Diego and Danielle

What a day!

We had the privilege of serving our last client.  Congratulations to Diego who will be working in quality assurance in Richmond!

It was so LOVELY to have Frank come by.  We first met Frank about 4 years ago as he began work at Rona.  You can read about his story here.  What an honor to still have a relationship with such a positive man.  He continues to be an inspiration to us!

Lani, Frank and Liz

We did receive sad news that this is the last day for Pathways Information Centre on Hastings and Main as well.  They have been an incredible partner in the inner city, assisting thousands of inner city residents to transition into work.  But that’s not all..  They are creative, assist with housing, connections to addiction and mental health services, clothing..  Anything that’s needed, they try their best!  Congratulations on a job well done, to each of the staff.  We are sad to see you go, but we know that your work has impacted our neighborhood for the better.

This is BOB’s Supported Employment Program staff signing out.

Liz, Lani, Andrew & Danielle

Ross Gentleman, Executive Director at Tradeworks Training Society

The community gathered at Pathways today.

Celebrations and Awards

In March Liz Charyna received the BC Career Development Association’s Award of Excellence for Mentor of the Year for British Columbia! It’s wonderful to see the leadership and caring attitude that she brings to her community work recognized in this way.  She also celebrated her 5 year anniversary with BOB!

We love working with Army & Navy; this year they hired 5 full-time employees as well as 30 temporary staff for their annual Legendary Shoe Sale through BOB. The managers at Army & Navy have consistently shown a long-term commitment to being supportive of their staff and this year we celebrated their demonstration of social responsibility by interviewing personnel manager Colin Pierce. You can read his insightful comments on what it means to support employees with challenges and be a socially responsible employer here.

At our holiday open house in December we delivered yet more awards.

Here in the office we celebrated a few service anniversaries. Our Job Developer Andrew Bryson has been with us for 1 year, and Liz Charyna and Lani Johnson both celebrated 4 years. Congratulations! You’re part of what makes our organization great.

New Beginnings and Organizational Change

The Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association (HxBIA) had its first meeting on March 9th. BOB was involved with this project right from the start. In Brian Smith’s role as Manager of Business Services he did a great job engaging businesses and finding out about the need for a BIA in the area. Once the process to initiate a BIA was formalized, Wes Regan came on board and did canvassing, outreach and information session facilitation to ensure local businesses were informed and consulted. We bid fond farewell to Wes when he was named Executive Coordinator of the HxBIA in April. He has since been promoted to Executive Director. We congratulate everyone who worked on this important project and are very pleased to see it come to fruition!

In April BOB underwent a significant transition. We bid goodbye to board members Linda Coady and Fred Leonard, and welcomed Chris Gora and Heather Tremain as Co-chairs. Due to funding constraints the board decided to pursue new directions for its business development services, and is in the process of developing a new, more flexible model for championing community economic development initiatives that are inclusive of existing residents and businesses. We also saw changes to the Supported Employment Program (SEP), where the program moved to 87 East Pender St to share space with Tradeworks Training Society and strengthen the working relationship between the two agencies. As part of this transition Shirley Chan and Maureen Collier stepped down from their respective roles as CEO and Finance Manager, and Liz Charyna, formerly Manager of Partnerships and Supported Employment, assumed responsibility as BOB’s  Managing Director. And what better way to deal with all this change than to have a party? We held our New Directions Party at W2 Media Cafe in early May and it was a huge success.

The Vancouver Urban Farming Network started in November of 2010 and BOB has been pleased to support their grant applications and provide meeting space. In November of 2011 they held Vancouver’s first Urban Farming Forum at SFU Woodwards, where they brought together urban farmers, city officials, policy makers and other interested parties to discuss the state of urban farming in our fair city. It was a huge success and they are now preparing to incorporate as a society, develop a policy review paper for the City and develop best practices guidelines for urban farmers. They also continue to operate a listserv with over 190 members and deliver workshops on a variety of urban farming topics. Go urban farmers!

Business Development

Facades: 418 Main and Scent of a Sandwich

Loan Program: Save-on Meats, W2 Media Cafe

Supported Employment Program

Cycleback graduates

SEP candidates

This year we placed 94 individuals into employment opportunities posted through BOB, and our HR services site saw 142 postings for 328 open positions. Many thanks to all our partner employers for the enthusiasm they have shown for hiring from the inner-city and providing opportunities for those who require supported employment.

Employer Breakfasts & Social Media Workshops

Businesslinks: Army & Navy Shoe Sale, W2 Media Cafe, Foxglove Farm

Workforce Development Fund

As part of the Supported Employment Program we continue to offer monthly Shine Suppers. This is where we welcome all past and present clients to come and enjoy a family-style meal while sharing their wisdom and experiences about how to be successful on the job an in life. This year we discussed topics like time management, using email, ethical dilemmas and surviving the holidays. We served 12 suppers this year with an average of 15 folks attending each. Many thanks to Potluck Catering for the 4 meals they donated to us and the generous discount they provided on the holiday turkey dinner spread we offered in December.

