May 15, 2021 Carnegie Newsletter

401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7

(604) 665-2289

The Oppenheimer Park Memorial Bench was built many years ago by the Latin American community in the Downtown Eastside. It honours loved ones, Downtown Eastside community members and volunteers who have made important contributions to the life of Oppenheimer Park community. We thank John Spence, artist and carver from Squamish Nation, for putting heart and care into refurbishing the bench for everyone to enjoy. We also thank WATARI and all of our Latinx community members for their leadership and contributions to the community. We look forward to seeing everyone back at the Park soon.

CARNEGIE COMMUNITY CENTRE ASSOCIATION 401 Main Street, Vancouver BC, V6A 3N4 February 12,2021 Dear Chair and Commissioners of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation: In our December 6,2019, letter to you we concluded with the cry we most heard from Downtown Eastside residents was, "We want our park back." The letter included a plea to have homeless citizens of the DTES moved into adequate housing so that the park could be available to all.

Because the park and field house remain closed we continue to miss the loss of green and recreational space for over 10,000 local residents, the loss of critical creative, social, cultural and educational programming, the loss of volunteer opportunities, loss of the sacred garden, and the loss of the only public outdoor children's play space.

People, including a large number of our homeless neighbours, relied on the Oppenheimer field house for many basic needs including food, reminders to take their medicine, and help with keeping medical appointments. Personal connections between volunteers, area residents, and staff were a vital component for enhancing people's health.

We insist that the park be reopened in a way that it doesn't immediately become a new tent city. Neighbours are asking that the fence be kept up, with access during the day, and that the park be shut down at night. We call on Mayor and Council to continue showing leadership in finding housing for Vancouver's homeless population and we strongly recommend that housing staff be at the park on an ongoing basis to quickly help solve citizen's housing issues. We don't want to just throw people back out into the cold.

As we work toward reopening Oppenheimer Park the CCCA remains committed to working with Parks and the City to re-establish the park and field house as essential services for our community. "We want our park back."

Thank you, Gilles Cyrenne President, CCCA cc:

Vancouver Mayor and City Council Donnie Rosa, General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Sandra Singh, General Manager, Arts, Culture, and Community Services Susie Sanders, Managing Director, Non Market Housing and Social Operations.

[The letter above represents the outlook of many people in the community. Plans to reopen Oppenheimer Park in June reflect this. The western section of the block will be equipped with log benches, picnic tables and programming areas, while the fieldhouse and Indigenous Healing Garden area will remain fenced off while more restoration continues. Plans are fluid but the firm stance remains to have the park be open and accessible to residents. More details will be presented as they become available.]

Dear Carnegie Community I'm writing to let you know of a number of changes to the Carnegie Centre leadership team.

Ellen Kim, the Community Programmer for the Oppenheimer Park portfolio, has let Rika and I know that she has accepted a new role as an Equity Consultant in the City Manager's office, working on the City-wide equity portfolio. While her upcoming departure is a bittersweet announcement for Carnegie Centre and Oppenheimer Park, I know that Ellen's exceptional skills, work experiences and knowledge will be an incredible asset in advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion across the organization and the City of Vancouver.

Ellenjoined the City of Vancouver in 2018, and since that time has led the Oppenheimer Park team in developing programming and events that are responsive to significant community changes, through the COVID-19 essential service delivery period, and most recently, through the restart and expansion of programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to building an incredible and diverse team that offers community programming in thoughtful and innovative ways, ElIen has led departmental strategic initiatives including the COVID-19 programming restart, and community conversations in collaboration with the Park Board as part of the planning work to return Oppenheimer to community use.

Further, Carrie Campbell has announced her departure from the Oppenheipier Park leadership team. Carrie joined the Oppenheimer Park team in 2009 and has played a key leadership role in many of the Park's mainstay programs and events, including wonderful day-to-day arts and cultural programming, and on hallmark events such as the annual Endless Summer Festival, Homeground Festival, the Oppenheimer Park Art Show community art project initiatives, Mother's Day events, and so, so much more.

Carrie's warm personality and artistic flare, which has brought so muchjoy to community members and patrons, will certainly be missed, as will her exceptionally delicious and beautiful baking, a highlight of the Oppenheimer Park's monthly community birthday celebrations.

As Ellen leaves Carnegie Centre, Huyanne Le, the Comrriunity Programmer for the Volunteer Program, will be temporarily assuming leadership of the Oppenheimer Park portfolio starting on May 10 and throughout the summer months. Rika and I are confident that Huyanne's enthusiastic, inclusive and solution-oriented approach to leadership and programming will be a great asset in the weeks and months ahead, and thank her for stepping in to support the team's program expansion, the phased return of Oppenheimer Park to community use, and what I expect will be a truly exciting summer.

Please join me in wishing both Ellen and Carrie well on the next chapters of their careers, and on thanking Huyanne for temporarily taking on leadership of the Oppenheimer Park portfolio during this dynamic time. More information about the recruitment for both the Community Programmer and Community Activity Coordinator roles is forthcoming.

Karla Kloepper, Director

COVID VACCINE CLINIC at CARNEGIE CENTRE There will be four more vaccine clinics over the next two weeks for DTES Residents who are Homeless or living in a shelter, SRO or Supported Housing.

