Building Welcoming Communities Newsletter 15 August 2010

We have lots of new cross-cultural programming and events.

About Kits House Here are some of the ways you can get involved.
For 36 years, Kitsilano
Neighbourhood House has Multicultural Women’s Support
been the hub of the Westside.
Seniors Drop-in- Every Tuesday,
11:00am-1:00pm Program- Fall 2010
It’s a place where all ages
from toddlers to seniors come The Seniors Drop-In Program at Kitsilano This program supports newcomer women to
together to enjoy programs Neighbourhood House provides older adults manage new challenges using their own
and services that makes this in the community with a place to socialize. skills & experiences. This 8 week program
a good place to live and do Please join us – newcomers always will cover topics such as: Job Searching,
business. welcome! Leadership, Self-Esteem, Stress
Management, Language Barriers, and
Vision: Each week, we serve delicious soup, Community Resources. Meet new friends,
The Westside of Vancouver is dessert and refreshments, and have a learn about Canadian culture and get
a healthy, safe and vibrant special entertainer or educational talk. Most connected with your community!
community where everyone importantly, make new friends and have fun! Childminding will be available.
thrives.
Upcoming events in the seniors drop-in: Dates: Fall 2010 (TBD)
Mission: Autumn workshops, crafts, food and Location: Kits House, 2305 or 2325 West
We are dedicated to gratitude (September & October). Master 7th Ave
strengthening our community artist Slu Chang Wong demonstrates Cost: FREE
through leadership, Chinese brush painting and calligraphy
collaboration and opportunity. (September 21st) with classes to follow. Contact: Patricia, Strengthening
Japanese Tea Ceremony (November). Connections Program Assistant at 604-736-
In This Issue: 3588, [email protected]
Dates: Every Tuesday
1. Seniors Drop-in- Every Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Tuesday Cost: $3
2. Welcoming Neighbours
Location: Kits House Hall- 2305 W. 7th Ave.
Volunteer Program
Contact: Vinyse, Seniors Support Worker,
3. Socials & Out-trips- Fall 2010
604-736-3588 ext. 31,
4. English Conversation Circles [email protected]
5. Community Potlucks
6. SongRise: Building Community Potlucks- 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:00-8:00pm
Community through Song EVERYONE WELCOME, ALL AGES! Bring a vegetarian dish to share, enjoy a casual
7. Community Dialogue & Launch atmosphere and get to know your neighbours!
8. Community Development
Updates Dates: 1st Wednesday of the month (unless otherwise noted)
9. Welcoming Communities Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Dialogue Planning Committee Cost: FREE
10. Newcomer Dialogues & Location: Kits House Hall- 2305 W. 7th Ave.
Mapping Project
11. Peer Support Volunteer Potlucks are guided by community identified themes/topics. The Community Potlucks are
Training for parents / caregivers great ways for newcomers to be involved in the community, practice the language, meet
12. Multicultural Women’s new friends and avoid isolation.
Support Program Contact: Patricia, Welcoming Neighbours Facilitator 604-736-3588,
13. Chinese Mama & Papa Goose [email protected]
Program
14. Volunteer Spotlight:
Patricia Paz
 Welcoming Neighbours Welcoming Neighbours:
Community Development English Conversation Circles-
Updates Volunteer Program
Welcoming Neighbour volunteers will Fall 2010
In consultation with a wide variety
of newcomer community members participate in a 13 hour training program
in the areas of community literacy, Kits House will be offering volunteer-led
and service providers, Kitsilano
diversity and volunteer skills. Training English Conversation Circles for
Neighbourhood House & the
will occur Saturday, September 11th, newcomers.Practice your English, meet
Westside Literacy Task Force has
18th & 25th, 2010. Applications for your neighbours and learn about your
identified the absence and need
Welcoming Neighbour Volunteers are community!
for accessible, affordable supports
for newcomers on Vancouver’s due Wednesday August 18th, 2010.
There are 10 volunteer positions Dates: Starting October 2010
Westside.
available as Cultural Ambassadors, Times: Based on volunteer and space
English Conversation Circle Leads & availability
Newcomer priorities on the
Socials & Out-trips Volunteers. Cost: $15 registration fee (subsidy
Westside have been identified as:
available)
• Language practice & learning
Contact: Emily, Volunteer & Literacy Location: Kits House- 2325 W. 7th Ave.
• Support and inclusion
Coordinator at 604-736-3588 ext. 27, Contact: Emily, Volunteer & Literacy
opportunities
[email protected] Coordinator
• Increased community literacy for
604-736-3588 ext. 27,
newcomers
[email protected]
• Access to activities, information,
resources & referral Welcoming Neighbours:
Socials & Out-trips- Fall 2010
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
Are you a newcomer on the Westside
and the Westside Literacy Task
that wants to connect with your
force are working to collaborate
neighbours? Join our new program for
with settlement agencies and
socials (coffee/tea, art, music &
service providers to develop
celebrations) & out-trips (to various
newcomer supports on
places and community services on the
Vancouver's Westside, in
Westside).
accordance with findings from the
Dates: September 21st, 2010 -
Westside Community Literacy
December 9th 2010.
Plan and Newcomer Asset-
Third Thursday of the Month (socials) &
Mapping Dialogues.
Last Tuesday of the Month (out-trips)
Times: 11:00am- 1:00pm (socials),
We would love to talk to you about
10:00am-1:00pm (out-trips)
these community needs &
Location: Kits House- 2325 W. 7th Ave.
opportunities!
Contact: Patricia, Welcoming
Contact: Jennifer, Community
Neighbours Facilitator 604-736-3588,
Organizer at 604-736-3588 ext.
[email protected]
26, [email protected] or Emily,
This is a registered program. Please
Volunteer & Literacy Coordinator
contact Patricia for more information.
at 604-736-3588 ext. 27,
[email protected]
 Newcomer Dialogues & Mapping Project-
Dialogue workshops Fall 2009; Official Guide Launch November
2010!
In autumn 2009, over 100 Westside newcomers participated in dialogue workshops
to identify community needs, strengths and resources for newcomers on the
Westside of Vancouver.

