David at the BOB office

Read more about David’s work at Calabash Bistro here: SEP Newsletter – Sept 2010.

Other stories this month include:

• Employer Profile – Calabash Bistro
• Urban Farming Workshops
• Event Listings
• Job Postings

Hendrik Hoekema, Executive Director of VEEES and the Emporium

Hendrik Hoekema, BOB Board Member and founder of Vancouver Eastside Educational Enrichment Society (VEEES), has started a new social enterprise on Hastings Street. Everything but the Kitchen Sink Emporium is selling some of the physical components that contributed to the intangible legacy left by the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Located a block away from SOLEfood urban farm, the Emporium does, in fact, sell almost everything one could ever want. The store offers gently used or excess Olympic equipment and paraphernalia, and ‘as is’ furniture donated to them by various companies in the Lower Mainland. Some stock is straight from the Olympic Village and the Lost & Found which operated during the Games. From the Emporium’s warehouse storage space, employees bring in new items daily, ranging from construction gear and office supplies, to clothing and accessories. Appropriately enough, they have umbrellas in abundance. If you are ever in need of an industrial-sized bottle of hand sanitizer, they have that too.

Many social enterprises function as the primary means of funding for a non-profit organization. The Emporium works in partnership with the Network of Inner City Community Services Society (NICCSS). NICCSS was formed in 1996 and provides many valuable programs and resources within the Grandview Woodlands, Strathcona, and the Downtown Eastside neighbourhoods. Their mandate is to build nurturing networks that optimize the development of children and youth, and strengthen families in the inner city. All of the proceeds from the Emporium’s sales go to support NICCSS.

The Emporium is at 875 East Hastings Street and is open from 11am – 6pm Monday to Saturday. Only cash is accepted so stop by an ATM in preparation for the great bargains that you will inevitably pick up.

For more information, call (604) 568-0775.

Below are a just a few of the items that were in the shop the day of our visit.  Happy deal hunting!

Article by:  Lauren McGuire-Wood

Photos by:  Lani Johnson

Canadian Olympic soccer player, Amy Vermeulen wearing a sports bag made by Common Thread (photo courtesy of Common Thread)

In Vancouver’s inner-city a unique cooperative called Common Thread weaves together opportunities for residents. Comprised of five organizations with sewing programs, this cooperative social enterprise takes sourced materials (donated or recycled) and repurposes them into tote bags, backpacks, and other products. Common Thread began in 2007 when these groups came together in order to seek higher volume contracts than any one of them could accommodate alone. It sustains each individual partner group within it by coordinating a flexible manufacturing process with a more reliable stream of work.

The cooperative was recently chosen as one of a handful of community based enterprises and charities to receive 2010 Winter Olympic Banners donated by the City.

The 800 banners, which were donated to Common Thread via its member organization The Kettle Friendship Society, will be used in an innovative collaboration with Mills Basics to produce a limited edition line of notebook covers with customized notebooks. Mills is a family owned Vancouver company that has provided office support and products such as printing, furniture and supplies to business since 1947. The company supports environmentally and socially responsible business practices and will be donating the profits from the sale of these special notebooks to H.A.V.E a culinary social enterprise in the DTES.

This isn’t the first time Common Thread have received Olympic Banners either. Building Opportunities with Business has been working with Common Thread since May 2009 to help connect the group with high volume sewing contracts like the City’s Great Beginnings Program. As part of this, Common Thread produced 1,500 children’s backpacks from the City’s pre-Olympic/Paralympic banners in a project called Sew A Legacy. The backpacks were filled with school supplies (many donated by Mills Basics) and distributed by the City to inner-city schools. Having coordinated production among more than 20 local sewers from organizations such as the Kettle Friendship Society, the Aboriginal Mother Centre, Coast Mental Health and the Afghan Women’s Sewing and Craft Co-op, Shirley Chan, CEO of BOB, attests to Common Thread’s ability to bridge organizations and bring benefits to the community. “Common Thread is an excellent example of the community capacity building power of social enterprises. Bringing together the resources, cooperation and support of government, community groups and non-profits, their work directly helps residents by creating jobs that contribute to a social and environmental purpose. BOB is pleased to support their work.”