You can get your 2nd dose if you had your first one in mid-February or you can get your 1st dose.

The dates are: Thursday, May 20th Friday, May 21 st Wednesday, May 26th Thursday, May 27th 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the Carnegie Theatre

May is Asian Heritage Month ".Asian Heritage Month in Canada is a time to highlight the Pan-Asian diversity of cultures and peoples and recognize the extraordinary contributions that communities of Asian descent have made and con~i~ue to make. This year's theme, Recognition, R~slh.ence, and Resolve, embodies the many contributions made by peoples of Asian descent.

This exhibition of historical news articles provided

by Vancouver Public Library recognizes and celebrates communities of Asian descent in the DTES their experiences, and stories which are rooted in ' strengt~ and determination. Carnegie Community Centre IS proud to host this exhibition to acknowledge Asian Heritage Month in Canada.

From the Library I'm happy to share some information about the library's Storyteller in Residence (STiR) program and the visit made by this year's resident Kung Jaadee to the Centre's Cultural Sharing Program on April 6.

About the library's STiR program: . Created in 2008 to recognize Indigenous Peoples m Canada and the importance of oral storytelling as a way to learn about and from Indigenous communities in Vancouver. The program honours Indigenous cultures and tries to promote intercultural understanding and communication between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples About Kung Jaadee, this year's STiR: Originally from the village of Old Massett. Haida Gwaii, Kung Jaadee belongs to the Xaayda (Haida), x m;)8k ;)y;)m (Musqueam) and Skwxwu'Zrnesh (Squamish) First Nations. Since 1996, Kung Jaadee has performed for hundreds of au~i.ences across Canada and the U.S. Through her wrmng and storytelling, she has taught the Haida language to both children and adults alike, helping to preserve and revitalize her ancestral dialect.

Kung Jaadee means 'Moon Woman' in Xaad Kil. W

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This traditional name was given to her by her cousin Crystal Robinson in 2008 at the memorial potlatch honouring her gfeat uncle.

Kung Jaadee paid a virtual visit to the Centre on April 6 for a Zoom program eo-hosted by the Carnegie Branch Library and the Cultural Sharing Program. T?e even~~g was lively and fun with Kung Jaadee sharmg traditional songs and stories of the Xaada (Haida), as well as reminiscences of her family from growing up in Old Massett. The attendees were also given a chance to practice words and greetings in the Xaad Killanguage of Ha id a Gwaii.

Obviously it would be much more useful to the readership if we share news about the library's STiR program ~head of any events at the Centre. The Storyteller IS usually announced in December or January.

Looking ahead, we'll be sure to let you know asap for 2022.

Many thanks to you as always and please let me know if you have questions or need further details.

Tim McMillan,

Acting Branch Head

Rain Drops There's something Romantic About the rain, The streaming line of Continuous drop Flowing falling dropping Like music notes that go on and on The sweet smell Of wet cut grass halts When the continuum stops Puddles form and pools of reflection emerge The night-slides in And the city shines I love the smell of the Rain

Every Monday 6:00 - 8:00pm Carnegie Centre Patio 401 Main Street

Jackie Humber

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EVER"ONE HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my "twin brother" Shawn Millar! I have not seen you around for awhile, but I hope that means you have found a safe place to ride out the pandemic and avoid temptation. Please take good care of yourself.

With affection and friendship, Lisa David

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Cultural Sharing announces the formation, after one year of community

outreach, of an

Indigenous Advisory Council in the Carnegie Community

Centre.

Nicole Bird is staff Liaison.

GOVERNANCE Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others.

Winston Churchill Meeting upon meeting upon meeting Seems sometimes endless way to resolve differences Better than the alternative fisticuffs violence war alternatives that go too far when way to change government becomes revolution rather than election Election gives government with people's permission Though officials are subject to pressure from lobbyists with $$$ seeking fayour we the people have the numbers Of the people for the people by tM people can often seems a distant ideal .

Hard work makes it all possible And history reveals that we progress and do meet with some success in advancing rights though sometimes there's regress we still fight In these time of populist pressure many seek quick and easy answers Beware demagoguery appeals to mob We need recover from fifty years of economic propaganda fanning fears that governments steal what only markets can heal 50 years propaganda claiming truth of invisible hands trickling down wealth Invisible only because it hides 1% stealth

Fake economic 'science' fake math bogus stats create inequality justify property supremacist rule dismantle regulation hobble green fact Democratic governance scares the super wealthy Banksters and corporate dominance prefer kleptocrat oligarchy where corruption greases wheels of commerce that turn on tax cuts for the wealthy that produce zero economic growth for the majority and for most of us trickles down austerity We need transform economics into real science which clearly demonstrates that equity and equality create more fair societies with enhanced creativity More equal distribution of resources and wealth brings less addiction better education best health less child mortality more social mobility reduced strife more graduation fewer prisoners longer life Let's embrace this 'worst form of government' Let's commit to democracy let's democratize economics before the 1% destroy the planet with their sycophant academic economists who should know better who should work to restore another golden age of economics with lessons from Bretton Woods where we learn an international reserve currency could help implement a strategy to heal indigenous, minority, and colonialist legacies National law needs rule excessive global corporate independence as governments and markets embrace interdependence which creates an economy as subset to ecology and releases a more equal equitable New Green Deal Green Peace Bud Osborn

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