July 15, 2021 Carnegie Newsletter

JULY 15, 2021

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Update from the Carnegie Community Centre Association regarding strategic planning, and the Carnegie Community Action Project July 1,2021 Dear Camegie Community Centre Associations members, friends, neighbours and partners; In the fall of this year, the Camegie Community Centre Association (CCCA) will be embarking on a strategic planning process, to help set the strategic direction for our programs, services and advocacy work in the community in the coming years.

As part of this work, we will be seeking feedback on the role of the Camegie Community Action Project (CCAP). CCAP is a long-standing program of the Camegie Community Centre Association, whose members and volunteers have advocated tirelessly and contributed greatly to critical bodies of research on housing, mental health, anti-gentrification, and raising income rates - all issues that have been critical to Downtown Eastside residents. We are looking to the membership to help set the direction for this plan, which will inform our work for the years to come.

At the moment, we do not have a coordinator of the CCAP project. Fiona York has not been employed with the Camegie Community Centre Association since the end of2020, and has no role with the project. While we wish her success in her future endeavours, in the interest of clarity, we do want to be clear that Fiona York no longer represents or speaks on behalf of the Camegie Community Action Project or the Camegie Community Centre Association.

Further, we would like to clarify that the "Friends of CCAP" Facebook page is not the voice of the Association, nor is it any longer the voice of CCAP. An/money raised through "Friends of CCAP" or associated GoFundMe initiatives does not come to the CCCA. Any questions about the CCAP project and how you can support the CCCA's many initiatives, including CCAP, can be directed to Gilles Cyrenne, President, by leaving a message at the Camegie Centre main floor Information Desk, emailinggillesjcyrenne@yahoo.comand.asalways.donations can be made at the CCCA's website.

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More information about the CCCA's strategic planning process, and ways you can be involved in this important body of work, will be circulated in the Centre and in the Camegie Newsletter starting in the fall.

With kind regards; Gilles Cyrenne President, Camegie Community Centre Association

THE 6TH ANNUAL SANDY CAMERON MEMORIAL WRITIIN6 CONTEST Sandy was a writer and poet and an historian emeritus who traced the years of struggle for social and economic justice in the life of the Downtown Eastside. He' contributed his thoughts and feelings on subjects as diverse as class and whale watching but tied everything to our ongoing ideation on social justice.

This contest is to honour him and all who use the written word to express themselves.

This is for writers and poets who identify with the struggles of the Downtown Eastside, who see and feel passion in living with spiritual, mental, and physical yearnings. It may be with wealth (too much or not enough), housing (too luxurious or not good enough), homelessness (seeing people or trying to ignore reality), both sides of addiction in the drug trade, the sex trade, "free" trade, community, women (murdered, missing what it is to be safe and creative), children and growing, festivals, ceremonies, memorials, special people and their contributions (past, present) all you do to make your life meaningful both now and towards the future. Whew!

Prizes will be awarded for each category. 1St, 2nd & 3rd will be $100, $75 and $50 respectively.

Additional non-cash prizes for entries deserving recognition.

Guidelines for Writing Contest.

1.

Writing must be the original work of the person submitting the contest entry & not fiction . . 2.

If plagiarism is recognised the work will be disqualified and returned.

Contact information for the writer must be provided with each contest entry.

Essays: This means writing in sentences, with grammar and structure attempted.

Poetry: All forms accepted. Must use the same font (typeface) throughout Subject is open to the individual author. It can be about most anything relevant to readers. In the words of Sam Roddan "[It] must have a bite. It must create some kind 0/ disturbance, a turmoil in the

heart, a turbulence of memory and feeling," The length of the essay can be 250-700 words, basically what can Poetry of whatever length, but no more than can be printed Deadline for submissions is noon on September 15, 2021. Results during the Heart of the City Festival (early November).

Each writer may submit only one essay and/or one poetry entry.

Submit your work on paper to Camegie's front desk or email it to

be printed on 1 page of the Newsletter. on 1 page. will be announced at a special event

carnnews@shaw.ca

with contact info

The theme for this year's Heart a/the City Festival is "Stories we need to hear." Your essay and/or poetry can reflect the need of your telling and the need of others to read or hear it.

to a MAKESHIFT WOODEN COOKSHACK

FIRST PEOPLE

Our people were the first To live upon this land.

We lived as one With our four-legged brothers, The mountains, air, and sand.

The Sun - our Grandfather, The Moon - our Grandmother, And sacred Mother Earth Taught their children many things.

Now the Whites must search.

They smother her with concrete, Drain her lakes, Drill into her body, And always will.

Till she dies for lack of blood.

Kat

DREAMS

~ Spooky, Beautiful, strange.

Running, falling, Screaming, crying.

Soft talk and whispers.

Aren't some dreams ever going to come true?

Kat

The squatters at the Woodwards store were ejected onto the street A community of tents sprang up A square block of many square feet Two squatters found some scrap wood And made me into a shed From then I had a useful life In keeping the group well fed.

