Course:LFS350/Projects/Fall2017/atira-womens-resource-society-exploring-food-program-possibilities
Project Summary
Title
Community Built Food Resource Program
Purpose
The project informs a report that will support Atira Women’s Resource Society to create a food program at its new drop-in center. The program should not replicate other services in the area and it must reflect the needs, desires and voices of those accessing our services.
Areas of Focus
- Community services
- Food needs and vulnerable populations
Skills
- Community level analysis and development of food programs;
- Knowledge about issues impacting women in Canada and specifically women in the Downtown Eastside;
- Excellent non-judgmental communication skills;
- Experience working with women and/or a vulnerable population is an asset.
Other
- All students will need to pass an interview with Atira to be considered for this project;
- Atira Women’s Resource Society works with women and children who have been affected by violence and/or abuse. Due to the nature of our work only self-identified women will be considered for this project;
- Atira requires a cleared Criminal Record Check (CRC) for working with vulnerable adults and children (this is a specific CRC). You may apply online at https://justice.gov.bc.ca/eCRC/home.htm
Location
- Atira Women’s Resource Society
- 101 East Cordova Street
- Vancouver, BC V6A 1K7
Organization Information
Name
Atira Women’s Resource Society
Vision + Mission
Atira Women’s Resource Society is dedicated to supporting women and children affected by violence by offering safe and supportive housing and by delivering education and advocacy aimed at ending all forms of gendered violence.
Our vision is a world free of inequalities, where everyone’s human rights are respected and where women and girls have the right to participate fully and effectively in all of the decisions that affect their lives.
Guiding Principles + Values
- Inclusive Feminism: Our work is informed by our understanding that women’s experience of oppressive institutions (sexism, racism, colonialism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, transphobia, xenophobia and other identity markers) are interconnected and cannot be examined separately from one another.
- Women-Centred: Our work is informed by our understanding that in addition to providing safety and respect, all of our programs must invite and encourage women’s collaboration and that women must have the opportunity to be active participants in all of our services.
- Harm Reduction: Our work is informed by our understanding that women’s experiences of gender-based violence is central to their use of substances and that understanding the intersections between women’s experience of violence, poverty, racism, gendered patterns of drug use/harms, and lack of support for mothering, are critical to developing programs that are seamless and which increase opportunities for women to keep themselves and their children safe.
- Innovation: Our work is informed by our understanding that the women who access our services and our staff are our greatest asset and so we encourage individuality, creativity, leadership, transparency and accountability
Primary Contact
Contact Person(s): Caithlin Scarpelli Email: Caithlin_scarpelli@atira.bc.ca Address: 190 Alexander Street, Vancouver, BC. Phone: 604.818.4933
Project Description
Atira will be converting its head administrative office into a drop-in center for women looking for resources and support within the Downtown Eastside (DTES). Services will include: Legal Advocacy, Stopping the Violence Counselling, and Housing Outreach. We would like to explore offering nutritious food for the women who access the center.
The project includes:
- A review of other drop-in center food programs;
- Discussions with women who access our services regarding what works, what doesn’t and what could be improved upon for our food program
We want to ensure that our program is not replicating other programs in the area and that it is built off the needs and voices of those who would be accessing the service.
This project is an exciting opportunity to work with one of Canada’s largest non-profit women’s housing and support agencies to explore food program development, and to support the ongoing efforts to increase access to suitable food for vulnerable populations in our community.
Goal and Project Scope
The project informs a report that will support Atira Women’s Resource Society to create a food program at its new drop-in center. The program should not replicate other services in the area and it must reflect the needs, desires and voices of those accessing our services.
Skills Preferred
- Community level analysis and development of food programs;
- Knowledge about issues impacting women in Canada and specifically women in the Downtown Eastside;
- Excellent non-judgmental communication skills;
- Experience working with women and/or a vulnerable population is an asset.
Preferred Days of Week and Hours
- To be determined with the community partner, but will be sometime during office hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 – 5:00.
Project/Partner Orientation
All students will need to pass an interview with Atira to be considered for this project. They will be required to review a variety of materials including Atira’s volunteer handbook and various articles/literature specific to working with women who access our services.
Community Service Opportunities
- Students will work with women who access our services through direct, casual conversations.
- They may also have the opportunity to visit and participate in one of our community kitchen events.
Expected Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
I hope students will learn about…
- The food procurement challenges for people in the DTES.
I think students will come to appreciate…
- The community resources and resiliency within the DTES.
Students will develop …
- The ability to support the development of participatory built food resource programs.
Organizational Outcomes
- A better understanding of the food/nutrition needs of those accessing our services;
- Increased organizational capacity in food security and services;
- A clear understanding of how to implement a food program at a drop-in center.