Healthy Communities in Waterloo Region

Stories from the Front - Group 3

KOR Design Project
Formerly the KORova Café, this project has offered mentoring to young artists to build entrepreneurial skills. Hear how they are embarking on an ambitious plan to create a gallery and studio for even more young local artists.

Wilmot Healthy Communities
Coalition Members of the Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition will share their goal for an inter-generation coffeehouse and can give first hand experience in establishing a coalition.

KOR Gallery and Studios

In 1994, a task force was implemented by the city of Kitchener to address the need for revitalization in the downtown core. At that time three sixteen year old youths: Chad Krulicki, Jeff Oke and Harold Soulis presented a dynamic plan for a youth run arts café in the downtown. With the generous support of the City of Kitchener and the establishment of an extraordinary advisory mentor group, the KORova Café was opened. Five years later the café has entered its newest incarnation as part of KOR Gallery and Studios and is still in operation. The founders learned a great deal from the youth they worked with and faced many challenges along the way.

After four years of working with local youth, the remaining founder Chad Krulicki, paired with local artist, Deborah Rothwell made several observations pertaining to the situation facing young artists today. Four years of experience revealed that about 90% of young artists expect to leave this community before or after post-secondary education, expecting to not return. Young artists who attend artistic training graduate with arts knowledge but with no business skills whatsoever. Saddled with student loans, they are unable to afford the simplest of arts production, let alone pursue the more expensive areas of the new technology arts. In addition, young artists seldom find affordable studio space in which to work.

Perhaps, most damaging of all, as with the public at large, young artists have been exposed to the modern belief which functions as an unconscious conspiracy, stating that any artist choosing to pursue commercial aspects of art in the desire for self-sufficiency, is in effect "selling out". Presently, the tragic belief in the honour of the artist's poverty is widespread.

From these observations, a new model or vision was created, one that would aim to establish a permanent arts center in the community to function as an arts incubator. The needs of young artists were observed to be as follows: the need to have a voice and presence in the community, the need for space, materials and equipment and the requirement that a team of like minded and high - caliber artists committed to the same ideal be facilitated to work together. The vision for KOR Gallery and Studios is based on a commitment to artistic integrity, community and faith in young artists as being vital to the communities in which they live.

In November 1998, Human Resources Development Canada, through the Youth Services Canada Program awarded this Vision and its founder a grant to hire fifteen artists for a six-month contract to implement the Vision. Due to the strength of the vision, the contract was extended to include twenty artists. Continued support from the City of Kitchener, local businesses, mentors and individuals enable the program to flourish. This project established the foundation for KOR Gallery and Studies, a non-profit business out of which several non-profit centers will grow; among them will be KOR Productions, KOR Design, KOR Gallery and KOR Education. During this six-month contract, the participants (both DJs and visual artists) were advised in the areas of both business and visual art. They brought their skills and art to the community in several projects of their creation, among them were: exhibitions, workshops, outreach teaching in local schools, musical performances, a mural campaign and the creating of numerous works of art which involved the theme of the Kitchener Downtown.

The "Third Phase"of the upcoming contract, to begin on June 15, will involve the development of the KOR non-profit business centres and will educate the participants in matters of business to heighten skills and competence towards self-sufficiency in their chosen areas of the arts. Participants will be self-motivated, high-caliber graphic artists and electronic musicians/engineers, committed to their work, this community and the implementation of the KOR vision with a group of young artists. Participants will be paired with compatible local artists who will guide and advise them in their areas of specialization. Participants will develop their own work and portfolios, seeking contracts in their respective fields, as well as run the business centres, studios, café and gallery. They will be expected to reach and integrate the community with programs they will develop and implement towards sustainability.

This is a unique and exciting project with the focus being the creation of a permanent arts center for young artists that will eventually be self-sustaining. KOR Gallery and Studios will eventually provide some part-time remuneration for our young creative community and will strengthen the community itself. KOR artists are involved in a leadership program and will be paired with compatible local artists. They will not only aim towards self-sustainment but, they will also aim towards integrity, honour and community involvement.

Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition

The old adage "it takes a village to raise a child" was the premise from which the Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition (WHCC) began one evening in Feb.1997. Two community shareholders invited "friends" of the Wilmot Community together. These two women believed that it is a privilege and a responsibility of all residents to live in a strong and healthy community. Community stakeholders from all sectors were invited to participate in this evening to:

These beliefs are based on the extensive work from the Search Institute which looks at the important building blocks/developmental assets that young people need in their lives to thrive and to have a strong foundation for life.

