MAY 1, 2024
carnegienewsletter.org
c`a:E.EEjfifo_apgie d NEWSLETTER
_
carnnews@vcnbcca
401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
(604} 665-2289
3rd .innual
Dow'zlTow.|| Eastside
Writers Festival May 23-26,2024
Domtom Eaststde rmters Festlval Now in its 3rd year, tl`e Dov./ntown Eastsidc Writl crs Festi\Jal is going to be exciting. Planning began
in February with project partnei.s representiTig the Camegje Community Centre, the DTES Writers Collective, the Leaning Centre/Capilano Universi-
ty, the Carnegie New.sletter, the DTES Ileart of`the City Festival and the DTFS Literac}/' Roundtable. And we had no mone}` on Da}` I. Meeting weekly atid ideas coming. there will be a series of e\'ents over the 4 days. The eiitire schedule will appear in the May 15 edition of the Ncwslcttcr but liere is a list of what is coming: *Seniors Storytelli]ig with Jim Sands: *DTES Wiiters Collective with Aniber Dziwm *Poetiy Cabaret witli Diane Wood; *1ntro to Chat GPT with Dionne Pelan: *M.iking a Ch:ipbook witli Hari AII`iri; *Gl.allt Writing in the Leamiiig Centre; *PubliLshilig witli Penny Goldsmith:
*Poeti}' Coiisult & Editiiig with I`iona Lam; *Impl.ov with Blind Tigers; *Story''tclliiig with Drag Queeiis: *How tc) Read I'oetry Aloud witli Jim Sands; *Poetry slam v\Jith RC; *Chincsc Calligraph}' in the I,earning Centre: *VPL hidigeiious Storyteller-ill-Residence; *Spontancous Poetry with Gjlles and Fiona:
*Risk Workshop with Danicllc; *Book Reading & Q&A with Sam Cicorge; *F`ilm `Whflt I Want My Words to Do to You *Book Binding in tlie Leaming Centre;
And a Wrai> Party! At Rise U|) Cafe.I I I The Program Guide will be printed by the time }i'oil arc reading this so pick one up in Carnegie. Commiinit}i members working on this Festival incliide Nichole Lockwood. Gilles Cyrenne, Emil}' I Iuiiter, Diane Wood. Lalia Fraser. Paul Taylor. Betsy Alkenbrack aiid Zahida Rahemtillla.
From the Library, We ai.e all`eady a 3rd of the way thi-oiigli the }'ear aiid it is begilinil`g to t`eel a lot more like spring. As
tlie v.iealher gets iilcer. \\-hy not enjo}' a good book
outside? Here are a few ]icw books \ve have received at tlie Vancouver Public Library. Livin` JIIst i() Finil Em()li()fl. bv David Hz\m-\Itc.n Gollaiid. is the story of Americari rock baiid Jourlie}' Based on a decade ot` interviews` tliis js the complete history ot`.Toumey` wi[li all of tlie highs and lo\`/s of rock .11' stardom. Wt.ittell b}'' a professiolial Iiistorian. this book contextual i7es Jouriiey within the h istor}'' of Americ{iii rock music.
