving record
• Passion for the environment and community involvement

Deadline: August 1^ST, 2010

The position will offer a starting wage rate of $ 20 per hour. If this sounds like the position for you, please forward your resume in WORD format to embersvancouver@gmail.com

EMBERS Staffing Solutions is a non-profit staffing agency with a unique social vision that connects employers with people re-entering the workforce. All the earnings are invested into social programs.

Looking for Workers- Mass Intake Session to be held this week!

We are looking for both skilled and general labourers for upcoming projects.  We hope to have some permanent placements on offer as well as temporary, transitional and part-time.

The session will be held at 1pm on Thursday the 22nd of July at our office.  the address is #209, 124 East Pender Street.

Please bring a resume.

Looking for a part-time Warehouse Assistant on behalf of a client.

We are seeking a part-time warehouse assistant on behalf of our client.

MUST HAVE A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE & ACCESS TO A VEHICLE!

Duties will include: 


•	Receiving, storing, and shipping merchandise. 


•	Daily picking and packing of stocks


•	Maintaing inventories


•	Work closely with other departments, especially logistics to ensure smooth flow of operations.


•	Ensuring that all communication is handled in an expeditious, courteous and professional manner


•	Ensure that warehouse area is organized and kept in a neat and tidy manner & ensure compliance to all Company procedures surrounding the warehouse area.  



Specific Accountabilities

•	Prepare warehouse area for 8:30 am opening on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, including picking up overnight messages and transferring phones.


•	Arrange for the timely delivery and accurate accounting of outgoing courier packages.


•	Keep the warehouse area clean and tidy.


•	Provide administrative support to Sales Coordinator, as requested.  


•	Other duties as directed.


•	Occasional off-site retail store merchandising.


•	Other deliveries and pick-up’s, as requested.


Dimensions


•	Warehouse is used daily by sales and marketing staff (20 people)


•	Five to ten daily visitors, plus couriers.


Working Conditions



•	High level of communication required.


•	Professional manner required at all times.


•	Need to prioritize workload and communicate ability to meet deadlines.


•	Regular work at computer using diverse office software programs.


•	Must hold a valid BC drivers license.


•	Must possess and have daily access to a  vehicle. (Mileage will be reimbursed).  




Key Performance Indicators


•	No negative feedback from clients, suppliers or employees on the handling of the switchboard or reception of visitors.


•	Warehouse is organized and properly stocked.


•	Project work completed in an accurate and timely manner.


Please email resume to embersvancouver@gmail.com or fax to 604 692 0780.