Social enterprises are businesses that are driven by a social or environmental causes. They have become increasingly common engines of job creation and community support in urban and rural areas, and particularly in Vancouver’s inner-city. Common thread is an excellent example and one whose profile is growing. The special edition notebooks made from the Olympic/Paralympic Banners are scheduled to be ready by mid-August and can be purchased through Mills Basics.

For more information about common thread or to place an order contact Melanie Conn

Common Thread
626 Slocan St.
Vancouver, BC
V5K 3X7
Tel: 604-736-0935

Web: http://www.commonthreadcoop.ca
Email: info@commonthreadcoop.ca

Over the course of one day in May of 2010, BOB held a community consultation in which residents, various representatives from government, governance bodies, community agencies and business leaders offered their input concerning the future role of BOB. Through a series of workshops discerning both the value of BOB and the potential areas in which BOB was perceived as being most useful the following was decided:

BOB was delighted with the community’s input, enthusiasm and encouragement at the May 12^th community consultation.  After further review with staff and the Board, BOB has determined its most valued role within the community is to remain a connector/convener for business opportunities within the inner city.

To this end, and complementing the activities of other inner city organizations, this means the following:

1. BOB will continue to support the connection of businesses to the inner city.
2. BOB will continue to support the connection of all levels of government to the inner city.
3. BOB will continue to maintain employment support programs.

We also heard from the consultation that it is not in the community’s best interest for BOB to initiate a social enterprise.  The rationale being that such a social enterprise would compete with existing services within the community and potentially undermine the role of BOB as a connector in the community.   It is not BOB’s intention to compete with other inner city organizations, but instead to complement and connect.

As mentioned in the consultation session, BOB faces many of the same funding challenges of other inner city organizations.   We have decided to pursue our activities on a transaction basis – fee for service, consulting and/or retainer.

In fulfilling BOB’s role in the community, we will increase community membership on the BOB Board by 3 members.  In addition, to further improve BOB’s role as a business connector, we will increase board membership with business representation by another 2 additional members.  We will make the additions gradually to facilitate adjustment and proper orientation with the organization.

Finally and most importantly, BOB will continue to support and encourage businesses that have shown a history of positive environmental, social or cultural sustainability.   BOB believes that positive economic development in the inner city is best developed by organizations that support principles of sustainability.

We think it is important to conduct additional community consultations to further refine this strategic direction.   These additional consultations will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the year.

We welcome your continued input.

-This response to the findings of the community consultation held in May 2010 is available as a PDF on the BOB Website.

Get ready to win ridiculously amazing prizes in our raffle.  Enjoy a 3 course meal.  And all in a lovely Marquee Tent beside the track with crazy racing horses speeding by.

We have celebrity judges who will eye up your beautiful hats  (think Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison is ‘My Fair Lady’) with a delicious prize going to the winner.   Not a hat person?  No problem!  The event is perfectly enjoyable without one.  We will have a few hat making supplies available.  Remember..  Bring extra moola or cheques for buying raffle tickets.  You’ll have multiple opportunities to to win door and raffle prizes from great places such as:

• Fairmont Pacific Rim
• 4 Seasons Hotel Vancouver
• John Fluevog
• Blue Olive Photography
• Silks Restaurant
• SFU Woodwards Theatre
• London Drugs
• Nester’s Food Floor at Woodwards
• JJ Bean
• Calabash Bistro
• Out To Lunch Catering
• and more!

You can help the team at BOB and FTE continue doing what we are passionate about- working with local residents and businesses to see positive change happen in Vancouver’s inner city and Downtown Eastside- by joining us on this fun day.

Tickets are selling for $60 and can be purchased by dropping by the BOB office at 163 East Pender on weekdays between 10am and 4pm or purchase them online at https://tickets.firehallartscentre.ca/TheatreManager/1/online

We look forward to seeing you there!

