February 15, 2022 Carnegie Newsletter

401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7

Robyn Uvingstone has left us. May his path continue to be unique.

(604) 665-2289

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"... good, sane people in the DTES ... "

Yesterday evening I attended the public board meeting of the Carnegie Community Centre.

A group of people, the vast majority of whom were men, waited in the hallway outside the theater for the meeting to start. They were a diverse group, typical of any group of people one would find in that community. The board was expecting them and had been told there was a group of protesters coming to the meeting. They were clearly together. I heard murmurs of 'Okay we're all here.'

They were there to protest conditions and air their concerns regarding the reduced programming and space available to them at the Camegie Centre for the last two years. This is one of the few organizations in the DTES that was able to continuously offer meals for the duration of the pandemic but nevertheless there were serious space and program limitations.

When given the opportunity to speak, members of the group asked why other community centres had their weight rooms and gyms and poolrooms open when the poorest people in the city, who needed those services to support their mental and physical health, were not given access. They needed something to do and they needed an opportunity to exercise. They argued the case that their community is suffering more from overdose deaths than covid infections and should not see their own health and the health of their neighbours further eroded because of covid distancing rules. They were articulate and passionate and right.

They were also polite and kind to those who were listening including the community board members they were petitioning. They gave each other room to speak one at a time. When it was explained to them that renovations were the issue and when the director of the centre offered to meet with them to make a plan for orderly opening of services, they were patient and agreed to work with her, without giving up their insistence that something needed to be done quickly. When they left, they thanked the board for their service to the community and for listening to them. .

It's not that I was surprised by their dignified approach. I spent 12 years in the community as Director of the Camegie Centre and their style of stating the case was similar to many examples when the people of the DTES displayed good manners and good will when advocating for themselves, in stark contrast to those who publicallybully, claim space and try to force their will on others.

While I agree that one of the issues contributing to angry populi srn here in Canada and elsewhere in the world is a sense of abandonment and loss experienced by those who are denied a share in our wealthy society, how do you explain these good, sane people in the DTES who stand up for themselves in a way that doesn't trample on anyone else?

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To answer that question I suspect we'd use the same descriptors we'd use for any other rational, balanced, mature group of citizens. Regardless of the circumstances of their lives they have healthy egos and only expect a reasonable response to their reasonable demands. After watching what is going on across the country this past week, and what has gone on in America in the last years, it was a relief and a privilege to witness this kind of respectful exchange. The protesters at the meeting last night were an example of citizen participation that sought the common good as opposed to chasing fantasies of libertarian 'rights'.

Ethel Whitty, February 4,2022

I,am BLACK I was born BLACK When I go out in the When I am sick, I am When I.am dying, I'm When they bury me, I

You were born PINK sun I am BLACK still BLACK BLACK am still BLACK

You are WHITE

The Black Strathcona Resurgenc;.e Project endeavours to be a part of the ongoing process of reclaiming Black visibility in Strathcona, an area historically populated

by Vancouver's Black community.

The project has the goal of reclaiming visibility and reconciling the erasure and systemic racism endured over time by Black people in Vancouver.

When you go out in the sun you turn RED Then you go BROWN When you get sick you turn WHITE When you are dying, you go GREY When they bury you, you are PURPLE AND YOU'VE GOT THE FUCKING NERVE

Vancouver International Film Festival presents a free online event - Spotlight on The Porter Not only Canada's biggest Black-led series, The Porter also boasts the first all-Black writer's room. Telling a story of empowerment and idealism, it spotlights the turning point when Canadian and American railway workers united to give rise to the world's first Black union.

Monday, February 28 at 4pm Register for free via the VIFF website.

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT: Manger Job Description - January 2022 This position as Manager with the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP), a project of the Carnegie Community Centre Association (CCCA), reports to the board of the CCCA . The position works to support the mandate of the CCCA to help low-income Downtown Eastside residents ensure that decisions about the future of the community build on community assets. The CCCA mandate represented by CCAP and CCG (Chinatown Concern Group a part of CCAP) includes working for more and better housing, higher welfare rates and stopping gentrification of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. .

Please submit your resume and a cover letter to: President, CCCA, 401 Main Street Vancouver BC, V6A 2T7 You can also drop off your application to the 3rd floor administration office at 401 Main Street.

Roles and Responsibilities: o

The following is a partial list of duties and responsibilities. A full description is available to applicants who are asked to attend an interview.

Engages low-income community members in campaigns and activities around land use, housing, gentrification, income support Facilitates weekly CCAP volunteer meetings With CCCA approval, implements actions arising from meetings • Coordinates volunteer outreach activities at special events like 'Indigenous Peoples Day, Powell Street Festival, Women's Memorial March etc.

