9. Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

Organization Information

Organization Name

Kiwassa Neighbourhood House

Mission and Vision of Organization

Kiwassa Neighbourhood House is a grassroots, multi-service community agency that has been providing a broad range of free or low cost social services and programs to children, youth, adults, seniors and families in East Vancouver for 60 years. Kiwassa works in partnership with residents, community agencies, businesses, government and non-government organizations, using a community development and capacity building approach to identify and respond to community needs.

Mission

To cultivate opportunities with people and partners to build a socially just, resilient, and connected community.

Vision

A thriving community where all people are valued, connected, and secure.

Guiding Principles + Values

Objectives

We strive to identify areas and issues of greatest need within our targeted community, and to initiate programs and services to meet these needs. We strive to bring neighbours together, encouraging them to share their experiences and friendship with each other. We work cooperatively with other agencies to identify, develop and support programs and services offered elsewhere in our community and City.

Diversity Statement

We are children, youth, adults, and seniors of all ethnicities, beliefs, cultures, abilities, and economic levels. We speak many languages and we are people of all sexual orientations. We value diversity and endeavour to reflect the diversity of our neighbours in our membership, our Board of Directors, our volunteers and our staff. We respect all of our neighbours and we expect that all who come to our House and all of those who provide and receive our services will extend the same respect to all they meet here. In accordance with this, we will act to promote the inclusion of all in our Neighbourhood House and in our community

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Blain Butyniec
• Email: [[at kiwassa [dot] ca]]
• Phone: 604-254-5401 ext.253
• Address: 2425 Oxford Street
• Website: www.kiwassa.ca

Preferred Method of Contact

• Best method(s) to contact: Email
• Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
• Best time(s) to contact: Mornings, Afternoons

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

• In person, Email, Zoom

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Kiwassa runs a weekly not for profit produce market which is part of Community Food Centres Canada's Market Greens Program. Market Greens is a research program that wants to track how fresh fruits and vegetables can make a difference to health and well-being. The research will be used to expand the program to reach more people, especially in communities where it’s difficult to find and expensive to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

Part of the Market Greens program is an additional subsidized program called the Greens Prescription (Greens Rx) Program. Greens Rx Program gives participants a voucher to use at the market to buy fruits and vegetables to make it easier to add them into their regular diet. Along with increased accessibility and affordability, the market also provides information on healthy eating, nutritious recipes, and other tips and tricks.

The LFS350 students will provide some nutritious recipes highlighting certain in-season produce as well as sharing some produce that may be more connected to a particular cultural community that we serve. The students will undertake an engagement strategy with market participants to find out things they would like to learn how to use as well as facilitating the sharing of their recipes. They will also prepare materials to promote these various aspects of the market.

Will the project work for the students be online, in person, or a combination?

• In-person

Main Project Activities and Deliverables

• Creation of recipe sheets and infographics promoting the market.
• Engagement strategy with participants to gather input, feedback, and participation.

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Knowledge and / or interest in nutrition/food/health
• Graphic design
• Ability to talk to strangers and engage in conversation

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

• Community engagement skills, including outreach and planning

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

• Our market runs every Wednesday from 2-4pm. Students would need to attend some of these
• Wednesday September 22 we have a bigger market from 2-5pm with additional vendors and activities. This would be a good market to attend with opportunities to volunteer

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

• Yes

If a criminal record search is required, when should the process be initiated?  

• Before the first community partner meeting

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• Flexible

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

• Community Food Market: Wednesday, September 22 between 1-6 (market runs 2-5).

• Our regular produce market is joined by other vendors, workshops, and activities. This will be taking place during Hastings Sunrise Neighbourhood Food Week (for which there will also be other community service opportunities).

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

• https://www.kiwassa.ca/cfm/
• https://cfccanada.ca/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=79117e9d-65b9-406b-9c68-ad6ed4ae1498

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:

• Market Greens Brochure Building and market site tour/orientation
• Volunteer manual