By Stephanie Mancini
Published in June 2011
As we prepare this spring issue of Good Work News there is a sense of gratitude – for the good things around us, for the warm weather approaching. We reflect in this issue on the celebration of the Mayors’ Dinner, and on the many people who contribute financially to make our work possible. This makes us feel strengthened and surrounded by the wider community around us.
Our work is always very full, lively and dynamic. As the spirit of community grows, more and more people come to contribute, to find assistance, to be among others. One person in this mix can feel daunted by how much there is to do. But none of this is the work of one person – every piece, every project, draws together the work of many people – the spirit of working together.
The Working Centre is held together as pockets of diverse activities, and these pieces weave together as a whole.
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The bike project scrambles to refurbish and repair bicycles as the spring weather gets people riding; and they explore ways to develop a bike-sharing project in downtown Kitchener.
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The Psychiatric Outreach Project deepens its connections to the justice system through presence in Mental Health Court and Drug Court; and works to set up a new clinic at Bridgeport Church in Waterloo.
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The complexities of work change for workers who are 55 and older, or New Canadian professionals, or those in and out of the labour market are explored a person at a time, carefully, strategically looking to help each person find work.
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Computer Recycling grapples with the challenges of keeping up with the unending need for repairs and virus cleanups for people living on a limited income, while also getting refurbished donated computers ready for redistribution.
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Every day we share a meal together with up to 300 people a day at St. John’s Kitchen, with the hum of the laundry and showers in the mix.
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The Commons Market signs people up for another year of supporting local farmers and producers through the Community Shared Agriculture project.
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The Queen Street Commons Cafe reflects thoughtfully on what it means to create common space – how to invite the community to continue making this space more than a cafe – a commons.
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The Hospitality House, and all of us, mourn the death of one of the long-term residents this week, learning deeply what it means to walk with people as they approach death.
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In the areas of detail and order we have completed year end and passed our records on to the accountant; continuing the day to day routines of tracking our 30+ projects and the multitude of details.
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Our housing and outreach workers gathered recently to explore the question of what kind of creative housing options might respond to the needs of people we know in our work.
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And… the micro-greens and seedlings grow.
Each project sits as a pocket within the whole – and we enjoy the ways each project weaves together creatively – both an art and a discipline.
It is with pleasure that we reflect on the ways The Working Centre is a pocket within the larger K-W community. We live and work frugally in beautiful spaces, and we express our deep gratitude to everyone who helps us to make this possible.
