Vancouver Foundation

Fall 2012

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The First Word . . . Inspiring connections Faye Wightman Gord MacDougall President and CEO Chair, Board of Directors Vancouver Foundation Vancouver Foundation page 2 I Vancouver Foundation l Fall 2012 p2-3FW_TOC.indd 2 There was a moment this past summer that stands out as one of those "aha" moments; the moment when a realization hits with such force that it changes how you think forever. It happened during a meeting with a prominent community leader about some of the pressing social issues we face as a region and as a province. We were talking about issues like homelessness, poverty, affordability and climate change. At one point during the wide-ranging discussion, he stopped and looked puzzled. Then he asked a tough question: How are we going to tackle any of these issues if people are indifferent to one another and can't work together? This question gets to the heart of Vancouver Foundation's two priorities. One grows from the Connections and Engagement Survey we conducted in the spring. The metro-Vancouver-wide survey revealed the extent of the isolation people across metro Vancouver feel – isolation and disconnection from one another and from the life of the community. Over the summer we had time to look more closely at the survey results. We dove deeper and produced a series of mini-reports that showed how particular groups of people experience life in the region, such as 25- to 34-year-olds, people living in highrises and new immigrants. Now we are developing ways to help people become more connected and engaged, particularly in their neighbourhoods. You'll see several stories in this issue about the power of neighbourhood connections. Our second priority is youth homelessness. In fact, this has been a Vancouver Foundation priority for four years. Across metro Vancouver, far too many young people are homeless or living in temporary, risky arrangements. On any given night, an average of 400 people under the age of 25 can be identified as absolutely homeless. Hundreds more are couch-surfing or somehow making do, out of public sight. There are many pathways to homelessness for young people but we are focusing on youth who have been in government care. These youth are over-represented among the homeless; as many as 40 per cent of homeless youth are estimated to have been in government care. Studies show that these youth are particularly vulnerable to homelessness as they "age out" of the child welfare/government care system when they turn 19 years of age. Our goal is to end the experience of homelessness among former youth in care. These two priorities are linked and they speak to the power of collaboration in addressing complex issues. It is only through strong relationships that we can care enough to work together to make our community a better place for everyone. We hope you will read the stories in this issue and have your own "aha" moment. We hope you will become inspired to help, to connect with others, and to become actively engaged in the life of your neighbourhood and your community. Photo: Claudette Carracedo 12-10-16 11:03 AM

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