The squatters were well-organized A spokesman sat at a desk Collecting donations of money & food and cold weather gear for the rest At night there some sentries Who prowled the streets beside the beds I stored food and made simple meals I kept the group well fed October merged into November The temperature was getting low Despite the tents and blankets People's resistance was getting slow Even so, a man brought 2 great big cakes And put them into me shed Each squatter got a slice of it I kept the group well fed By early December the city hall Said the tent city would have to go Night temperatures were now cold And the wind began to blow I watched the people one by one Dismantle their makeshift beds Even so, fof those who remained I kept the group well fed The tent city has disappeared My useful life is no more I'm glad the folks now have a roof On which the rain won't pour Perhaps those folks will think of me As they lie in their new warm beds About how I kept food fresh and cool Vaughn Evans

Open Letter from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs The Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) are writing in CRAB park who do not wish to leave. The forced cluding Indigenous people, is in direct opposition to commitment to reconciliation and BC's commitment the Rights ofIndigenous Peoples' Act.

in solidarity in support of campers residing decampment and removal of campers, instatement's made by the Parks Board, City's to the implementation of the Declaration on

Recent attempts by park rangers and the Vancouver Police to enforce decampment orders and forcibly remove a First Nations Elder from Haida Gwaii are continual attempts of oppression.

CRAB Park serves as a safe haven for those who are disproportionately impacted by homelessness and impoverishment linked to the legacy of colonization.

Statements by the Parks Board of Canada in support of CRAB Park and the Land Back movement require aligned actions. BC and its institutions have a responsibility to uphold Articles 25, 26, and 29 of the UN Declaration: • Article 25: Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned or otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, waters and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.

• Article 26(1): Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands, traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired; (2): Indigenous peoples have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources that they possess by reason of traditional ownership or other-traditional occupation or use, as well as those which they have otherwise acquired; (3): States shall give legal recognition and protection to these lands, territories and resources.

Such recognition shall be conducted with due respect to the customs, traditions and land tenure systems of the indigenous peoples concerned .

• Article 29(1): Indigenous peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources. States shall establish and implemen assistance programmes for indigenous peoples for such conservation and protection, without discrimination; (2): States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent.

The UBCIC and Pivot Legal Society call for the Parks Board and Vancouver Police to live up to the commitments in the Declaration Act and cease with enforcement orders and decampment of Indigenous people on un ceded territory in CRAB park.

From 'the Library Much, ifnot all, of Vancouver Public Library's programming, including all sorts of author talks and educational workshops, has been available online through the duration of the pandemic. The events are free to attend and require a computer, tablet or phone with the Zoom App. If you 're curious about learning more about using Zoom, VPL offers a lot of tutorials here: https:llwww.vpl.ca/zoom.

While it's great that VPL programming never stopp -ed, and in-person will eventually come back as restrictions continue to lift, it's time to bring more of these online programs into the in-person goings on at the Carnegie Centre in a safe and fun way. For instance, on Thursday, July 29th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 . pm we will stream a VPL online program in the Theatre called Princess Peach: the Evolution of Gayming. "Gaymer" or "gayming" are umbrella terms used to refer to people who identify as LGBTQQIP2SAA+ and have an active interest in video games or tabletop games, also known as garners. Gayming is more popular than ever right now!

During the event we will look at LGBTQQIP2SAA+ in gayming and talk about accessibility issues as well as justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the gayming world. Kate Gray, a games journalist and writer will lead the discussion with Effy Ben-Shitrit, a software engineer and a PRIDE ERG lead in Vancouver, and Jon Waiter and Ann-Marie Gray from Cadaver Carnival Studios, a local Vancouver Island indie gaming company.

Come talk and listen about games with us. ASL interpretation will be available for this event. Again, we'll be st~eaming the online event and I'll be there to transcribe any questions you might have into the chat.

See a VPL online event that you think we should stream in the Theatre? Let's talk! Look through what we have going on here: https:// vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/searchlindex With appreciation, Danielle

IT'S SUMMER & WE'RE BACK! ... Special Guest Instructor ...

Angelo Moronl

Social Theatre A community theatre workshop Four sessions

July 30, Aug 6, 13, 20 ...,Fridays 6pm-8pm ..., In the Carnegle Theatre Join 4ngelo for a workshop series where you can create theatre and express something significant to you; what you want to share of challenges, strength and beauty.

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Angelo Moron; has 15+

years exploring and practicing Theatre of the Oppressed. He mixes up this work with physical theatre, movement, poetry and music.

No experience needed. Free, everyone welcome!

With COVID procedures, capacity may be limited.

For itfo: Teresa 604-255-9401 thirteellofllearfs@hotlllail.colll

WHEN YOU HEAR A RACIST COMMENT, •

MAKE A VERBAL INTERVENTION,

IF SAFE

"Stop, that's disrespectful" "Stop, that's racist" "We do not tolerate that behaviour/langua~e "That language is unacceptable"

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•

NOTIFY A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY TEAM

•

START A CONVERSATION WITH THEM

•

AFTER THE INCIDENT IS OVER, CHECK IN "Are you ok?"

"Can' sit/stand with you?"

"What do you need?"

"Do you need a break? , can cover for you for a few minutes" ", can trade spots with you"

•

DON'T PLAY TH E HERO Respect confidentiality, this is not your experience to share.

This is Likely not the first time they have experienced racism.

CRUNCH

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BETTE'S BOUTIQUE Atira's Free Store for Women Open 9am-llpm daily, the store (at the southwest corner of E.Cordova & Main) has clothing, toiletry products, bedding and other donated items.

Join us in a

Farewell Celebration for Carnegie director Karla Kloepper on the Patio on Tuesday, July 20, 401 Main, 2:00 PM Wear your favourite summer shirt and enjoy a cold snack as we bid Karla good luck in her new adventure!