The Super-Awesome Adventures of the Writers' Exchange

OME S E - AW R E UP S HE E T F TH ES O R U NT E GE V N A AD XC H E RS E T I WR

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t r o p e R l Annua , 2013 to er 1 b m e t p e S 14 0 2 , 1 3 t s Augu

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MISS I O N :

V IS I O N :

The Writers’ Exchange 881 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1R8

Get inner-city kids excited about reading and writing

All kids know they’re awesome and can achieve anything

project of

604-428-8228 vancouverWE.com

A long, long time ago (2012). . .

One dynamic duo—and their heroic crew of generous donors and 250 volunteers—was up for the challenge.

Inner-city kids, their families and their teachers desperately wanted and needed more free, fun literacy programs. They sent their calls for help out into the universe and hoped someone would answer.

Sarah Maitland and Jennifer MacLeod,

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In September 2013. . .

The Writers’ Exchange opened a brand-new, stand-alone location at 881 E. Hastings where ALL inner-city kids ages 6 to 18 can attend free, fun literacy programs. This great crusade was possible thanks to the support of volunteers, friends, family members and heroic donors.

BEFORE...

AFTER!

Now

392 inner city kids

attended programs at the new Writ ers’ Exch a nge location t his year!

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er- t t f d A ram a e r : tu og Fea ol Pr tings as ho Sc 81 E. H 8 op

St tion Mo

During 8 after-school sessions, kids wrote, storyboarded, made sets for, shot and edited their youtube.com/vancouverWE

Click to watch now!

learning new technology and internet safety connecting with positive role models boosting self-esteem through project completion 62% of kids in after-school programs at 881 E. Hastings like going to school.

100% of them like learning fun new skills after school at 881 E. Hastings.

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Meanwhile, in the Writers’ Room after-school program. . .

At the beginning of our third amazing year at Queen Alexandra Elementary, behavioural challenges were keeping some kids from fully engaging with the program. Thanks to a last-minute, emergency donation, Jason Smith, behavioural expert, joined the staff team to provide extra support for the kids who needed it most. This plot twist allowed 11 passionate volunteer programmers to run 21 engaging programs in the Writers’ Room this year!

96 Kids served 3 Kids per volunteer (o r fewer!)

Welcome, Jason!

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s’ iter : r d W gram e r tu ro Fea om P Ro ate

In Skate Club, kids learn to skateboard (safely!), and write about it, too.

Sk lub C

After I landed the trick, I felt awesome. I felt like my life was a success for like two seconds.

Click to watch Skate Club on CTV News.

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Meanwhile, in our in-school projects. . .

Suddenly, without warning (okay, with some careful planning), our in-school program grew bigger, and BIGGER! During in-school projects, entire classes of kids work with mentors on publishing projects that meet their teachers’ curriculum goals.

2012/13 Schools Impacted

Classes Published

Students Supported

Hours of In-Class Support

2013/14

5

4

10

6

227

130

1148

597 8

I felt so touched that WE and the volunteers took the time to work with the students. It was particularly meaningful for some students in my class who do not have a father to work with a male role model. The kids felt very happy book, and everyone felt successful because they were able to produce something to contribute.

Jacqueline Mack, teacher

97% of kids report they are 98% of kids say

at the end of in-school projects. the project.

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ed

tur Fea

l o o ch ns S IN icatio l Pub

B.EASTSIDE

After each project, the kids get to take home their very own professionally produced book. For some kids, this is

ISSUE

2. SPRING 2014.

THE VOICE OF THE BRUINS

Top 10

their home.

MUST-WATCH TV SHOWS OF THE LAST DECADE

The Ways of Hockey

I BEG YOUR PARDON, but this is my face.

The ONLY

Person You Really Need

So, you wish to be emotionless.

A BEAR TRAPPED IN A MAN’S BODY A quarrel with a

The second-annual issue of B.EASTSIDE, a magazine designed and written by high school students.

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Everyone Is a Crazy King

awesome facts

t

A JOURNEY THROUGH CAREERS

t t

2014

WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW?

about the

human body system

An ABC Book by the Princes, Princesses & Pink Pigs of Division 10

WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW? WHY? HOW?