For fans of` Star Wars we have ti'rom a CcrJ¢/.# Point o.i View: 4() Stories Celebr{iting 40 Ye(irs of Rcfwr# a//Ac Jcd/. As tile title suggests. this book contains 40 short stories based in tlie Stars Vv''ars uni\ierse, with a specific focus on the supportiiig characters ill Retiim of tli€ Jedi` including Emperor
Palpatine, tlie Sarlacc, Mon Mothma and Wicket the E\\,ok. Finall}`, in the novel 7-/if7 M"Ji/.ac. by Benjainin Labatut` science prodigy John \'on NeLimaiin transfomied multiple fields: he invcntcd game theor}', the first programmable computer, pioneercd artificial intelligence and cellular automata. Through his
faniily members. friends` and ri`/'als, we lean more about the evoliition of his inind. The ni)vcl spans o\,'er loo Years and coiifi-onts iis with some i}f the deepest questions we face as a species. Happy readjlig. -Daniel
Inside Vancouver's New Trauma-Informed Sexual Violence Support Centre With safety and empowerment at its core, the Salal centre makes space for community by fostering care and consent. Jeevansangha
TheTyee
A new downtown Vancouver space operated by the Salal Sexual Vlolence Support Centre aims to fill a gap for specialized support for survivors of sexualized violence. Photo by Summer Rayne. A fir`tilf-it>-klncl sexllal assaiilt slippoll centre \\ Ill soon bc offcriiig fret`-of-cliarge ser`Jici`s to ``lr`rF` ors
of sexualized violeilce in Vancouver. Set t(i open this ii`t`nt\i. the ilo\\'mo\ui space ls opera`i]d b}J S.ilal SexLial Violi`ncc Siipport Centre` Which siipporls moi.c thali 10,000 siir\ ivors of sexiializetl violc`iice timiiiall}' Pre\ Iousl.\' kiiown as the WAVAW Rzipe Crisis (l`ntre. Siikil caters its sell Ices to those \\/ith shared exi)erienics of gender marginali?atioi`` IJicludmg cis and ti-{iiis women, Two-Spirit` trams [ind nun-bin{Hy people To miimtai]i the sat`ety or sun 1`/ors an(I staff. the specific location of the ceiitre \+ Ill I.eiiiain confidential to the piiblic_
C)\er the past ti\e yi`ars` the need foi. speciali7cd s`ipport for siir\/ivors of se`iiall7cd ` iolencc has steadil.\'
increased. Research shows one in three \`'omen experience sexiia]ized \;iolence at least once in their life, and Indigenous people, disabled people, and trams and geiider-d]verse people arc al higher risk. According to statistics from the Vancoiiver Police Department, sexual assaults in 2023 ha\/e risen by 9.6 per ceiit com-
pared witli the previous year. C`T Rowe, the director of the Simon Frasei. Uni\'ersity Sexual Violcncc Support and Prevention Office, says the} have seen a iiotable uptake in services since the COVID-19 pandemic. and interactions have been slowly climbing siiice. Survivors face many barriers when seeking support including stigma` \'ictim blaming aiid sliame, Rowe explained. ``Al] of`those prcssurcs are often heightened for indi`/iduals \`ho are racialized, have diverse gender identities [and] presentations, are of different socio-economic placements [aiid] lower income." •`1 also think that there are structural barriers inherent in some of the l`ormal settings \\'here indi\'idiials seek support. There`s a lot within our mcdical cat-e system that.s not frielidly for survivors` especiiil[y tliose whose first language ism.t English."
By survivors` for sur`'ivors S:ilal offers a range of in-person alid virtual support ser\rices, including a 24-hoiir crisis aiid infomiatioii liiie. hospital and couii accompal`imeiit` couiiselliiig ai`d more Designed by sui`i'ivoi.s t`or survivors. the
centi`e is an oppol.tuiiit}/' to dccpcn the organizatioii's ongoiiig cffoils to erid sexuali7ed vio]ence in a space that f`acilitatcs lica]ing` co]inection aiid safe(y. This space is one of five sexual assault ccntrcs across tlic
provillcc rccciving restored fuildiiig fi-om the B.C. go\Jernment to provide lrallmainfoniicd` u''raparound services to fill this critical iieed. According to Salal's exccutivc dircctor` Dal}'a lst.acl, haviiig a sr)ace like t]iis is especiall}' importaiit as
moll-profits ai-e often-told `o make do with wha( they ha\ c. and ai-cn.t alwa}'s able to of`fei. spaces Tai]oi.ed to
siirvivors' iieeds. Isi.{iel has worked full time \\/ith Salal since 2005 and hds seen the organization through two other offlce spaces. One had bars on the wii`do\\'s. Another, she s{iid. lacked sufficient space. noting soiiie sui.vivors found the elevated acoustics and overhead ligl`ting of that space discomforting.
Informed by feedback from staff who are pre(tomim`iitl}' survi\Jors themselves and their broader communit}i. the new centre wi]s desigiied with sever{il tr{iuma-informed considerations in mind. "We \`'ere [previoiisl} ] giveii this scarcity' mindset where yoLi shouldjiist be happ}J to be able to provide these services`" she said. •`Sct wlien we started to dc.sign the ne\`i space` our main notes to the design team were to ha\`c trauma-
informed design and dcfinitel}` to maximize the {]mount ()f space that \`ias gi)ing to be used for survivors as opposed to f`or staff."