Individuals, groups, and organizations across many sectors in Wilmot continued to meet.

In June of 1997 a fun filled evening was had "dreaming" where several youth enthusiastically participated. Foundational beliefs were established on building a healthy community and several themes were identified:

The dream of an intergenerational café/meeting place seemed to keep rising to the surface and began to take shape.

A Community Animator from the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition joined our group to participate in a "Pathways" process to help look at strategies to realize our dream in Nov 1997.

The excellent support from this community animator was invaluable over the next several months for our group. In March 1998 we saw the need to have more structure and officially started to call ourselves The Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition.

In April of 1998 several youth and members of the coalition attended a local parks and rec forum which was also attended by the mayor and many other community groups. We were pleased by the positive feedback and support we received for our vision.

Our community animator encouraged us to apply for funding from the Waterloo Region Caring Communities Awards Grants which we were successful in obtaining. It was exhilarating for our group to realize that others believed in our dreams and goals, however, as we have learned since then, such a "gift" can also be somewhat overwhelming for a group still in their developmental phase. Now we had a little money to go along with a huge dream. What would we do with them?

As we worked at determining how to proceed, it became clear to us that we needed to formalize our group and in May 1998 the following mission statement was formally adopted:

Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition will seek to activate community strengths and encourage co-operation between all sectors and generations to create a healthy environment in Wilmot, where all people can thrive.

A draft proposal for plans to renovate space in a local factory for the intergenerational project was under way by June 1998. Staff from the Wilmot Family Resource Center attended the meeting to look at ways we could partner/compliment the services they provide. The next steps were to check on building codes with a building inspector, begin a renovation budget, look at incorporation and personal liability insurance for the directors, and find a group to partner with to share their charitable status number.

In August 1998 the group once again felt a true sense of community support when the following two resolutions were passed at Council:

Resolution #1
That Wilmot Township Council supports the Healthy Communities approach, thereby seeks to activate community strengths and encourage co-operation among all sectors and generations to create a healthy environment in Wilmot where all people can thrive.

Resolution # 2
That Wilmot Township Council show support for the leadership demonstrated by Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition in Healthy Communities work with in Wilmot by appointing a member of council to the Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition board.

We had been hopeful that we might be able to fall under the township's charitable status number but had just found out that this was not going to be possible. However, the passing of the resolutions brought renewed energy and lots of brainstorming re: fund-raising and planning for the café itself. Wilmot Family Resource Center designated a board member to liaise with our Coalition thus, we were optimistic that a potential partnership could be formed for us to come under their charitable status number.

The Coalition continued to be committed to the launching of a community café where children, youth, adults and seniors can come together to share, to learn from and relate to one another. We believe that Café 2000, (the name of the meeting place) will celebrate our achievements, our history, our future and serve as an avenue through which to educate the community and model healthy community principles.

Our project is also an expression of the values and vision of our organization where strengths and assets are built upon. The café will be a symbol of how this community works together, relates across generations and continually strives to improve the collective well-being and safety of citizens. The café will be targeted to youth and seniors living in Wilmot township.

Our dream is for Café 2000 to be a public meeting space where community members of all ages may gather to enjoy coffee and light meals, meet with friends, interact and exchange ideas and foster community spirit. It will offer a tutoring program, homework clubs, reading circles, computer room, fitness and recreational activities, card clubs and table games such as chess, crokinole, pool, etc.

There will be informal opportunities for seniors to mentor youth and for youth to teach seniors (e.g. Computer skills). The café will provide a place for youth leaders/mentors to train others in problem solving, communication and goal-setting skills. Youth volunteers will gain food preparation and handling, customer service and money handling skills that will make them more marketable for future employment. Furthermore, it will act as a venue to showcase artistic talent and Friday evening theme nights will be organized around visual art, poetry and music.

The café will be run and supported by volunteers and in kind community resources (e.g. Waterloo Oxford Secondary School is interested in making tables and stools for the café in the wood working shop) and seniors, youth and interested community members will be involved in the renovations of the café building. Peer mentors from the high school will promote and market the café to younger students and assist in training volunteers including those seniors who choose to volunteer.

This intergenerational meeting place will be a symbol of community purpose and pride illustrating the values that exist in our community. In helping to build a caring and just community, Café 2000 will be one avenue through which we will be able to communicate to young people a clear message that they are valued and respected, thereby setting the stage for their healthy development.