Attends meetings of community partners in support of the coalition building efforts of the CCCAI CCAP. Participates in, and supports members' participation in, government initiatives and neighbourhood planrrmg processes that provides opportunity to further CCCA /CCAP goals.

Organizes low-income residents to attend rezoning and development application hearings and to speak out through other venues like news conferences In all cases seeks to have the voice of community members prioritized in all public communications or engagement.

Manages CCAP and CCCA social media platforms, including web pages and Facebook.

We are really going to miss our dear friend Robyn: a bright light of our community; a singularly unique j personality and voice; a wild genius of a wordsmith who rattled logic with his extraordinary vocabulary

and rich stream of consciousness poems that rivalled lames Joyce; and a walking one-man-about- townarts- promotional-bill-board. His performances in the 'Downtown Eastside Community Play' and 'We're All In This Together' were unforgettable. A huge supporter of the arts and Vancouver's Moving Theatre's creative journeys; he was a kind and gentle soul and a good friend. Savannah loved singing with Robyn and performing alon~side him; his knowledge of song literature astonished-her. In the words of our son Montana, who talked with him many times around the neighbourhood, Robyn "was always a kind and positive influence". ' Terry Hunter (Nang Gulgaa) and Savannah Walling (nl Gat'saa) The Carnegie Community Centre was saddened to hear of Robyn Livingstone's passing on February 10th. We all have so many lovely memories of our exchanges and time with Robyn ~ he touched our hearts lightly but deeply.

I will remember Robyn as the ever elusive butterfly; here one minute, gone the next but those fleeting moments are forever with me/us. I am smiling while the tears well up in my eyes as I write this. All of us at the Carnegie Centre will miss Robyn forever & always. Rest in Peace Robyn.

Sharon Belli, Director ~ Camegie Community Centre

Where I wanna go, where I wanna be, down some certain yet twisted roads toward mountains, skies and seas; I have my dreamed upon direction locked _ I know which way to head. You see we've all heard stories/tales by hearing others speak or in books flipped through or intently read yet I still always seem to get pulled and yanked by people's and my own bad habits (which way is up .. which way is down??) how to avoid the compelling perennial runa~ounds ... I get kicked about from pillar to post by others' sage advice, wisecracks, snapshots of influence peddling via what they say and what they think they know only to twist my and your judgment to & fro and whether right or wrong I know (I better). I don't have time to give time to hollow, shallow pleas The saga continues; it never ever really ends. It's about "What's the deal? and how you really, naturally feel; a state of siege is fifty-fifty, always a blast. The Art of War starts small then mid-range then inflamed and finally supercharged to beyond the pale to multi-coloured sections of hidden thoughts - until only I can say "I won!" Meanwhile all is compartmentallypartitioned to sift through, sort and hastily prioritize. Then pullout a card like a wonder from a magic Tarot deck and sink or swim by the luek 8fthe draw. Your innards cramp, terribly tense with false premonitions!?!?

Stay calm, don't panic, be still and chill; that's the damn right correct perfect attitude when faced with self-deficiencies Blow the dust off your lazy underutilized soul- the . same one that used to rock 'n roll, of course nothin' ventured nothin' gained [it's a lead pipe cinchJ I always prefer the truth, even when it's written down Don't believe the shysters, the charlatans; they tell lies, lay traps to hoodwink appointed hurdy-gurdy men with false prophecies, premeditated pathologic

punch-drunk piety's; condescending bafflegabbed buffoonery so old it's etched in stone but they shine on bellowing "A fresh idea!!" This cannot change as far as I can see - they're convinced that the cards are all laid out on the table to nirvana and enlightenment is pre-determined, a pointless pursuit.

Their vision is us on a see-saw of wanton wishes, nightmarish, narcissistic and nurtured withnoxious numbness until we're finally defeated. Hah! Our invisibilities are revealed, under a layer as thin as skin, what was sunk deep in churning oceans has risen. 1have conclusive evidence, satisfactory to conjure a steady, peaceful beat of my once conniving wayward heart and a serene state of mind.

These two have resilient, relentless strength when both are irrevocably and infinitely combined.

ROBYN LlVINGSTONE

Robyn: The DTES arts troubadour, pollinating the community, whether handing me a pamphlet as we passed on a drizzly November, Heart of the City Festival night on Hastings Street, or as I emerged frqm an event at Woodwards; "Hi Mike.

Here's something you should see!" Another pamphlet. A smile. And then he would be off. Sometimes he would take to the stage himself - perhaps with the Camegie Dance Group. Gentle.

Warm. Enthusiastic about spreading the word of the arts in the DTES. Robin Livingstone; one of those people that bring a community together without fuss or fanfare. I'll miss him.

Michael Clague

I have just heard the heartbreaking news that we have lost Robyn.