I)e.Signing for safet}' and ease Lai]ra Looijeii is an interioi. designer who worked with Sal<il.s team to make the space iiiviting for the iiiiiqiie needs of siirvivors ot` sexual violeiice. For Looijen, this meaiit incorporatiiig features that steered away t`rom the f`ee] ot` sterile, medical cnvironments that some survivors of se.`ualized violence mily associate \\/'ith traumatic experionccs. Trauiiia-inf`ormed design I.comes dit\\'n to credting safet}J and coinfort \\'ithin a spdc€. There.s a ceiiain colour palcttc wc use \\'ith citloiirs lhiit are really groiinding," she said. "We wanted to create a space \\i'here survivors feel at ease without worry al)out u'.here the}J.re going next. because there can be a lot niore fear involved with tliat." Additional t`eaturcs in the spacc incliide a pre-and pi]st-counselling sessi()n meditation room, indirect
•.co\Je" lighting to siipport emotional regillation, and private roonis for niaking incident reports to the po-
lice. There i.i also a multi-purpose communit}. room for workshops` cominuiiity trail`ing and Indigenous ceremonies.
Diffusing power imbalances Rowe says sexual violence occurs on a spectrum, ranging t`rom ph} sical assaults to sexualizcd jokes and \'erbal harassment. In all forlns, sexual violence is inhereiitly about power, and rooins that support sur\;ivors to report their experiences are especiall}' key in levelling the playing field. "That section wliere tlicy've created those rooms located in the Salal space is empowering. It lielps to diffuse those po\\'er imbalances in place," they explailied .`To be able tcl ha\Je ttiose harder con\iersatioils [with authorities] but then uialk into a space tliat is set lip for care and consent is really goiiig to help cilsh-
Ion some of these harder edges of the work we do." The space also feal`ires versatile rooms for suppolt, facilitating comimmity connection amljoy. Sexual violelice is a systemic issue. sa}'s lsrael` aiid in order. to cf`fecli\'el.`/ anal}ze it in all its forms. creating
spaces forjo} is a pall ot`Salal's inission. `.Our missioii is not`iiist abo`il Ball(l-Aidiiig people up and theii throwing tlicm back oiit into the \\'ol.Id t]iat.s harmed them`" shc said ..It's also about stopping the flo\\` changiiig the coiiditions and iiot allo\+'ing
tlie hami to tiappcii." Like maiiy other non-I)rorits, Salal is launchiiig the sexual assault siipport i`eiitre lil a challeiigiiig economic landscape. The organization has lautiched a coiiipreliensi\Je caliipaign lo not oiil} siippoli t`undrais-
ilig efforts but also crcale stability for tlie organj,£atioii. InvestHig in their efroiis` Israel sa}is, can take man}' forms ..Vve \\/'ant lo be av:iilable aiid that meal`s having a \\Jhole coiiimuliity behind us`.` she said. Accordmg to her, suppoiiing tlie \+ork of the se.`ilal :issault sui]poil ceiitre can look like becoming involved in local eve]its that aim to elid schualized violelice.
\ olunteering time to suppoll the ol.gan i7ation or bcc`omjng a doiior to allo\`' the organizatioii to colitiiiue to
support community iieeds. Connecting witli tlie \vider communit} th:it siipports survivors of sexualized \/iolence is part of what sustains lsrai`l. They remind her of what she {ind her peers arc working to realize ever}/ day in their work: a future where people ai`e li\ ing free of sexualized violence. "Joy and celebrating our huminity` aiid aliveness is so iinportant` because if` we just focus on trauma all the time, we.ll llever know wh€ii \\re.re mo` ing closer to liberatioll or endillg rape cultul.e. right?'. she said. `.We still have to be focusiiig on the things tliat \`'e dream about the world becoming "
heiiing the senior's English skills.