Workshop and dialogue sessions will use the ‘Finding Home’ model developed by
Jessie Sutherland of Worldview Strategies (www.worldviewstrategies.com) to
discuss topics, such as:
Community Dialogue & - What creates a newcomer-friendly community?
- What creates a sense of home?
Launch of the - What community resources are used by newcomers?
Newcomers Guide to the - What are the unique needs of cultural groups/newcomers to the Westside?
Westside! Findings from the newcomers dialogue workshops will create a ‘Newcomers Guide to
Dialogue Topic: ‘Coming the Westside of Vancouver’ and an online ‘Newcomer Resources’ page on
Together on Common Ground: www.kitshouse.org. To see our previous Westside Guides: 2008 ‘Check it Out: Youth
Building Community Across Guide to the Westside’ and the 2009 ‘Seniors & Elders Guide to the Westside’.
Cultures on Vancouver’s
Westside’. Kitsilano If you would like to be involved in the Newcomers Mapping Project & Guide contact:
Neighbourhood House Jenn, Community Organizer, 604-736-3588 ext. 26, [email protected]
recognizes the need for a
community wide conversation Welcoming Communities Dialogue Planning Committee- meets
about creating a welcoming and every 2 months
diverse community on
This dialogue project will be guided by a ‘Welcoming Communities Dialogue
Vancouver’s Westside. Funding
Planning Committee’ made up of community members, volunteers and service
for this community dialogue is
providers. This committee works together to plan the dialogue through
provided by the Province of
communications, outreach, partnership building, resources, leadership and more.
British Columbia, Embrace BC
Dialogue Initiative.
If you would like to be involved in the planning or event for this Dialogue please
contact:
This Dialogue Project will help
Jennifer, Community Organizer at 604-736-3588 ext. 26, [email protected]
to develop community through:
or Sandra, Family Coordinator at [email protected]
- Sharing ideas about the needs
and experiences of newcomers
on the Westside
- Creating a collaborative vision
for the Westside of Vancouver
as a diverse, welcoming and
inclusive community
- Building partnerships among
service providers in support of
newcomers
- Having fun & getting inspired!