Enjoy seeing what the employment team at BOB has been up to!

SEP Newsletter – May 2010

The Olympic Village is now internationally renowned and has been awarded LEED Platinum Certification for the entire neighborhood as well as LEED Gold status for all of the buildings included.

And while construction of the 2010 Olympic Athlete’s Village is finished, with the exception of some retrofitting work that will begin soon, Tradeworks remains busy with plenty of other great projects too.

“Tradeworks Custom Products“ provides training & entry-level employment to women in the Downtown Eastside, Strathcona and adjacent neighborhoods.

The Job Shop is another innovative program that Tradeworks supports. Since 2001 The Job Shop has worked with over 600 people to support them in getting back to work.

Pathways provides access to information and knowledge resources for individuals and organizations in the Downtown Eastside. Pathways has worked closely with the BOB SEP team who have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with them.

Tradeworks Women’s Workshop pre-employment program introduces inner-city women to the world of carpentry and registered trades. The program develops essential workplace skills and attempts to get women registered and progressing in a trade of their choice.

Tradeworks Training Society has been offering training and employment programs in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver since 1994. Each program is centered in the belief that mutual respect is key to any relationship, and that a hand up is more lasting than a hand out.

The team at Building Opportunities are thankful to have the opportunity to work with Tradeworks. Check out their site for the great products they offer and numerous opportunities for residents.

Sid Sawyer from VanCity accepting an award from Shirley Chan

BOB was pleased to be a part of two great events that took place this past week. In fact, we were so busy with them that we haven’t had time to blog about them until now! On March 22nd BOB honored our donors and partners with a luncheon at the Shebeen Whisk(e)y house at the Irish Heather. Beautiful crystal awards from Eclipse Awards International were presented to 11 donors (and one BOB team member) while everyone enjoyed the fantastic food prepared by the Irish Heather’s kitchen. The awards, and the respective recipients, were categorized as such:

Foundation Partner Award

Their generous donations provided the foundation from which BOB could grow and develop into what it has become today.

Bell      Millennium     VanCity

Leadership Partners Award

These partners and donors took the initiative, showed leadership and helped BOB to grow. They were crucial in helping us achieve our $100,000 fund raising target through their large donations in the final months.

Joe Segal, Michael Audain, Bob Lee, Vancouver Eastside Educational Enrichment Society (Hendrik Hoekma), VanCity Foundation, Edgewater, VANOC, Alex Lau (Golden Properties)

Bob Lee, with wife Lily and son Derek. Thank you to the Lee Family (including Carol Lee who is not in photo but was at the event) for your continuing generous support.

Community Partners Award

Largely comprised of members of our Board, these partners were the first to give to BOB and played a crucial role in ensuring that support would extend throughout the community. Their, time, intellect and financial make them invaluable and essential partners.

Hendrik Hoekma accepts an awared on behalf of VEEES from BOB's Board Chair Lee Davis

Lee Davies, Linda Coady, Fred Leonard, Chris Gora, Central City Foundation, Michael Geller, Home , Toby Barazzuol, Shirley Chan, Barry and Lynn Fenton, Maureen Collier

Government Partners (Recognized but not awarded fancy trophies!)

Our government partners provided longstanding support, through the Vancouver Agreement and were there with us through all our success.

Western Economic Diversification, MHSD (The Province), City of Vancouver, members of the Vancouver Agreement.

A special award was given to Liz Charyna in celebration of her leadership over the past 3 years at BOB! Congrats Liz!

KALEIDOSCOPE

The winner of Vancouver's Coolest Person 2010 is Jenn Christenson. The award, designed by Eclipse Awards International (A local Strathcona business) was presented to the graphic designer at Kaleidoscope by organizer and MC, Wes Regan.