Telling Stories
A Spirit-Being
We need to tell our own stories. If we don't tell our stories,
He lurched towards me
on a quiet street.
people with power
"Sir, sir," he said,
will tell our stories for us,
"a red rose for your sweetheart. "
And we won't like what they say.
He looked as though
When we tell our stories,
he lived nowhere,
we reach out to each other
This man with wild hair
and build community.
We share our pain.
and eyes deep as the Cumberland Mine.
His face was twisted
We share our hope.
like an lrciquois mask
We share our laughter,
that blessed through suffering
and our determination.
a tormented world,
When we tell our stories
and on his lips a smile
we draw our own maps,
as though we were God's spies.
and we question
"For me? I asked.
the maps of the powerful.
"And she will kiss you for it. "
Each of us has something to tell,
something to teach.
We speak the language of the hearthere-in the Downtown Eastside-
"For your sweetheart, " he replied, "The price?" I wondered. "A caring heart, " he said. "You are kind," I said,
and he bowed a courtly bow. Giving me the rose He sai.d again,
the soul of Vancouver.
"For your sweetheart, "
and then he left, a man without a name a spirit-being looking for a home.
Sandy Cameron
Sandy Cameron
Saturday May 4th March for
Homes on Hastings
The Housing We Need and How to Get it Free 880 and raffle prizes at Oppenheimer after march
A Carnegie Housing Project Event carnegiehousingproject.ca
Housing for People not Profit Hastings is lined with empt,y buildings against the backdrop of luxury condos while 3,500 people in Vancouver have no fixed address and thousands more can barely
pay rent. We're in a crisis and losing lox more affordable housing than we're
gaining. Where's the government? They used to build affordable housing, right? They sure did. Loads of it. AFfordable Housing Funded by the Feds (1950-2019) 50k
40h
1993 federal sDclal hou5Ing
a,
program cancelled
U=:I
I
= 20k
yfrin I
\5os
,,i ,,.,.. / I
,6os
\ `70s
I
`80s
I
`,,fu_,_,., in~ , `9Os
I
`00s
I
`10s
$8k
It's not your fault if you can't
Monthly Fzent
afford rent, when the average 1bedroom costs $2,ZOO/month, $100 above the poverty line... If
vs Income in $6k
vancouver
we want to thrive, the government needs to stop the loss of affordable housing and fund thousands of new homes in
this city that people on welfare, disability, and basic pension can afford. Avg 1-bdrm rent
Instead. . . government is using public land and money to build homes for
people making $86k and over.
(;2,212)
All good things for the working class were fought for and won by the working class. Why we're ho8tittg this
Our priority recommendations
ln February, the Carnegie Housing
• Speed up building shelter rate housing
Project released a report called "This lsn't Working", Showing the
at the Balmoral, Regent, and Gore and Hastings Temple
affordable housing we're losing,
• Fund the purchase of SR0s for
what government is doing about
community ownership and governance
it (spoiler: not much...), what
people in the neighbourhood said
they want, and how bad things will get if government doesn't change coul.se.
Now we need to build our community up so we'll be heard. This event will be one in a series
that works to strengthen our connections and power.
• Open I,500 shelter beds or tiny homes
for unhoused people before Winter • Stop the loss of the affordable housing
we have by keeping the modular housing and implementing SRO vacancy control • Change the province's definition of
social housing to require shelter-rate
The plan llam
||:20
Meetatl40e Hastingsforcoffeeandtea
:opwe:::g ,Wa;:£saoi:ns:oapc:]nn°gwfLoerd:pine::i:::: ¥ea;ks]dt:::I::;t;::S Way.
12:20
Arrive at oppenheimer park for a free BBQ, music, and conversation. Raffle announcement and next steps.
This is a nan-violent event focused on building community. Come with r®sp®ct and care for your neighbours.
I
(Follow.ing is l`rom the Learning (_'entre Committee Repoi`l, gi`.en on April 24, 2024) We are open on Moiida}'s, Tiiesdays` W€diiesda) s from ]Oam-3i}m. On Thursdays we have our I,caming Centi.e meeting from I 0: 15-11 : 15am. Wc are opi`n to comniul]it}I' from I -3 :30pii`.