He danced with us, the Camegie Dance Troupe, for many years he was loved and valued by our group. here are a couple of pictures Karen Jamieson

"Turn the pages, tune in the ages" Remembering Robyn Livingstone Tall, dark and handsome, Robyn was everywhere at once. Quicksilver-silver, liquid-he urged us toward buoyant futures, tailored: hey, did you hear about this concert you might like, about a poetry reading by kindred spirits, HomeGround at Oppenheimer Park, free festivals to dance at this week and next, protests that matter, thought-provoking lectures, unmissable plays. And Robyn hinged us to these marvelous lively emanations through sleight of hand: he'd inevitably ALWAYS have that flyer or poster to put into your hot little hand. And, if! could go, I'd see Robyn there, volunteering, helping to make these things that mattered, happen. Rockin' Robyn Livingstone in his baseball hat and vibrating striped pullover didn't stand still for long, yet he was always present, involved, considerate, reflecting in person and through his writing ... and boy could he ever write, and write and write and publish he did ... in many genres, with incisive insights, reflections and deep personal feelings revealed, peeled and offered to us. This passage is from his most recent recognized prose-poem, "Beyond Belief," which won Honourable Mention at the 2021 Sandy Cameron Memorial Writing Contest: "Something to be told ofthe Glories, yet untold, hidden, magnificent; Turn the pages, tune in the ages, submitting reckless dreams of yore; Move a mountain, trans-fixed, keep counting on reeking havoc; Foretell my fortune within the stars, parameters holding affirmed' Dig in, entrenched, then advance facing lock, stock and barrel; Roiling, tumbling, shakedlbakedlfried - you'll not be denied .... Faking high emotions that are deep within you, your gold as distant as the searing, shining, warming, growing Sun rising high inside you, and yet (as of now) totally and utterly beyond belief."

Robyn was tuned in, and for ages Hum's DTES/UBC programme was on his dial. What a gift he was, and how we will miss him. Sadly and hopefully and respectfully, I share Robyn's words from a dozen years ago, toward forever: "I now rest in stillness, a completing state of heavenly bliss." Rockin' Robyn Livingstone, 2010.

With love from Margot Leigh Butler and the Hum community, DTES and UBC on the unceded, ancestral, traditionalland of the h;m'q'dmin'dm'-speaking xWmd9kwdYdm (Musqueam) people. .

Robyn was omnipresent - an artist who spoke his truth - promoter extraordinaire - a social butterfly - staunch supporter of creative expression of any kind. His enthusiasm for all thfngs community - especially in the arts was contagious. He was a team player, loved being part of a troupe - I saw him perform last in the annual Carnegie Theatre Workshop's Christmas Eve pageant - he rose to the occasion despite his health issues and belted out "Silver Bells". He was also fiercely independent. He's the only person I know who was able to keep his street clothes on during a lengthy hospital stay - he simply told the nurses that he wouldn't wear a hospital gown. He was persuasive in a charming way. I don't know how many stadium concerts he got into for free because the guards let him in. I will miss running into Robyn volunteering and promoting at every festival and community event in town. I will miss his "Hey Rika, whassup? Ijust went to ( .... ) It was so cool. You should go." I willaiiss you, Robyn.

Rika Robyn Livingstone Whenever I spotted Robyn's boyish profile across the room at a community event I felt blessed. Especially in the last while when I knew he was struggling with his health. He was an enigma; always had an intelligent comment about the latest play or reading or piece of music he'd heard and at the same time was humble to a fault.

He attended and created and participated in so much performance and gave his time so generously as a volunteer, that he seemed to be everywhere. His gentle demeanor was always, in my experience, intact. Even his political objections, when he had them, were coached in a way that gave others the benefit of the doubt, although sometimes a smile hovered somewhere at the corner of his eye to let you know where he really stood. I am bereft when I think that I'll never see him again but I'll be looking for him in the many places where his spirit made an imprint and 1 know I'll find him there in my memory.

Ethel Whitty

, Robyn always seemed to be on-the-move. He seldom stayed in one place for long! I never knew when I would see him next: dropping by the Carnegie Association office to give Paul a story for the Newsletter; volunteering to pick up garbage at the Powell Street Festival; playing a percussion instrument with the Hastings Street Band during the Heart of the City Festival;.performing on stage in any of our neighbourhood venues; participating in an activity with Hum at UBC .... the possibilities were as varied as his topics of conversation. Robyn had so many talents and interests! I will especially remember how fabulous he was as the Dragon in the shadow puppets theatre production. He really got into the character and delivered a powerful performance that took my breath away. His movements and vocals in that show made the audience truly believe that there was a dragon behind the curtain. Robyn was a lovely person. I am grateful that Iknew him. He will definitely be missed.

