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Neighbourhood Swatch: How a Downtown East Side Creative Agency is making a difference with a $12,500 Gift of Creative Services to Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver
What do a 70 year old gospel mission and a nine-year old creative agency have in common? The Downtown Eastside, for one. Like many of the applied and creative arts agencies in the North end of Vancouver’s poorest postal code, Burnkit Creative is energetic, thoughtful, and not afraid to work alongside the contradictions and contrast of the Downtown Eastside.
So while many businesses were cutting back during the recent economic downturn, Burnkit took a look around their own neighborhood and decided to lend their talent and energy to support a non-profit agency that would in turn help those who have been hit hardest by the recession: the homeless and working poor of the Downtown Eastside. The result was a contribution of $12,500 worth of creative services toward the Union Gospel Mission’s annual Christmas ad and direct mail campaign.
For Union Gospel Mission, Burnkit was a natural fit. “People who work on the Downtown Eastside often have a certain raw edge to their work, and that’s what we were looking for in this campaign,” says Genesa Wheaton, Director of Resource Development at Union Gospel Mission. “Not many businesses would choose to set up shop in the poorest postal code in Canada. That type of entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to become a part of this community are not lost on those of us who live and work on the Downtown Eastside. For a company like Burnkit to literally put their money where their office is and support UGM in a new, unique way is corporate philanthropy in action.”
Burnkit brought that edge into the campaign as they began the creative process with Union Gospel Mission. “We wanted to engage people in a new way, unlike anything else UGM had ever expressed in previous campaigns – and Burnkit was up for the challenge,” explains Wheaton. “We wanted to help Vancouverites rethink homelessness and addiction, and the response we’ve received to date says that it’s working.”
The resulting ads (attached in low-res; high-res available on request) feature photos of people who have used UGM’s services, and are now UGM staff members, appearing confident and offering unexpected comments like, “I wish I was stuck in traffic.”
“We wanted to jar people a little bit, and make them reevaluate their neighbour’s problems – and their own,” says Josh Dunford, Director at Burnkit. “So maybe next time, instead of being upset, they think, ‘Ok, I’m not going to let this traffic jam ruin my day. I’m thankful for what I’ve got. Some people would love to have a car to be warm and dry in, and a job to be going to.’”
“If people truly want to help, this is a great way to make a difference this Christmas,” says Wheaton, “and we’re thankful organizations like Burnkit, and supporters of UGM see the value in supporting those in need at Christmas time.“
Christmas Meals 2009 – Preliminary List in Vancouver Downtown Eastside (DTES)
Sunday December 6th – Fransiscan Sisters -385 E. Cordova, 12 – 2pm
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Sunday December 12 – Union Gospel Mission– 616 E. Cordova 10 am – 5pm
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Saturday December 19th – Mission Possible – 543 Powell St 11 am, 12:30, 2 and 3:30 pm
21st Oppenheimer Park Christmas Dinner – Alexander and Dunlevy starting at Noon
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Wednesday Dec 23, – Table for 2000 – Free Gourmet Meals for Vancouver DTES at @UGM by @Glowbal_Group http://tinyurl.com/yeyf9fj
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Thursday December 24th – 15th Annual Labour Community Christmas Dinner – 1880 Triumph Street 5 – 8 pm
The Dugout 59 Powell 7 – 9 pm Tickets issued in line
Carnegie Centre – 401 Main St. OPEN ALL NIGHT until 6am Friday
Snacks and entertainment throughout & Breakfast at 5am Friday
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Friday December 25th – Harbour Light – 119 E. Cordova St. 10am – 2 pm
– Potters Place Mission – 21 E. Hastings 11am – 9pm On the hour, all day
– Evelyn Saller Centre – 320 Alexander St. 3 – 5pm Cost $2.oo
– The Dugout – 59 Powell 7-9pm Tickets issued in line
Al Tkatch of AHA MEDIA tries a Bourbon Burger from Burger King
In this photo and video, Al Tkatch tries a Bourbon Burger from Burger King
This was filmed by April Smith of AHA MEDIA on a Nokia N77 mobile cameraphone. April is passionate and skilled in making Nokia films by exploring mobile media production through the camera lens of a cellphone. For a better quality version of this video, please DM April Smith Twitter.com/AprilFilms or Facebook.com/AprilFilms
AHA MEDIA is very proud to present “With Glowing Hearts” – a documentary on social media and W2 Community Media Arts Centre in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside
Animal Mother Films invites you to join us for a drink and exclusive preview from the film at the official launch party for the website for our documentary project With Glowing Hearts. We continue to capture the pressures facing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside as the city prepares to host the Winter Olympics next February, and how a remarkable group of individuals is using cutting edge social media technologies to empower their community.
