Page 19 - UnitedMagazine2016 - rev
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to left: Neighbourhood Coordinators (L to R) Karlene Nielsen, TJ Auer, Tammy Murray, John Thompson, Patrick Firth, Meagan Hugall
THE INFLUENCE helps to reduce isolation, and members of the Ford City
OF POVERTY ON provide seniors with access Residents Group, and genuine
NEIGHBOURHOODS to educational, social and contributors to neighbourhood
recreational opportunities in revitalization in their own right.
Windsor has the highest buildings where they live. Emma Lee, 7, pitched the idea to
concentration of low income her local BIA to make bracelets
individuals living in very low “Tackling poverty is a complex and keychains, which she sold at
income neighbourhoods in issue, and it’s going to take a neighbourhood event. She then
all of Canada. In some cases many different stakeholders used the proceeds to sponsor
these affected neighbourhoods working together, and multiple haircuts for people in the area
are geographically isolated, interventions to make a who were homeless. Gillian’s
making it harder for residents difference,” says Lorraine 9-year-old son, Evan, comes
to get in and out of the area, Goddard, CEO of United Way/ up with ideas to make Ford
and decreasing the chances of Centraide Windsor-Essex County. City community events family-
people from other parts of town friendly by talking to other kids
dropping in for a visit, since “That’s why it is so important in the neighbourhood. Teachers
public transit is not always as to address the quality of ‘place’, have even commented to Benoit-
accessible. Disinvestment in because if we are allowing Gonzalez on how her children’s
other types of infrastructure places to cycle downwards and voluntarism has turned them
is also common, due to the allowing for the concentration of into confident, compassionate
declining tax base. residents facing those challenges, leaders at school, which, in turn,
then there isn’t a mechanism has encouraged Benoit-Gonzalez
To combat this downward out,” says TJ Auer, program to take on a bigger role on the
decline, United Way is stacking coordinator in Ford City. “By Residents’ Committee.
its investments in programs creating vibrant communities
like food banks, community that have a diverse resident “That’s what makes me proud,
gardens, after school programs, population, they have a better so I keep going just because I
neighbourhood renewal capacity not only to sustain those want to see what it will turn into
programs, and other supports places but make them thrive even for them,” she says. “Remember
in geographic areas of need to more into the future.” the names Emma-Lee and
make sure no one is left behind. Evan Gonzalez. They have
United Way also supports GENERATION NEXT big plans for the future of this
outreach to seniors in low neighbourhood.”
income neighbourhoods, which Gillian Benoit-Gonzalez’s
children have become junior
www.weareunited.com | 17
THE INFLUENCE helps to reduce isolation, and members of the Ford City
OF POVERTY ON provide seniors with access Residents Group, and genuine
NEIGHBOURHOODS to educational, social and contributors to neighbourhood
recreational opportunities in revitalization in their own right.
Windsor has the highest buildings where they live. Emma Lee, 7, pitched the idea to
concentration of low income her local BIA to make bracelets
individuals living in very low “Tackling poverty is a complex and keychains, which she sold at
income neighbourhoods in issue, and it’s going to take a neighbourhood event. She then
all of Canada. In some cases many different stakeholders used the proceeds to sponsor
these affected neighbourhoods working together, and multiple haircuts for people in the area
are geographically isolated, interventions to make a who were homeless. Gillian’s
making it harder for residents difference,” says Lorraine 9-year-old son, Evan, comes
to get in and out of the area, Goddard, CEO of United Way/ up with ideas to make Ford
and decreasing the chances of Centraide Windsor-Essex County. City community events family-
people from other parts of town friendly by talking to other kids
dropping in for a visit, since “That’s why it is so important in the neighbourhood. Teachers
public transit is not always as to address the quality of ‘place’, have even commented to Benoit-
accessible. Disinvestment in because if we are allowing Gonzalez on how her children’s
other types of infrastructure places to cycle downwards and voluntarism has turned them
is also common, due to the allowing for the concentration of into confident, compassionate
declining tax base. residents facing those challenges, leaders at school, which, in turn,
then there isn’t a mechanism has encouraged Benoit-Gonzalez
To combat this downward out,” says TJ Auer, program to take on a bigger role on the
decline, United Way is stacking coordinator in Ford City. “By Residents’ Committee.
its investments in programs creating vibrant communities
like food banks, community that have a diverse resident “That’s what makes me proud,
gardens, after school programs, population, they have a better so I keep going just because I
neighbourhood renewal capacity not only to sustain those want to see what it will turn into
programs, and other supports places but make them thrive even for them,” she says. “Remember
in geographic areas of need to more into the future.” the names Emma-Lee and
make sure no one is left behind. Evan Gonzalez. They have
United Way also supports GENERATION NEXT big plans for the future of this
outreach to seniors in low neighbourhood.”
income neighbourhoods, which Gillian Benoit-Gonzalez’s
children have become junior
www.weareunited.com | 17