Goodbyes and Hellos

This was certainly a year of goodbyes and hellos! In March SEP Assistant Lauren McGuire-Wood left BOB to take a new position as Community Relations Coordinator with Quest. In her stead we welcomed now Office Coordinator Emily Smith who is entering her maternity leave. In April Communications Coordinator Wes Regan moved on to serve the Hastings Crossing BIA as their Executive Coordinator. In April we also said goodbye to Shirley Chan when she stepped down from her role as BOB CEO. And last but not least, Ada Mo-Williams went on maternity leave in September to have her beautiful and healthy baby boy, Gabe. We subsequently welcomed Danielle Kottmeier as our newest Employment Support Coordinator!  We are always thankful for Maureen Collier who continued as our Accountant after her years of service as Financial Manager.  Our board of directors has been fabulous, and we are truly thankful for all their work.  They will continue on with the BOB loan program.   Liz, Lani, Andrew and Danielle are finishing up their last day in the office, but all will be in and about the ‘hood.

Our SHINE suppers have been a once a month gathering for anyone who has been a BOB Supported Employment Program participant.  We have a delicious meal and good conversation.  It’s been a place to share the stories of starting on the job, share wisdom in finding housing and support for mental health or addiction, there have been giggles and tears, and it’s always good to see new friends and old.

Here are a couple of pictures from our ‘Last supper’.  Thank you all for coming, for your kind words, and thoughtful goodbyes.  For those who couldn’t make it, we pass on to you our appreciation for our time knowing you through the BOB program.

I’m sure we’ll bump into many of you around the hood, and remember..  Keep on connecting, keep on engaging in healthy community and we are grateful for each of you.

Listen to Lani Johnson, who will be coordinating the program, Ed Luciano of Mighty Riders, from one of the students and how the program is going so far!

Listen here:  Cycleback on CBC

To take the course

Cycleback is put on the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, and the training is at Mighty Riders.  If you are interested in this program, a class starts up every 8 weeks, so intakes are ongoing.  You are a good fit if you:

• Mechanically inclined
• Enjoy customer service
• Passionate about bicycles
• From Vancouver’s inner city or mount pleasant
• Face barriers to employment

Buy a Bike or  Cycleback Community Mechanic Training

You can purchase used bikes repaired by Cycleback students or drop off quality bike donation at Our Community Bikes or the Pedal Depot.

Anyone can take a Cycleback bike training!  Check out the classes and cost here.

For more info about Cycleback, you can check out their website.

BOB is happy to support and share with you an upcoming event for two of our favorite groups, Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association and Our Social Fabric.

The work has been gratifying as we’ve seen people grow in confidence and self respect when given the opportunity to contribute their skills in the workplace.  The program consistently achieved an 85% employment success rate for people keeping their jobs for at least 3 months.

Situated in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, BOB staff have been continually rewarded by the good-will and commitment to social responsibility by employers, service providers and inner-city residents in the community.

As of April 2012,  the Province is implementing the new Employment Program of BC which will replace existing employment programming throughout the province.   Unfortunately the BOB Supported Employment Program will not be included.

We hope that the remaining service providers and businesses will continue to work together to ensure that inner-city residents are given access to training and employment.  Our desired legacy is that our community will continue the work of supporting its members with the practical as well as emotional supports they need to achieve employment success.

BOB Building Opportunities with Business Inner-City Society will continue to exist after the Supported Employment Program ends.  Currently BOB is in the process of re-envisioning its loan program in order to better serve people interested in doing business in the inner-city, and providing employment opportunities for local residents.

Join us as we celebrate and say goodbye!

We have always taken the opportunity to celebrate.  This time, we invite you to come and remember all the good times and memorable moments of the Supported Employment Program.  Our celebration and good bye will be on Monday, March 26^th from 4-6 PM at the BOB office, 87 E Pender St.

Sincerely,

Liz, Lani, Andrew, Danielle, Emily, and all the other wonderful SEP staff that have been a part of our program over the years!

Supporting individuals facing multiple barriers to be successful on the job can be complicated. What do they need to get on the job? What are the secrets to success on the job?

Pulling examples from BOB’s work in Vancouver’s inner city, sharing feedback from local employers, and listening to input from clients facing multiple barriers, we will discuss goal based support that acknowledges the crisis and basic needs while supporting people reach their goal: success on the job.

You can check out our slide show on Slidshare here or check out the pdf here.  Included is a video interviews from SOLEfood Urban Farm and Recycling Alternatives.

Enjoy!

Liz on the CBC

Resumes

• Union Gospel Mission.  Great resumes, employment services and computer resource room.  Ask for Andrea.
• Open Door Group.  Will be relocating to 112 W Hastings Street.

Employment Counseling and Case Management

• Open Door Group.  Will be relocating to 112 W Hastings Street.  Employment Case Management funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
• UGM Hope Learning Centre.  Resumes, GED, money management, etc.
• newSTART.  A 13 week program for women preparing for the job.
• ACCESS. Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society

Computer Resources

• Carnegie Library.  Computers and library
• UBC Learning Exchange.  Resume help and computer lab

Temporary Work & Volunteering

• Embers Staffing Solutions. Temporary job placement
• Mission Possible.  Volunteer preparation and support.

Training Programs

• Cycleback Bicycle Repair Training Program.  An 8 week training through Lookout Emergency Aid Society.
• HAVE Culinary Training Society.
• Talk to an Employment Case Manager about training dollars through Employment Insurance (current or reachback) or BC Centre for Abilities funding for those with disabilities.