F,vcryone welci)me. We are exi`ited lo coi`[inue to bc Able to on`er Wom]`n Only Lefirning Space (cis and tl.iins \\ioliii`ii welcome) on I.`rida}'s from loam-3pm.
Our work in t]]e Learning Centre Learning C`enti`e stal`f, with the supi.ort of our \'i`1iliiteer tu`oi.s_ al.e available to s`ipport the I)TES comn`uliily with upgrading: iiTipro\,'iiig writing. reading. moth. coiTiputer skills` Fiiglisli
languiige impro\emeiit (coiiversalion and \\'ritten I.nglish. t`ocu.` on one-oti-one support oi-small gri)up) aiid digital skills (computer skills. imder.`tandiiig l`ou
tcl iise a ph(ilie` 1.]smg a tablet`
expam]iiig skills beyond Cioogle,I, We also siippoil emergency llterac}' needs in the comlT1`lnity help \\ith t`oiiiis. making a difficiilt phone call, aiid fil`di.ng information.
Weekly Events: *C`omputer and caniera help \\'ith Doll -b} appoinmicnt on Monda}' afternoolis ( 12:.30-3:()Opm) *Coli\ersatlolial Cantonese/Mai`d`drili `\'ith Us{i -b} appoilitmei`t oli Moiidays liiomjiigs ( I 0:301 I :30iim). Thls is a pailnership betwei`n the Seni`)rs program all(I the ljean`ilig Cei`tt.€ *Survival Eiiglisli Cla.`s -I ()am-13:30pm \\ itl` Aiiita Lau in llie 1,eal'iiii\g Ceiitre
*Disco\ei.} Wi.iti`i-s \h'rlting Clroiip led by Ke\iin -supporti\e` \\ceL1} uiitlt`g gi oup. i``eet` oil Tuesda}s frctm I :00-2:()Opm in the Leari`ing Ceiitl`e. *\\rci`Ll} Ai.I Cla`>€s in the Leamlng (`entre. Wednesda}Js u itl` Mlcli<iel ( I (talll-' :pin)-be`ulmels \+,-c,lco'|le!
*Weehl}' Ijcaliilng Centre Meetiiigs oil Tliiusday's frolil
I 0.15aii+ll
15aiii
(`i`me ll\d flnJ o`it
what's liappeliing alld sl`zire ideas tor tlic LeaH`ing Ceiitl`e (ti`a. col`t`ee alid cookies)
ll`e DTES W''riters Group -+uppi)iTive` \`ieck]y u titilig groilp facilitati`d b}' Gille`` meel> oil
Th`irsda.v aftei.nooiis at lpm in CI<issroiim 2.
This month and upcoming in the Leai-ming Centre: *E[\'a. Learllil`g Celltre ` olunteei. ar`d .]rt thei ap}' ``tudelit, cor`tinucs mindful art ft)I. selt`-identified
u (tnien in the conimunit}'' on Frida} s from I 0;im-1 pill. *Aiin.ih Kassi`ii. Ctiiti[aiio l'iii\'er`it} I's_\ cholug} .`tiident, completed hl`r practicum in the Learning Centi`e o]i Fr]diiys She hits asLed to becc`me a \'oliiiiteer `o thi`t slie can continue suppi`i-lil)g ccmmunit} *Iiona` ni`w \'{)lunli`er to tl`e Leiimiiig Ci`n\ie. is otlcring a Crt)chel Workshoi) on IJi.ida}'s froiT` I-3pm
There ai.e no`\ 6 wonien \+'ho :ire learning ho\\ to crocliet. *Thursda}' niglits. /\n(onietta ar`d I im lead Board Games night in llie Leariiiiig Centre. I``olks arc stailing to come regularl}' and cnjo}' pla_`Jing g{inies \\ ith `ithei.s, *On Tuesdav. Mat/ 21. tlie Leamiiig Centre will be closed for a ficlil tiip witli the Seiiiois Program to Van Diisen GardcTis. Cliinesi` seiiiors v`Jill be pairt`tl u ith Ei`ii!lish speakmg \i)1unteers to eiicoilrage stren
.Ttrd annual OTES Vl'riters Festival: Ma}' 2i-26, 2024. The OTES Writi`rs F€sti\al ci`ilimittee is \+orking hard to orgaiiife this }i`ar`b \\riting festival \\hicli will Include wt)rkshops on creating }'ollr own c`hap[)i)ok, iiitro to Chat OPT, gr:tnt wi.itir`g, p(ietl.}J consult cind i`diting \\ ith FI(ina Tiiiwi`i Laiii alid so imich iT`itre!