Division 4 s Pourquoi Folk Tales 2014-01-22 9:57 PM

A crowd-pleasing fact and colouring book of human anatomy, written and illustrated by grade 4/5 students, that’s got you covered from brain to bladder.

Origin stories by grade 3/4 students that answer questions about the world, like “How did the cheetah get its spots?” and “How was the unicorn invented?”

Interviews of people with cool jobs conducted by grade 4/5 kids, which inspired a new afterschool program, where professionals run fun activities relating to their careers.

97% of kids say they’re proud of themselves

14-05-29 12:11 PM

An alliteration fairytale book by kindergarten/ grade 1 students that spans the alphabet from “Ariel is eating an apple” to “A zebra escapes from the zoo.”

publications on Issuu.

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During Spring and Summer Breaks. . .

The Writers’ Exchange stayed open to help at-risk kids boost their literacy skills at a time when they normally lose them. Over spring break, 221 kids worked on wacky projects with volunteer mentors. And, thanks to partnerships with KidSafe, LIFT, the VPL and Saint James Music Academy, summer saw 134 super-heroic kids tackle engaging, interactive writing projects—and throw some water balloons, too.

77% of kid

s

in our su mmer pro grams sa they usua id lly wrote only “a little” or “not at a ll” during the summ er—until this summer, t hat is!

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ime

akt e r B : red gram u t Fea Pro

ur o Y n i ist City r u To Own

In this summer program, kids got to check out local attractions that they’d never had the opportunity to visit before. The kids explored the sites, wrote about them and took photos. In October, their work will be published in a travel guide to Vancouver—by kids and for kids!

“I liked riding around Vancouver on the Big Bus tour bus because I’ve never been a tourist before. I’ve never been out of British Columbia.”—Troy, age 12 13

All photo s on this page were taken by the kids!

Schools impacted: 9

14

/ 2013

in s t Fac lash aF

Publications: 14 Programs: 57 Cost to kids and families: $0

WE

311

volunteers contributed

6,057

hours

514 kids received

10,415 hours hours of support

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Where 2013/14 Support Came From

Total income:

Where 2013/14 Support Made a Difference

25% after-school programs at the Writers’ Room 6% program management 21% after-school programs at 881 E. Hastings 5% Tides Canada 15% breaktime programs admin fee 10% in-school programs 0.3% fundraising

Total expenses: 15

But beyond the numbers. . .

When asked if the in-school project that her students completed with the Writers’

What the Writers’ Exchange does with these children in terms of simply spending time with them is far thing that these children need, when compared to reading achievements.

The big-ticket items like reading and writing need to be measured against much more basic human conditions like safety, love and a sense of belonging—and many of the children at our school are not as safe and loved and don’t feel the same sense of belonging as their same-age counterparts in the rest of the country.

You simply being there is beyond measure. Please note 60% of the students that your team worked with read between 1 to 4 grades below their sameage peers, never mind all of their emotional/social complexities.

Inspirational Heroes in Our World.

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Thank you to everyone who supported 2013/14 programs— We couldn’t have had such a great year without you!

SUPERHERO

KI N D

S U P PO R T E RS

C I T I ZE NS

Bernard MacLeod Megan Abbott Marily Mearns Vancouver Foundation Nancy and Ted Maitland TELUS Coast Capital Savings Credit Union Central City Foundation Hemlock Printers The CKNW Orphans’ Fund The Home Depot Canada Foundation Hamber Foundation

PO W E R F U L PA R TN E RS

Vancouver School Board KidSafe Social Venture Partners Vancouver Public Library UBC Trek Learning Is FirsT Saint James Music Academy

A Good Book Drive Aboriginal Tourism BC Admiral Seymour Elementary Kathryn Allison Murray Anderson Anonymous Alysha Bains Kamal Bains Claire Balderston Randy and Julie Bamford Jill Barber Joyce Barber Pamela Barclay Bartosz Barczak Caitlin Bauman Britt Baxter John and Dianne Bellingham Cindy Bennett Heidi Benson Melanie Bingham Lila Blair Shelley Bolton William Booth Sabreena Braich Britannia Secondary School Jesse Brown Kirby Brown Mary K. Bryson Art Cal

Barbara Cameron Canadian Tourism Commission Nicole Cann Sue Cannon Fatima Carvaliho

