LFS350/Projects/2021-Term2/HastingsCommunityAssociation

Project Title

Hastings Learning Garden Community Engagement

Organization Name

Hastings Community Association

Related Course Concepts

Asset-based community development, Social class/income inequality, Cultural identities

Organization Information

Mission and Vision of Organization

Mission: To increase the capacity & connection of the Hastings Sunrise Community through empowering food & garden programming Vision: The Hastings-Sunrise Community will be an active player in helping Vancouver become a global leader in urban foods systems through strengthening our food & garden skills to create a community connected through growing & sharing our own food.

Guiding Principles + Values

Educating Inclusive Sustainable Resourceful Decolonizing Intergenerational Intercultural Encouraging stewardship

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Lisa Patterson (She/Her)
• Email: [[1]]
• Phone: 604-220-2856  
• Address:  3096 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A3
• Website:   http://hastingscc.ca/

Preferred Method of Contact

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

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

• No

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

We are in the process of building up an intergenerational garden program, serving both seniors and young families in our community. Due to in-house preschool, out-of-school care programs, and an elementary school close by, we are already easily able to set up children's food and garden programming. Our challenge is in attracting and keeping the attention of seniors in the neighbourhood to our programs, and in working on programming that could bring children and seniors together, keeping in mind the multicultural attributes of Hastings-Sunrise. The major funding source for the Hastings Learning Garden is a Coastal Health SMART Grant. SMART Grants fund programs that: - promote greater equity in wellness by building on a community’s social, environmental, cultural and economic foundations to reduce the impact of systemic factors that create conditions of vulnerability, and - consist of activities that build collective capacity of peer groups and/or communities (not solely that of individuals) An LFS 350 project team would help us understand - what barriers there are to seniors participating in food and garden programs - how to better access seniors interested in food & garden programs - what sort of programming would attract and retain seniors - what sort of programming would fulfill the requirements of the SMART grant.

Main Project Activities

• Learn about the population of Hastings-Sunrise
• Research barriers to seniors accessing public recreation programming of any kind, and food & garden programming in particular
• Research garden activities that would be appropriate for an intergenerational, intercultural group
• If possible, schedule an outdoor site visit to understand what the garden looks like

Expected Project Deliverable(s)

• 1 short report on how to draw different ages and cultures to the garden and/or to recreation programming in general, barriers to accessing this programming and ideas to keep people engaged
• At least 4 outlines of 1-hour garden workshops with activities, some for seniors only and some for a mixed-age group

Intended Project Outcome

• Seniors in the community learn more about the garden & gardening in general feel a sense of ownership & belonging in the Learning Garden
• Seniors become engaged and excited to plan future programming and outcomes they desire to see

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

Preferred Skills and Assets	community engagement experience, education experience, gardening experience
Required Skills and Assets	helpful, engaged, good listener, creative, flexible
Helpful Additional Language Skills	N/A

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

• Understanding of barriers to accessing public programs and services
• Understanding of needs of different members of a community
• Understanding of enhancing resilience in a community through different methods
• Understanding of how to create food-based educational programming

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

• No

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

No

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

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

http://hastingscc.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/SeasonsOfFoodVancouver

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

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

• N/A

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

I hope students will learn about...

• engaging seemingly disparate members of a community, ways of enhancing resilience in a community, different factors that can improve health of a community

I think students will come to appreciate...

• that food is more than a means to end hunger. Food is a powerful tool that can help bring people together and enhance their lives in ways other than simple nourishment.

Through this project, students will develop...

• a greater understanding of the many roles that food can play in our lives.

How does the student project contribute to your organization's mission and long-term vision?

• broadening the reach of the Hastings Learning Garden in the community, thereby allowing us to strengthen our community and increase community connections and overall resiliency.

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