two additional songwriting workshops we've scheduled to help people participate. They're on May 13 & 27, both Mondays, at the same place and time as the ones on the poster (1:00 PM, l{aslo Gardens, register a few days in advance at 778-331-4387 or highsandlowschoir@gmail.com).
Folks the}' live from hand to mouth Always looking fcir booze or dope V\'Thile you niight hear a preacher i]ian Trying to light a spark ol`hopc
Yeah3 most have seen some better day.s And aL`k: Htlw did I ct)nic to this?
Whei.e did things go so wrong? And become so much amiss? The ttld ht)1cls all gt)t a lL`an
As if they are in pain Because the folks inside Are a burden zind a bane Yeali, the DTES it needs help To lielp the l`olks who are there Berorc they al I succunib And give up in despair V\irhei-e is ji)b trdjning and housillg?
Thc}/ are sorely needed Out. hope is that this song u'ill be lic`aTd and heeded But lately/-the Co\'id virus
I Ias takeii a lieavy toll
Yes, maiiy folks got sick and died And len us a blflck hole So the quest]oii is. my t`rii`nd,
How arc we lo cleal with this? People crying, people d}Jing Yes, it is a crisis Perhaps it's tiliie t`()I f()Iks
To get ()n their knees and pray for an angel \`rho will come And banish their disniay V\i'inLcr \\iinds bring cold and rain
'l`he camps are in desolation People shi\;er in their digs And need sonie consolati{)n
r| he SRO hotels, my friend,
How Did lt Come To This? Life down on the mean streets It aiii't ]`or tlie
Aill't fit for iiian nor beast Wi` nccd s()mc proper housing For those \\iho are the lenst
t`aint ()1` hcall
Thei-e you see grim faces And each t)ni` knows their p[irt
Patrick
Foley
tarri
We acknowledge that Carnegie Cominunity Ci`ntre, and
NEWSLETTERT``
this News/Otter. are occurring on Coast Salisli Territory.
Y`.urnin,ttgr
«i u-,I ..,+ed `nm^.-i ,J`~.A.cl. .+aA2T?
Iras. 5w! zii
Jenny Kwan MP
THIS NEWSLETTER IS A PuBLICATloH 0F THE
cAf"EGiE comMUNITv CENTRE AsSoCIATloN
Vancouver East NDP
Articles represent the vie\^rs of il`dividual
lmmigratiori, Refugee
contril)Lltors and not Of tlie Association.
and Citizenship Critic
2572 E Hastings St
WANTED
Vancouver, BC VSK IZ3
Art`ror* for tlie Carnegie Newsletter -Snian illustratlons to zxxDmpaTiy artjdes and poetry.
T: 604~775-5800
•Cover art ~ Max Size: 17cni(6 '/..)wide x 15on(6.)high.
F: 604-775-5811
-Subject matter pertaining to Issues retevanL lo the
Downtown Eastside, but all wotk considered. -Black a White pr-n`ing only •Size restrie[ion§ aptly (i.e. if your p(ece is (co large,
Next lssue= DEADLINE
il will be redLced and/or cropped to fi[).
Monday, May 13, hoon[
Ad arfusts win receive credit tor thelr work.
J3riginals wlll be returned to the artist after bemg copied (or publiea(Ion. -Remuneratlon. Carnegie Volurilee. Tiekcts
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
Plcase make submissions to Paul Taylor, Editor.
AIDS
The edl!or can edil for clarity, format & brevl(y.
but nol a( (he expense Of the miters message.
401 Main Street, Vancouver VOA 2T7 604J}65-2289
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POVERTY
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VIOLENCEAGAINSTWOMEN
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TOTALITARIAN CAPITALISM
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