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CBR Products Children’s Writers & Illustrators of British Columbia Society Anna Chudnovsky Megan Chursinoff Tony Cliff Joel Countryman Crofton House School Carissa D’andrade Tera Dargavel Angeli dela Rosa Rachelle Delaney Prabhi Deol Donna Desrosiers Sarah Desrosiers Margaret Dickson Megan Dietrich Rebecca Dolen Dylan Doubt Lynn Duncan East Van Roasters Melissa Edwards Carla Emmet Scooter (Scott) Ferris Joseph Fernandes Raoul Fernandes Pauline Finn Flipside Christy Fong Anna Forst Sandra Fox

Free Geek Stephanie French Frontier College Krysta Furioso Susan Gallant Carrie Gelson Courtney Gerwing Patrick Gibson Alexandra Gill Golden Years Collectibles Alex Grant Pia Guerra Diana Guinn Liz and Ryan Gulka H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Jeff Hamada and BOOOOOOM Elizabeth Hand Carina Harris M.C. Havey and Tim Clark HealthstART Kurt Heinrich Hilary Henegar Jamine Hickman Jacqueline Hoffart Gavin Hollett Michelle Hooey Janet Horn John Horn Veronica Howell Yvonne Hsiao Kate Huffman Julie Iannacone Intracorp Virginia Jack Elizabeth Joe Kwiaahwah Jones Rob Jones Connie Kadota Patricia Kenon Beau Kerner

I liked when I used my imagination. I feel like I want to make another book! Thank you Writers’ Exchange for the book!

Cameron,

Devin Kettle Lisa Kettle Kidsbooks Sarah Kim Judy Kornfeld Eric Kouwenhoven Nicole Kowal-Seafoot Hanna and Piotr Kozlowski Bob Kronbauer Mira Landry Langara College K. Langford Megan Lau les amis du FROMAGE Shannon Less Robyn and Burgeon Levy James Lloyd Lo Lodhia Lord Strathcona Elementary Bev and Pep Lough Jane Lougheed Linda Louis Ginny and Gord Love

Nathaniel and Jen Low Caitlin Lucas Laura MacDonald Emily MacDougall Tessa MacDougall Jacqueline Mack Cassandra MacLeane Jennifer MacLeod Norman MacLeod Sarah Maitland Marc at CBR Products Raylene Marchand Jennilee Marigoman Diane and Robert Matson Stacey Matson Cheryll Matthews Susan Mavor Jordan Maynard Luke McCarthy Thaddeus McIlroy Adrian McInnes Kim McKay Lindsay Mearns Grady Mitchell Modo The Car Co-op Jean Moore Mount Pleasant Elementary Steve Mulligan

Museum of Vancouver Raheleh Naghavi Satat Isabel Nanton Sammy Nepal Karen Nesmith John Nichols Mabel and Jack Nichols Morgan and Jasmine Marion Northcott Kim and Jeff Nulty Tanya Oliva Onni Patty Osborne Surjit Padda Mauve PagĂŠ Janice Parry Mark and Debbie Pearmain Alison Pedlar The Pie Shoppe Dan Post PrismTech Queen Alexandra Elementary

Anicka Quinn Suzanne Raikes Harini Rajagopal Robert Ransford Reboot Kenneth F. Reeder Kate Reid Ricepaper Magazine Mary Rider Jen Riley Kristi Rintoul Laura Ritland Frank Rizzo Anne Robertson Mike, Caitlin and Lance Robinson, and Lynn Webster Joe Sales and Sarah Monahan Rob Sales Carmen Schmidt Science World Lori Sherritt Kathryn E. Shoemaker Jug Sidhu Sarah Slack

It was so nice that my mom came to the party. I was so happy that she came. And I want to thank my mentor Connie for helping me. Thank you for working with us!

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Sandra, age 8

Jake Sorensen Southlands Farm Lynda Spence Michelle Sproule Allison Spurrell Steelhead Business Products Carmen Stenson Sue Stevenson Katie Stewart Pedro Su Sam Sullivan and Lynn Zanatta Jessica Tang Kelsie Thu Shirley and Arild Thu Thunderbird Elementary Jim Tobler Andie Tomlinson Yukiko Tosa Tourism Vancouver Rhea Tregebov Ken Tsui UBC Department of Language and Literacy Education Sandra Unger Wayne Wachell Anita Walker Walmart Canada Corp.