Then on March 27th BOB and our friends partied it up at Kaleidoscope. This new annual event had its inaugural launch at the Rickshaw Theatre to an enthusiastic crowd. Kaleidoscope celebrates entrepreneurialism while raising awareness of social and environmental issues. Proceeds from this year’s Kaleidoscope went to BOB and the Canadian Mental Health Association, while awesome prizes were donated by John Fluevog ($250 Gift Card to the Gastown store), Steve Cole ($320 worth of tattoo time with him at Sacred Heart Tattoo), Saul Good Gift Co. with a fantastic gift basket and (once again) a beautiful crystal trophy from  Eclipse Awards was awarded to the Coolest Person in Vancouver, which was randomly drawn from ticket stubs. Bands who performed this year included Spoon River, The Left, Rodney Decroo and His Convictions and Boombox Saints. If there was a Kaleidoscope award for best dancer Liz Charyna would’ve won that too!

Spoon River delight the crowd at the first annual Kaleidoscope

Thanks to all our friends and partners for an incredible week and for being a part of all the work the BOB team does.  We look forward to many more action packed weeks and months.

Two leaders in the DTES with very different roles agree this is a valuable lesson that we can learn from and build on. Rev. Ric Mathews of First United Church and Shirley Chan, CEO of Building Opportunities with Business.

As Reverend Ric Mathews observed, “The Olympics tell us what we already know – if something is a priority we can deliver it. The Games showed us a new kind of collaborative approach to overcoming major obstacles and delivering results.”

Reverend Mathews, a respected leader in the Downtown Eastside, believes that these Olympic Games showed just how we can work together effectively to meet challenges in our communities. “If we can focus three levels of government and find the political will to access $6.9 billion in resources, to bring together diverse stakeholders to the table and work together on a common goal like the Olympics, we can do it for other things too.” Rev. Mathews believes one of those things should be the Downtown Eastside, and Chan is one of the many others who agree:

“An Olympics scale collaboration is particularly apropos now, as the Vancouver Agreement comes to an end with numerous initiatives still underway. By pulling together three levels of government, the private sector and citizens who share the vision of a healthy Downtown Eastside we can continue to achieve meaningful and inclusive transformation here in the Downtown Eastside.”

The Vancouver Agreement, signed between the City, provincial and federal governments in 2000, expires this month (March 2010). The agreement supported local community initiatives to tackle economic, social, health and safety issues in Vancouver’s inner-city, with much focus on the DTES. Building Opportunities with Business was one of the key non-profits focusing on community economic development in the inner-city and Chan, like Mathews, knows firsthand that co-operation and collaboration are crucial to its continued rejuvenation.

The “VANOC Model” stayed true through numerous changes at all levels of government yet the political will to see this massive undertaking through never wavered. The DTES is arguably Vancouver’s most pressing issue, and while much has been achieved here we could achieve so much more with a similar unified and integrated Olympian effort, believe Mathews and Chan. This may be the greatest legacy left by the Games.

Based in Vancouver B.C., Building Opportunities with Business (BOB) is a non-profit organization that is championing an inclusive revitalization process for the inner-city that values existing businesses and residents. BOB is a connector, a resource and a facilitator working to: strengthen the inner-city’s community capacity; identify and build on untapped business opportunities; improve employment opportunities and retention; and increase investment in Vancouver’s inner-city.

On the main floor of 163 East Pender in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, we have a large room which is available for rent for meetings and events, it is also available as coworking space Monday to Friday from 9 until late. In addition to desks, chairs, tables, couches, we installed several lockable lighted display cabinets. This floor is retail grade, on Pender right across the street from Vancity. As a service to local residents and businesses, we are displaying wares, art, product, crafts, business cards, and marketing material free in these display cases. As you can see their are several empty shelves. Each shelf is over one cubic foot and can hold about 5kg of stuff.

We need your stuff to display. You can display whatever you want, for as long as you want, any sales or leads you may generate you are free to pursue to the fullness of your ability. BOB charges zero dollars for this and many other services. Space is available first come, first served, write coworking@bobics.org or contact a staff member.