Have You Had Your 15 Minutes of Fame? - Andy Warhol's Factory 2009

Since his untimely demise in 1987, Andy Warhol - famous painter, filmmaker, and a leading figure in the pop art movement - has continued to encourage others to see the world from a sense of commonality and mass production.

"Art is what you can get away with." Andy Warhol

Recently, the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum hosted Andy Warhol's Factory 2009. The exhibition showcased more than 60 original works by Warhol, some of his films and screen tests, works by contemporary artists, and several photographs taken at Warhol's famous Factory.

"Pursuing Warhol was a risk, but its success has helped propel our Region to the next cultural level," shares David Marskell, CEO of the Waterloo Regional Children's Museum. "We couldn't have even considered Warhol without the generosity and support of partners like The KWCF."

Close to 40,000 people visited the $700,000 exhibit that ran from early January to mid May. From school children learning hands-on how his works of art were created to corporate fundraisers and events, Warhol was a cross-generational hit. Due to the caliber of the exhibit, the museum was also able to bring in speakers from around the world including the director from the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Bringing in a world-class exhibition like Andy Warhol's Factory 2009 made an impact on our local economy as well.  The museum consistently had 14% of their weekend visitors come from out of The Region, while downtown Kitchener businesses like the Walper Hotel cited increased bookings while Warhol was in town.

"Hosting Warhol has been an incredible accomplishment and has added to our own 15 minutes of fame, just like the phrase coined by Warhol," adds David.  "We are truly thankful to The KWCF for being there with us as we achieve our cultural vision for this community."

 A Resource Binder that Changes Lives - Children's Mental Health Resource Guide

One in five kids in Ontario struggles with their mental health. Finding the services and tools to help children diagnosed with a mental health problem has been a daunting task in Waterloo Region, until now.

The Children's Mental Health Resource Guide is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide that answers many of the "who, what, where, when, why, and how" questions parents and professionals have regarding mental health services and treatment in Waterloo Region. The guide was created by the Waterloo Chapter of Parents for Children's Mental Health (PCMH).

"The guide was written by parents, for parents," says Barb Ward, Manager, Child and Family Therapy Program at KidsLINK, the organization that supports the efforts of PCMH.  "Their life experiences have made them professionals in the area of children's mental health in our Region."

With little to no help for parents who have children with mental health problems, the guide saves busy parents the leg-work of finding support. However, it is also written for a very broad audience, including those new to mental health services and those who have many years of experience working with the children's mental health system. Adds Barb, "Words of praise and encouragement keep pouring in."

Only 300 resource binders were created and already 250 copies have been distributed around the community.  Copies are free to parents and a nominal fee is charged to organizations to help raise funds to put the guide online - a request PCMH is getting more and more often.

In total, it took over 500 hours of volunteer time to produce the 132 page resource. "It sure was an enormous amount of work, but so worth it," says Liz Nicholson, one of PCMH's volunteers. "Now parents have everything they need to know about children's mental health right at their fingertips. Thank you KWCF for funding us and for believing in us!"

 A Feeling of Belonging - New Canadian Partnership Program and the African-Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and Area

The New Canadian Partnership Program (NCPGP) was established by The KWCF and the United Way of K-W and Area to support integration of ethno-cultural groups and to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in our community.

The program helps to build stronger relationships with local grassroots organizations like the African-Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and Area (ACAWRA).  The Association is made up of members of African communities in Waterloo Region interested in enhancing mutual support among Africans in the area.

Two years ago they started a soccer program to engage African Canadian children and their parents.  While the children were engaged in healthy recreation, their parents had the opportunity to interact with each other. "The program has helped to reduce the isolation felt by many of our parents and given them an opportunity to mingle and share their experiences," says Gebre Berihun, one of the ACAWRA coordinators. "One mother told me that this was the first time she and her children felt that there were other people just like them."

Several African adults and youth have also volunteered for the soccer program to improve their leadership and social skills.  "Ultimately, the program has been a successful stepping stone in integrating the African community into the Region," adds Gebre. "We are thankful for the support shown from the community such as the NCPGP grant."

Another organization being supported through the NCPGP is the Afghan Association.  They saw a need to host a language and culture class for young Afghanis. Traditionally, Afghani boys and girls do not learn in the same class, nor do they have female teachers.  The language and culture classes provided both opportunities and helped to break down some barriers associated with schooling in Canada.

The Afghan Association, much like the ACAWRA, found that, while the parents were waiting for their children they began to socialize and network.  Says Dr. Ashraf Hazraty of the Afghan Association, "Not only have the classes helped with integrating Afghanis into this community, they have provided the parents with a place to talk and learn from one another. We couldn't have done this without a grant from the NCPGP."