Haley Wells WESTCOAST Sightseeing Jeannette Whitton Bill Willis Andrea Wilks Kaleigh Wisman York House School Sam Znaimer

Amanda, volunteer mentor

Aaron Chizma Mecca Clipsham Eliza Cohn Samuel Cohn Cousineau Grant Conroy Brent Cooper Carissa D’Andrade Zoe Dagneault Tera Dargavel Prabhi Deol Salveen Dhadda Linn Diep Ainsley Dinwoodie Dylan Doubt Kyla Drzazgowski Melissa Edwards Samantha Eyre Sarah Francis Colleen Friesen Gemma Galbraith Susan Gallant Colin Garner Kathryn Gaster Karen Gitau Rachel Glassman

MAGNIFICENT ME N TO RS

Emily Ahn Jaysang Ahn John Ames Elizabeth Arnold Harveer Athwal Emma Bahlke Alysha Bains Sean Bains Randy Bamford Cassandra Bangel Sara Barnard Graeme Bell Katie Bennison Claudia Casper Dana Chan

It’s always awesome story—especially when they prove to themselves what they are capable of. I’m so happy to have had this opportunity to volunteer. This is an amazing program.

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Jocelyn Good Amanda Gowan Janice Grout Julian Haddon Carina Harris Manpreet Hayre Eleanor Hendriks Maya Hill Bára Hladikova Ryan Hoben Sydney Honsberger-Grant Michelle Hooey Miriam Hoolahan John Horn Dana Horrocks Veronica Howell Yvonne Hsiao Chloe Humphreys Aislinn Hunter Kathleen Huynh Jay Irwin Leandra Joel Connie Kadota Karolina Kapusta Carissa Kasper Parveen Kaur Sarana Jasmin Kirk Molly Knox Ivy Ko Michelle Korlacka Eric Kouwenhoven Emily Kuang Mira Landry Emily Lao Courtney Lawrence Tara Lee Adrian Lescisin Molly Lewis Amanda Liao

Napasorn Limapichat Eilidh Little Belinda Liu Sara Lo Lo Lodhia Cameron Love Ginny Love Robin Low Caitlin Lucas Candace Lum Laura MacDonald Jacqueline Mack Maughan Mariani Stacey Matson Teghan McDonald Chloe Mighton Grady Mitchell Maeve Morgan-Feir Sammy Nepal Cole Nowicki Patty Osborne Stephanie Peters Mily Phan Dan Post Joy Qiao Lu Qiao Harini Rajagopal Kate Reid Taylor Richardson Jasmine Robertson Lenny Rubenovitch Gavin Russ Godfrey Russ Thea Rutherford

Carrie Gelson, grade 2/3/4 teacher

Joe Sales Maddie Sales Patrick Sales Paul Sales Janse Salting Dadis Rosalinda Sanchez Christine Schattenkirk Amanda Schlenker Celeste Seiferling Jessica Sharpe Bryan Short Marlisse Silver-Sweeney Amy Smith Tessy Smith Charlotte Smith-Hollingsworth

Emelyn Ticong Brittany Tiplady Andie Tomlinson Janny Tran Chloe Traynor Cat Trites Liz Tuck Emily Vucic Courtney Vuorma Amelia Waiz Angela Walsh Sarah Wang Anna Ward Anna Warje Haley Wells Barbara Wong Nicole Yeh Selena Zhong

Claire Thompson Kelsie Thu

The opportunity to work with mentors like the ones we had was fantastic. It was a chance for the kids to stretch their thinking and learning with their adults. Thank you for an experience that is the highlight of the year for the kids.

Fantastic learning with a huge community piece.

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Looking into the future. . .

In 2014/15 w will serve e

96 inner-5city kids

increase the length of in-school programs (25% longer!).

Start a new mentoring program for high school kids.

Run more in-depth summer programs (200% more hours!).

Work with even more kids and families at 881 E. Hastings.

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Become a Writers’ Exchange hero:

Donate at vancouverWE.com/donate or by mailing a cheque made out to “Tides Canada Initiatives— The Writers’ Exchange 881 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1R8

Volunteer at vancouverWE.com/volunteer Follow us on social media, and share with your friends! facebook.com/thewriters.exchange @writers_ex