WGH-is a story about a revolution, one of social change and a paradigm shift in media representation. Vancouver sets the stage, against the backdrop of the 2010 Winter Games, for our documentary about a marginalized community embracing social media tools to empower, inspire and breakdown the digital divide.
This is a project that Andrew Lavigne is directing and is being produced by animalmotherfilms.com. Shot on various capture devices including the Red, the HVX 200, the 5D MkII and the Nokia N77 cellphone. We began shooting Feb/2009 and will continue through March/2010.
Director Andrew Lavigne and Producer Jon Ornoy are now 9 months into production, charting the inspiring story of the creation of the W2 Media Arts Center as part of the Woodward’s redevelopment and the vital steps towards breaking down the digital divide that will take place within its walls.
With the launch of wghthemovie.ca, our Facebook presence and the Games only a few months away, we’re excited to throw the doors wide open and let you have a look inside.
AHA MEDIA is very proud to be invited to the LG Mobile Phone Roundtable & $5,000 Charity Challenge in Vancouver on Thursday November 26, 2009!
AHA MEDIA is delighted to be invited by LG Canada to have a sneak peek at some of the newest LG phones! AHA MEDIA has always had a great interest in mobile technology and how it can help make lives better!
AHA MEDIA will be participating in the LG Mobile Phone Roundtable & $5,000 Charity Challenge on Thursday November 26, 2009 and remembers back in April 2009, April Smith and Peter Davies competed in the LG Canadian Texting Championships and Media Charity Challenge! 🙂 http://tinyurl.com/c8kngu
If AHA MEDIA wins the $5,000 Charity Challenge, we will donate our cheque to CACV – Community Arts Council of Vancouver
The Community Arts Council of Vancouver was the first arts council in North America.
Since its beginning in 1946, the Community Arts Council of Vancouver has been a contributor to shaping the cultural life of Vancouver. The Council has been a powerful force in creating and advocating for many of the institutions, traditions and policies in Vancouver that we benefit from today.
For more than 60 years, CACV has been contributing to the cultural and community development of Vancouver by creating art projects that engage the community and facilitating, supporting, and advocating for initiatives, facilities, and programs that increase community participation in the arts. Our interests are to increase understanding of how the arts create community, grow our appreciation of our cultural differences, and engage the community in the art of developing community.
In the next few years we will attract and engage community leaders and the people who have the ability to provide the resources and collaborate with them in determining the critical initiatives that will accelerate the cultural and community development of our city.
Our biggest priority and greatest opportunity is our Downtown Eastside community which is rich in history and cultures and the neighbourhood with the largest population of artists per capita in British Columbia.
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From LG ‘s letter to AHA MEDIA:
With lots of new gadgets coming out for the holidays, LG wanted to invite you to join your fellow media and bloggers at a reception designed to give you a first-hand look at the newest in innovation for mobile phones from LG. Come and try out the LG New Chocolate, which was recently announced at LG Fashion Week and the LG Eve, which made its Canadian debut this week. In addition, there will also be a sneak peek of a yet-to-be released phone, launching later this month.
Below is a photo of LG New Chocolate
Below is a picture of LG Eve
Following the session, we’ll invite you to participate in a friendly competition with an opportunity to win $5,000 for a charity of your choice. If you want to participate, there will be a series of fun challenges that will require you to use each of the phone’s features. Don’t forget to have your Facebook and Twitter accounts set-up!
Complimentary food and beverages will be served throughout the evening, so come and join us for a drink!
Who: You (and a friend if you like!)
What: LG Mobile Phone Roundtable & Charity Challenge
Where: Goldfish Pacific Kitchen1118 Mainland Street
Vancouver
When: Thursday, November 26th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
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