"Supporting diversity in our community is something near and dear to us," adds Rosemary Smith, CEO of The KWCF. "We need and want the newest members of our community to feel accepted and valued.  Funding organizations like these two, helps us to accomplish that objective."

Inter-generational Learning - Project READ - Get Set Learn 2

Targeting the most vulnerable of our community, Get Set Learn 2 is bringing families together to learn alongside one another.

Project READ Literacy Network, best known in our community as a collaboration of member organizations that promotes and encourages the growth of literacy and essential skills in Waterloo-Wellington, is engaging families from our community where both children and their parents struggle with literacy skills. 

"We have three key messages for our parents," says Anne Ramsay, Executive Network Director of Project READ.  "Read with your child every day, play with your child in ways that are literacy and math rich, and let your child see you using reading, writing, and math in your everyday life."

Get Set Learn 2 brings in a wealth of expertise to work with the families. Students from Wilfrid Laurier University's Students for Literacy teach the school-aged children, while Our Place Family Resource & Early Years Centre staff work with the pre-schoolers.

Families meet once a week for eight weeks. The children learn basic literacy fundamentals and Project READ works with the parents on topics including helping their child with homework, educating their child about television and other media, and how to best talk to their child's teacher. At the end of each session, parents and their children come back together to practice their new-found literacy skills with each other.

Ontario is one of the only provinces in Canada that does not provide funding for the type of inter-generational literacy that Project READ is providing with Get Set Learn 2.

"We are thrilled that The KWCF has joined us in our quest to improve family literacy in Waterloo Region." adds Anne. "The grant from The KWCF has enabled us to try out this new, preventative program that is set to make a big impact with our community's most susceptible families."

Four Agencies Join Forces to Serve their Clients Better

RAISE Merger – Four Agencies Join Forces to Serve Their Clients Better.

It's not easy to merge four independent, not-for-profit agencies into one. But that's what is happening to RAISE, the Kitchener-Waterloo Friendship Group, KW Meals on Wheels, and Cambridge Meals on Wheels and Community Home Supports. United, these community support service groups can provide more and better services for their clients to improve their quality of life.

John Baer, a RAISE board member, says merging makes it easier for seniors, disabled persons, or relatives who are trying to help to get information about services. The new organization will provide meals for adults, homemaking, shopping, transportation, caregiver relief, security calls, crisis intervention, and more.

Two KWCF funds are contributing: the Community Fund supports the merger process, while the Anonymous Flow-Through Fund covers documentation, legal, and advisor costs.

Brian Nowak, of the Meals on Wheel Cambridge board, notes that the grant money helped keep all the employees in the four organizations content. “We couldn't have done it without The KWCF.” Baer adds, “The KWCF is very progressive and forward looking. It has a strong voice and adds value."

Visit the RAISE website

One Community in Need, Many Helping Hands

Paulander Drive : One Community in Need, Many Helping Hands

The KWCF supports groups interested in building stronger communities. Safety concerns and poor living conditions on and near Paulander Drive in Kitchener brought together a group of community partners. Neighbourhood residents, the Region of Waterloo, Community Fund grants, and an assessment by the Centre for Research & Education in Human Resources (CREHS) contributed to neighbourhood planning.

Mary Janzen, Community Engagement Coordinator with the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region didn't know what would work best and wanted residents to decide. During meetings, she discovered their goals included changing negative perceptions. “Another goal was to increase resources for the people on their street,” she said.

Rich Janzen, Research Director at CREHS, said it was important for “people to talk to each other about their community and dream together about a stronger neighbourhood.” The neighbourhood converted a townhouse to a community centre for bi-weekly meetings, homework clubs, after-school programs, and adult workshops.

In 2006, a KWCF grant also helped fund the playground equipment beside the community centre. Janzen noted, “The grants boosted the community members' self esteem, letting them know there's support and concern for the Paulander Drive community.”

Visit the Region of Waterloo website
Visit the Safety and Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region website
Visit the CREHS website

Skills Canada Works for Youth

Skills Canada works for youth

Today's demand for trained tradespeople far outpaces the number of students entering internships or trade programs. Skills Canada is a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting careers in skilled trades and technologies to youth.

Supported by a $5000 grant from the Lyle S. Hallman Fund at The KWCF, the “Skills Work® for Youth” event was held on November 7, 2006 at the Conestoga College Waterloo campus. The event promoted skilled trades to grade seven and eight students through speakers and hands-on workshops.

The event provided hands-on exhibits demonstrating to parents and youth the benefits of training to be a skilled trade worker and the employment opportunities that exist.

The students, along with their parents/guardians, participated in two one-hour workshops presented by youth working towards their specific trade certificates. Workshops included a crepe-making lesson and taste test with a culinary chef, as well as a soldering lesson from a student studying plumbing.