In October 1998 we applied for Federal funding through the Millennium fund project and met with the architects at the selected site to formalize the renovation plans. We then realized that the existing site will need to have a wheelchair entrance and accessible washrooms added. After architectural plans were completed, we could then apply for our zoning change that would be necessary. Negotiations were under way with the gas station across the street re: obtaining parking for customers and we were successful in obtaining $800.00 from the New Hamburg Optimists for the incorporation process that we had begun. The dream appeared to be moving ahead.

In the beginning of Jan we experienced another high when we found out that we were officially incorporated on Dec 23, 1998. When energy would seem to wain and the Coalition was sometimes overwhelmed that this project was far to big to bring to fruition, we would have these positive boosts to call upon. However, shortly thereafter came the news that we were not successful in obtaining the Millennium funding. A huge complicating piece followed with the news that Council was willing to grant us only a one year temporary zoning change for the Café site. The township planner in discussion with the co-chair had previously told us that a zoning change would be no problem. The other suggestion was that we might now need to have an environmental scan of the building. We couldn't possibly begin to spend the money or energy in renovating a site without some sense that we could be there for more than a year. It was discovered at the Council meeting that the gas station across the street (where patrons were going to park) had paved the area of land that belonged to a citizen who was not amiable to us parking there. The difficulty with all this was that if we pushed to go forward it could possibly have negative repercussions for the Wilmot Family Resource Center, also housed in the same building. All along we had reassured them that we were there to help increase the health and well-being in our community and now wondering "what can of worms have we opened up here"

In Feb 1999 we were encouraged to apply to the Youth Preventing Crime Proposal through the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Council, Waterloo Regional Police and the Rotary Club. We continue to gain new members at our meetings and there certainly seems to be an increased awareness in the community of the Wilmot Healthy Communities Coalition (WHCC) Positive support is received at the Ecumenical Ministerial meetings and local churches are looking at ways they may help. We continue to distribute our pamphlet to market who we are and what our goals are.

The Mayor's breakfast was held in March 1999 and our group was invited to share the story of our work and once again we received support and encouragement for our work. The Community Information Center of Waterloo interviewed our Co-chair so that WHCC would be listed in the "Blue Book".

However, we still had not solved our dilemmas around a location for Café 2000. So many things made the site we had first chosen appealing: it is equidistant to the three elementary schools, not far from the high school, it is a unique building and is located across the street from a seniors building. We have looked at other Federal funding to sustain this project, but without a permanent site we have been hesitant to apply.

In the meantime, preliminary logo sketches were distributed and we asked one of the youth to take them back for revamping. Interested art students were to submit entries for the next meeting and we were fortunate enough to have four M.S.W. students do a fund-raising plan for us as part of a course they were taking

In April we selected our logo with some minor revisions to be made. The youth from the Coalition were thrilled to find out that we had been selected in the 15-17 year old category for the Youth Preventing Crime Proposal we had submitted. This meant that we were invited to the Community Justice Initiatives Awards Dinner to receive a plaque and a cheque for $100.00. The Rotary also had $500.00 in funding available to apply for so we did.

In May we found out that St. George's Anglican Church in New Hamburg had graciously offered to provide us with the use of their parish hall to begin.. We decided that perhaps we needed to adjust our thinking about Café 2000 and focus on the concept of creating a space for some creative relationships to develop, rather than a physical space. Currently we are working on a series of "community" nights under the banner of "Café 2000": An Intergenerational Meeting Place ". Due to the fact that there are several community fund-raising events over the summer and early fall, our first project will be a community arts night in Nov 1999 in which we will be celebrating the contributions and talents of all in Wilmot Township. The theme for this event is: Celebrating the Past; Looking to the Future, which commemorates achievements of the present, past and future. This festive event is in conjunction with Wilmot Township's 150th Anniversary. Local dignitaries will be on hand to unveil our logo. The many gifts and talents from within the community will be clearly demonstrated, through artistic and cultural expression of the rural heritage, our way of life, and our aspirations for the future. We applied to the 25th Anniversary Healthy Communities Fund to help offset what we hope will be a series of community coffee nights for now. We continue to hold out hope that somewhere down the road, the doors will yet open for us to create Café 2000 as an actual place.

We continue on our journey and at many different turns motivation, incentive and faith wains and then this dream seems to receive new life, as another gift drops out of the sky. We are convinced that this is meant to be. Individuals, groups and organizations need to join hands and work together to provide the building blocks necessary for the next generation of citizens to be healthy, competent, caring and responsible people who will make contributions to their communities in the new millennium.