Course:LFS350/Projects/2015T2/rainbowsoup

From UBC Wiki

Project Summary

The Mission of Health Initiative for Men (HIM) is to strengthen gay men’s health and well-being through trusted, tailored, targeted research-based health promotion services and by engaging the community through volunteer involvement, online access and events. We foster mutually beneficial relationships among gay men and health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes. We do this because we value the ability of gay men to make informed decisions, we value the role of our community in supporting the foundations for healthy living, and we value scientific research. This project will focus on our Rainbow Soup Social, a weekly soup making initiative for queer people and their allies which aims to strengthen community relationships and make soup for a great cause.

Organization Information

Name

Health Initiative for Men (HIM)

Mission

The Mission of HIM is to strengthen gay men’s health and well-being through trusted, tailored, targeted research-based health promotion services and by engaging the community through volunteer involvement, online access and events. We foster mutually beneficial relationships among gay men and health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes. We do this because we value the ability of gay men to make informed decisions, we value the role of our community in supporting the foundations for healthy living, and we value scientific research. - See more at: http://checkhimout.ca

Primary Contact

  • Name: Josh Edward
  • Email: joshua@checkhimout.ca
  • Address: 310-1033 Davie St. Vancouver BC, V6E 1M7
  • Phone: 604 488 1001
  • Website: http://checkhimout.ca

Project Description

Health Initiative for Men (HIM) is a Metro-Vancouver based gay men’s health agency serving the unique mental, physical, social, and sexual health needs of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (OMSM). HIM strives to provide comprehensive, holistic services, that focus on overall health and wellbeing in the GM&OMSM community. One such service is the Rainbow Soup Social, a group that creates social opportunities through cooking and nutrition. This service project will be working with both the Knowledge Translation Manager at HIM to learn more about this important project, and assist with outreach, including the development of promotional material ideas, and a recipe-book for use in Rainbow Soup recruitment.

Goal(s) and project scope

The outcome will be updated promotion and recruitment materials, including a recipe book, West End Community Food Resource Guide, and recommendations for how food and agriculture can be more integrated throughout the organization in order to meet the agency’s mission statement and vision.

Project / partner orientation

Josh will provide a reading list in the first week of classes.

Skills Preferred

  • Background in social justice context of food and nutrition
  • Ability to think creatively and draft promotional and recruitment materials that speak to diverse communities of GB&OMSM men.
  • Ability to work with organization and volunteers to draft a recipe book / outreach brochure with recipes created by the social group.
  • Interest and willingness to work with diverse communities.


Project Location

Project meeting(s) will take place at either University of British Columbia MCML building, or Health Initiative for Men, 1033 Davie Street. Public transportation is available.

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

Schedule is quite open, Tuesday’s on campus especially; Thursday afternoons are the only non-available partner time.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Community Service opportunities are available, including with both the Rainbow Soup Social and Community Garden Group at HIM.

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

  • Students will learn about how different communities engage with food in unique ways.
  • Students will learn about the importance of community-based social & health organisations meeting the unique needs of Vancouver’s diverse communities.
  • Students will learn about new food /social / health initiatives in the West End of Vancouver, and how they are meeting the unique needs of diverse communities.

Organizational Outcomes

HIM will gain...

  • Nutrition expertise
  • Innovative thinking from new perspectives
  • Increased outreach to diverse communities of GB&OMSM