With 100 percent of the attendees noting they would now consider a career in a skilled trade, Skills Canada plans to offer the event again in 2008.

Visit the Skills Canada website
Visit the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation website

School Greening Program

Schoolyards are for learning, playing and socializing – when they're designed with kids in mind. Traditional schoolyards can be “ugly and barren”. Without seats, quiet areas or trees for shade, bullying, social isolation or over-exposure to the sun and heat can increase.

The School Greening Program, facilitated by Evergreen, helps the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board create schoolyards that are safer healthier and more useful educational tools. Three grants from the Community Fund and a grant from the Waterloo Region International Plowing March 1995 Fund have assisted with four greening projects across both school districts this year.

Evergreen, a not-for-profit organization, helps boards and parent groups create better, nature-rich outdoor areas. Led by Evergreen, greening teams look at what exists, a schools' needs, kids needs and then design a space, find funding and develop maintenance schedules for a greener schoolyard.

“We're trying to add diversity to a learning ground,” states Evergreen Greening Consultant Dennis Wendland. “We also want to get the kids involved spreading mulch and taking care of the plants. It gives them a sense of stewardship.” The one time cost to buy trees, rock benches and shrubs needed to create a greener schoolyard is a gift that creates a lasting difference – a richer, safer experience for our children for as long as the trees grow and shelter them.

Visit the Evergreen website

Partnership Empowers New Canadians

Partnership empowers new Canadians!

The K-W Counselling Services Partnership Program is empowering new Canadians to help themselves-and each other. By providing access to what's available in the city, helping to develop resource guides and promoting cultural pride days, the program brings ethnically-diverse groups together to build friendships and support networks.

Through a joint grant from the KWCF's Community Fund and the United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo and area, the K-W Counselling Services Partnership Program creates a healthy environment so that families and new citizens can participate fully in our economy and maintain cultural pride and links to their homeland. Groups and activities such as the Tamil Association, Salvadorian Association cultural event, Bosnian Association, Guatemalan Children's chess event, Russian Association programs for seniors, and the African Association have benefited from this grant and are building a sense of belonging within the KW community.

Visit the Web site of K-W Counselling Services
Visit the Web site of United Way of Kitchener-Waterloo & Area

New Canadians make our Community Stronger

New Canadians make our community stronger

Our community is attracting more and more new Canadians each year. On April 28, 2005, the Centre for Research and Education in Human Services (CREHS) held the Immigrant Skills Summit to help community members better understand the needs of this rapidly growing segment of our region. The one-day summit was made possible by a grant from the Community Fund, and focussed on the issues required to attract skilled immigrants, build connections to social services and labour opportunities, and make our community more accessible.

“We want businesses to be more aware and better able to hire immigrants, At the same time, we want immigrants to be able to find a home in this community and work in a trade they feel passionate about,” says Rich Janzen of the CREHS. “We want to make the Waterloo Region a richer, more welcoming and inclusive community.”

The outcomes from the Summit generated a need to promote the well-being of new Canadians; find ways to contribute to a prosperous regional economy; and build healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities. Building the infrastructure to address these needs is the newly-formed Waterloo Region Immigrant Employment Network (WRIEN). With grants from the Jim and Sue Hallman Fund and the Merv Lahn Community Development Fund, the council is working on the initial project development.

“It’s about individuals, families, employers and community,” says Todd Letts from the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. “It’s helping highly-talented people with communication and orientation to make a more prosperous community and improve the quality of life for all of us.”

Since the launch in 2006, the WRIEN has been a vital component in our vibrant and welcoming community.

View WRIEN's new videos below and for more information visit: www.wrien.com

Celebrating our Culturally Diverse Community

Celebrating our culturally diverse community!

Integrating varied groups, art forms and artists, The MT Space celebrates our culturally diverse community. Inspired by Canada 's vast multiculturalism and the lack of heritage-based community theatre, Majdi Bou-Matar founded The MT Space to connect people and encourage communication through productions that reflect the realities of our community.

Through performances that combine music, movement, improvisation and translation, the company aims to create an understanding of our true Canadian culture-a culture of diversity.

The grant, sponsored by the KW Multicultural Centre, through the Community Fund, allowed The MT Space to transform their warehouse environment into a "black box" studio ideal for theatre productions, literature readings and workshops. "I wanted people to identify with the empty space, as well as the opportunity to interact. Having the physical space is very important-space for communication and expression," says Bou-Matar. By involving newcomers to the community in arts and culture, The MT Space hopes to minimize the differences felt by newcomers to our community and to build a shared vision of multiculturalism.

Visit the Web site of The MT Space