Lisa David

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Bevond Belief Something to be told of the Glories, yet untold, hidden, magnificent; Turn the pages, tune in the ages, submitting reckless dreams of yore; Move a mountain, trans-fixed, keep counting on reeking havoc; Foretell my fortune within the stars, parameters holding affirmed' Dig in, entrenched, then advance facing lock, stock and barrel; Rolling, tumblingshakedlbakedlfried - you'll not be denied, decrying tranquillity, perchance to touch, to feel and to see as easy as can be; Earth-tossed endlessly, churning into ajagged descent, free-falling dis-respect dissected and rejected, debate denied to soar no more.

On the run, hide and eek, reading nothing benefits no one; Corroded brass ring of security and peace, another fallen angel; Compare anomalies, metaphors, 'convolution is secured by being secure' say cynics from time to time; Being extra careful and still growing weaker & weary yet inner strength and energy persists, like a proud, strong phoenix rising up; Droning motors, foul engines, gasoline fumes inspire pleasant dreams while aspersions are cast with altruistic lies, condemned as bunk.

Faking high emotions that are deep within you, your gold as distant as the, searing. shining, warming, growing Sun rising high inside you, and yet (as of now) totally and utterly beyond belief.

Robyn Livingstone

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Robyn had a soft spot for people who made him feel welcome, so much so that he would come again and again to be the oddball, the presenter of ideas and always ready to include any woman who'd smile at him. He waws forever gathering other people's ideas in the form ofboks, pamphlets and even art. He'd enter any community thing to promote community, maybe because he always felt outside. It wasn't his style to do committees or organising, but a participant he was a star. He felt humble when playing a stgraight persongetting a phone was a major thing. He wasn't pro-COVID but did empathize with people trying to be individuals.

After all is said here, from people who worked with him and liked his quirks, the picture is serene.

Go well

Paul Taylor

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CaM.tgi.eCoffea·~Ib!ou,!

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Carnegie Community Centre Board has approved an all new volunteer coffee program at Carnegie community centre. As there are three (3) different components of the coffee program, we will take a phased in approach.

# 1 - Oppenheimer Park Coffee Cart Program - to continue the coffee program at the park, we will recruit additional volunteers to support this. The coffee program at the park is run by the OPPteam and supported by the Volunteer department, please connect if you are interested! # 2 - After the reopening of the lane level and the programming of the Senior's Lounge, volunteers will be recruited and trained to support coffee during programs.

We hope to begin this sometime in April. # 3 - Pop up Coffee Stations will be hosted by volunteers in different areas of the Centre on a 'pay as you can' basis, with proceeds going back to the volunteer program.

Please attend the March 9th 3-4pm info session in the theatre for more info!

This will kick off the program planning and our recruitment through engagement with our returning and new coffee seller volunteers. All coffee program will be reviewed in 6 months to evaluate the successesand identify and challenges.

In 1992, the first Women's Memorial March was held in response to the murder of a woman on Powell Street in the Downtown Eastside. The first women's memorial march was held in 1992 in response to the murder of a woman on Powell Street in Vancouver. Out of this sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine's Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside on unceded Coast Salish territories.

The memorial march continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women, and all women's and gender-diverse peoples' lives lost in the Downtown Eastside. Increasing deaths of many women and gender -diverse people from the DTES still leaves family, friends, loved ones, and community members with an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered with minimal to no action to address these tragedies or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty, racism, or colonialism.

This event is organized and led by women in the DTES because women - especially Indigenous women, girls, two spirit and trans people - face physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual violence on a daily basis.

The February 14th Women's Memorial March is an opportunity to come together to grieve the loss of our beloved sisters, remember the women who are still missing, and to dedicate ourselves to justice.

Margot

from "theLibrary . As of this writing the sun is shining, the purple crocuses are blooming, and I can almost feel spring around the corner.

Starting this month, the Carnegie Centre and the Carnegie Branch Library are collaborating in hosting a series of workshops and events on the subject of death and dying. The first in the series will be launched on Thursday, February 24 from 6-7:30pm via Zoom.

The Community Death Care Project has been created to "offer a space for thoughtful and engaged discussion and information" about death, with special regard to our community in the Downtown Eastside which has been gravelyimpacted by dual, compounding public health crises (the drug poisoning crisis and COVID-19).

Here is a little excerpt from the website communitydeathcareproject.ca: "Despite the increased frequency of deaths there is little dignity, preparation, and support available around preparing for death. This project will provide increased meaningful interactions and social connections, information sharing and capacity building around choice, dignity, and autonomy for end of life planning." The events will be a mix of in-person and online activities. The virtual events will offer language translation, transcripts, and audio recordings for those who may have barriers to accessing virtual programs.

The first event on February 24th welcomes Supervising Lawyer Christopher Heslinga as he leads an information session on the importance of having a will and how to approach estate planning in BC. If you have any questions please feel free to come in and chat with us in the library, or visit vpl.ca.

All the best, Izzy

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