Date: Saturday, November 27,

2010
Time: 2:00pm
Cost: FREE
Location: Kits House Hall, 2305
West 7th Ave

To register or volunteer for this

free event, please Contact:
Allison, Front Desk Worker at
604-736-3588,
[email protected] by Friday
November 12th, 2010.
 SongRise: Building Strengthening Connections-
Chinese Mama & Papa Community Through Song Peer Support Volunteer
Goose Program for 建立社区通过宋 ‫امعه سازی از طریق‬ Training for parents /
Toddlers 18-30 months ‫آهنگ‬ caregivers of children 0-6
Construyendo la Comunidad a través years old
If you have a toddler 18-30 del canto 宋を通じて構築コミュニ
• Do you speak a 2nd language?
months, then this is the ティ
• Do you enjoy helping others?
program for you! Come out for • Looking for valuable Canadian work
an hour of rhymes, songs and “Imagine a place where music is the
experience?
stories that support early common language, where community
literacy. Mama and Papa means joining voices with each other
Become a Peer Support Volunteer &
Goose stimulates a healthy and working together in harmony!”
connect with your community! FREE
bond between you and your childminding, snacks, friendship & fun!
child. Meet new friends and Join an improvised chorus of
Training includes: Cross-Cultural
have fun! rhythms, grooves, harmonies and
Communication Skills, Peer Support &
chants created in the moment with
Facilitation Skills & Community
Date: Mondays Sept. 20 to local vocal artist Laurel Murphy
Resources. Training will also include
Dec. 6, 2010 www.laurelmurphy.com. Sessions will
participation the Kits House 4th Annual
(*please note: there will be no include refreshments, warm-ups &
Autumn Fair.
program on Monday October wordless vocal patterns for
11th and November 1st) participants to sing. Fluency in
Dates: Saturdays Sept. 25th - Oct.
Time: 2:30pm to 3:30pm English or written music NOT
30th, 2010
Age: 18-30 months + parent required.
Time: 10am- 12:30 (Friday October
or caregiver 15th, 2010 9:30am – 12:30am &
Cost: $60 + $10 family Wednesdays 7:00-9:00pm &
Saturday October 23rd 10am- 3:00pm)
membership Saturdays
Cost: FREE
Location: Kits House- 2325 1:00-3:00pm
Location: UBC Acadia Park
West 7th Ave Dates: September 8,18, 22, October
Commonsblock (2707 Tennis Crescent)
9,13,27, November 6, 10, 20, 24,
Contact: Sandra, Family December 4, 8,18
Contact: Patricia, Strengthening
Coordinator at 604-736-3588 Location: Kits House Hall- 2305 W.
Connections Program Assistant at 604-
ext. 25, 7th Ave.
736-3588, [email protected]
[email protected]
Cost: Pay what you can, Pre-
registration encouraged, Drop-in
Welcome!
Contact: Jenn, Community Organizer
at 604-736-3588 ext. 26,
[email protected]
 From Kit’s Blog at www.kitshouse.org

What is it like to move from a familiar

place you call home, to the strangeness
of a new environment that is to become
your new home? I can only imagine
how it must feel to start all over again…
All the scents and textures of favourite
patches of grass being replaced by
unfamiliar lawns trampled on by other
dogs and cats or even entirely different
species of animals that look alien to us.
The everyday chatter takes on different
tones and accents and even changes in
weather can affect our moods. I think
overall it would be pretty exciting and
stimulating but also a bit scary. Patricia
Paz, our stellar volunteer turned staff
member at Kits House knows! She
Patricia Paz knows that people are what makes us
Patricia takes a leading role in planning
social events and celebrations such as
feel like we belong and I believe her too
community potlucks, multicultural
because I love it when I get hugs and
holidays, the upcoming Grandparents
pats from my owner and all the people
Day, as well as group outings to places
who come by to visit.
like the Vancouver Aquarium, Jericho
Beach, public libraries, etc. These are
Patricia is a relative newcomer to
fun and inclusive events that really get
Canada who moved here from Peru 3
people involved and out of their homes.
years ago with her young family. As a
What is especially nice is that parents
stranger in a strange land she quickly
and children can attend together and
looked to make connections and new
meet other families.
friends for herself and her children. She
began dropping in to the UBC
The most important component that
Strengthening Connections sessions
keeps Patricia involved is her ability to
and found a great starting place to
connect with others. She loves talking
begin building a network of friends. It
with people and sharing her own
was such an important and rewarding
experiences, and believes that the
first step that Patricia wanted to give
connections she has made have
back by volunteering at Kits
benefited her whole family. She states,
Neighbourhood House and UBC by
“I enjoy encouraging people to take the
welcoming others who are new to the
first step to not feel alone and to have
area and are feeling isolated. “In
an overall more productive life.”
welcoming others, I feel welcomed,” she
noted.
Hmmm, that got me thinking…I wonder
if Patricia would like to organize a trip to
Patricia is passionate about working
the doggy park? I know that dogs love
with the community and has evolved
to connect with people too and we
from participant to volunteer and most
always get big smiles when we lick
recently to staff person. She works with
people right on their faces!
Jenn Beavington and Sandra Petrozzi
in her role as the UBC Strengthening
Connections Program Assistant and
Welcoming Neighbours Facilitator, as
the program has grown and UBC and
Kitsilano Neighbourhood House have
partnered together in these initiatives.