The Alex In Action
Transcription
The Alex In Action
The Alex In Action July 2013 Calgary Marathon Calgary Strong A Story of Courage Every time we step out of our comfort zone to do something new it takes courage – now imagine not just taking the first step out of homelessness, but signing up for a 5k race in the largest marathon in Canada. 11 formerly homeless clients of HomeBase did just that – participating as part of Team Alex at the 49th annual Calgary Marathon. At the beginning of the race our HomeBasers lined up with thousands of Calgarians to be a part of The Alex movement, a movement that is changing the lives of our vulnerable neighbors. At the finish line we kept a special eye out for our HomeBasers. Some crossed early, others a little later, but all were jubilant, beaming as they received their medals, except two who were still missing as the crowd thinned. Eventually we heard an announcement that there were two walkers left on the route, still completing the 5k. We knew these walkers were ours, a HomeBase client and her Case Manager persevering together to finish the race. Without hesitation 3 HomeBase clients determined that they would walk out to meet them and bring them home. When they crossed the finish line only the members of Team Alex and race officials were left to witness the triumph. As the medal was placed around our HomeBaser’s neck, she picked it up and waved it – a symbol of a life changed, a journey started! It has been a period of unprecedented devastation in Calgary and neighbouring communities over the last several weeks. Flooding has ravaged homes, cost extensive dollars in revenue, and affected many of our most vulnerable clients. While the cleanup continues from this disaster we know the road to recovery will be long and sometimes challenging but we also know that we are not alone in our efforts to support our most vulnerable neighbours. We are humbled by the Calgary spirit that has shone through the tragic events as we all do what we can to rebuild our City. As front-line service providers we were proud to offer support and mobilize our Mobile Health Fleet to emergency evacuation stations throughout Calgary. Our Seniors Health Centre (SHC) and many of their clients were, and remain, impacted by the flood. In order to best support their clients, many of our SHC workers were deployed to evacuation sites offering much needed medical and emotional support. Please logon to our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with the latest information and how you can help us rebuild our community. In the Community The Alex Health Bus along the Scotiabank Marathon route. 1 Our mobile health fleet was on site at the Scotia Bank Calgary Marathon, serving as official medical stations. We are grateful for the 52 runners who joined Team Alex and the over 20 volunteers who made the day a huge success. People’s Pow Wow On the Move • Youth Health Centre has a new home, at 101, 1318 Centre Street North. • HomeBase has moved to 124, 6170 12 Street SE. • Thanks to all of The Alex Change Makers who helped ensure our affordable housing complex is a comfortable home for our HomeBase Clients The 2nd Annual People’s Pow Wow, celebrating National Aboriginal Awareness Week was held July 4th, when hundreds of people turned out for a celebration of Aboriginal culture that included authentic drumming, teepee tours and traditional dancing. In the News • March 15 – CBC, Schools, Agencies Struggle to Keep Up with Youth Mental Health Issues • March 20–Breakfast Television, ScotiaBank Marathon The Alex is at 9:29 – 12:24 • April 6 - Calgary Herald, Pathways to Contentment • April 9 – Global Calgary, Woman of Vision • April 11 – Calgary Herald, Alberta Urged to Improve Support for Children • April 18 – FFWD, Rethinking Foster Care • Dental Health Bus has partnered with Crescent Heights Dental to offer dental hygiene and care to Calgary youth. On June 9 the first of many bridges was crossed for 41 children between the ages of 6 and 14 who required essential dental treatment. Working together, a team of 14 staff from Crescent Heights Dental Clinic and The Alex executed the first Calgary SMILE Clinic for Kids at the Crescent Heights location. Having determined the most immediate need children identified through the DHB pilot The Alex coordinated the booking of 41 appointments for the day. In total over 49 fillings, 13 extractions and dozens of x-rays, polishes and fluoride treatments were performed in a 5-hour dental marathon. Dr. Matthew Karavos says “as a father and dentist it alarms me that there are kids out there struggling each day with untreated dental conditions and constant pain. As a member of the community, I knew that I had to step up and be a part of the solution”. Woman of Vision Pathways to Housing (P2H) is a nationally renowned Housing First Program recognized for setting the standard of service for the most vulnerable in homelessness. Program Director Sue Fortune leads a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team of professionals. Under Sue’s vision and leadership P2H has realized an 87% success rate in keeping folks in their homes. Through streamlined services, P2H per client cost is less than a third of the social cost incurred when assisting the average chronically homeless individual. Recently Global Calgary and the Calgary Herald awarded Sue their Woman of Vision distinction. • May – Vital Signs, Forty Years of Caring for Calgarians pp. 1, 11-12 • May 2 – SHAW, The Alex Dental Health Bus • May 8 – Swerve, The Alex Dental Health Bus • May 31 – Swerve, There’s No Place Like HomeBase • June 12 – Global Calgary, Plan to End Homelessness Targets Most Vulnerable Sue Fortune, Program Director at Pathways to Housing 2 Call to Action Volunteers in Profile • Sponsor Energy – click here to find out more about how you can help us fuel innovation while fueling your home or business. Starbucks Day of Caring • Gifting Change – click here to discover our greatest needs areas and stories of lives changed through your support Change Makers Recognition • Encana graciously donated furniture for the Youth Health Centre, new HomeBase location and Pathways Team Three, in addition to making a financial donation for medications and supplies on the dental buses. • Thanks to Bucars RV for choosing us as their Charity of Choice by covering all repairs and services on our Mobile Health Fleet! • Thank you to Mark’s and Wild Rose United Church for partnering for the Community Closet for our most vulnerable neighbours! • A big shout out to Lazy Boy Furniture who took charge with donations of needed furniture. • A long-time supporter of vulnerable populations, McArthur’s stepped up in a huge way to make sure our affordable housing complex was welcoming for newly housed clients. It was a delight to have Starbucks volunteers at Pathways on April 30 & 31. About 17 ambitious volunteers gave Pathways offices a makeover by detailing a vehicle, washing walls, sweeping the parking lot and weeding garden beds. Pathways is very grateful to Starbucks and the wonderful volunteers who came out and dedicated their time. Junior League of Calgary The Junior League of Calgary (JLC) identified The Alex Parenting Group as a program that aligned with their focus on strengthening families through education and support and has partnered with the Youth Health Centre to create parenting program modules for delivery this fall. Additionally, Tara Shaw, a member of JLC, has gone above and beyond to create a ‘Hot Meals Tuesday’ program for our youth. The Writer’s Series The Writer’s Series, a program that was originally planned for four sessions, has grown into an ongoing offering. A blend of facilitated learning, courtesy of author Susan Scott, individual discovery and peer support, the Writer’s Series has evolved into an outlet for empowering clients through writing. The result has been outstanding growth for the participants, which culminated in a coffee house presentation of some of their work. • Cenovus has stepped forward with much needed furniture through the Suite Give Away. • Thanks to those who promote a sustainable future through Green Standards, which provided much needed office furniture to The Alex. • Deliver Good allows us to focus on our clients by supporting The Alex in matching our needs with donors in the community. • Costen and Associates, thanks for choosing The Alex as your Charity of Choice. To help visit us at www.giftingchange.ca 3 The Alex 101, 1318 Centre Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2R7 • Phone: 403.266.2622 • Fax: 403.266.2692 E-mail: info@thealex.ca • Web: thealex.ca www.twitter.com/thealexchc • www.facebook.com/thealexcommunityhealthcentre