HELP DTES RESIDENTS VOTE on MAY 14

Friends, here's an initiative to help people in British Columbia vote in the coming May 14 election even if they don't have the usual ID or housing stability.  It's a great effort by the Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.  I've posted it here with permission because they hadn't gotten it set up for social media yet.

Anyone familiar with the DTES knows that proper identification is one consistent barrier for many in our community. We also know that this is a significant barrier to acquisition of housing, establishing bank accounts, cashing cheques, even the most basic right to vote.

The majority of our community live in the margins, with very little ‘voice’ in society. What a privilege it is then as Service Providers in the DTES of Vancouver, to help aide and facilitate opportunities that empower our community. The upcoming election is one significant opportunity.

With the cooperation of a broad collective of DTES Service Providers and Elections BC, we have developed DTES Get Out the Vote OUTLINE docx. and editable deliverables that will assist YOU and others in the DTES community encourage, empower and facilitate our community vote.

Please share this communication and all deliverables as broadly as possible - this is for our DTES community.

Please reply with any feedback, questions or concerns you may have.

I am greatly encouraged by the support I have received from the community on this project. Thank you for all of your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Jeffrey Baergen Community Engagement Coordinator 601 East Hastings Street. Vancouver, BC V6A 1J7 t: 604.215.5445 xt 487   m: 604.768.9394   f: 604.253.3496 UGM.ca

Wednesday night Spirit Circle at First United Church, a large "homeless" shelter in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside -- come join us

Dear friends,

   Wednesday evenings at the First United Church – Vancouver’s largest “homeless” shelter -- have been lovely – sharing sacred space together, opening our hearts, raising our spirits, singing, talking, listening.  We’re planning to gather again this week.

   We’ll gather at 7 at the First United Church, 320 East Hastings, in the Downtown Eastside.  We’ll settle into seats in a circle in the dining hall near the totem pole.

   We’ll light a candle.  I’ll lead a simple wordless chant.  It’ll settle us down, bring us together and make a wide open space for Spirit to fill.  Rev. Sally McShane, the minister of First United, will offer a scriptural reading and some words of reflection and prayer.  And then, we plan to sing a very beautiful hymn familiar to many of us, Sally’s absolute favourite, to the melody of “Ode to Joy”.  (That says a lot about Sally.)

   After more singing, we’ll turn our attention to each other in a talking circle, sharing our own thinking and feeling about ourselves as the possible core of a newly living, vital congregation at First United.  This week’s question is going to be why some people say they are “spiritual” but not “religious” – and how we see ourselves in that regard.

   We’ll close with a song of blessing and farewell at 8:30 – and stay to informally mingle, talk, hang out and get to know each other a bit until about 9 when we need to free up the room for the folks who will be sleeping there.

   I hope this is helpful.  If you have questions, suggestions or comments, please feel free to call or write to me.

David

Rabbi David Mivasair, MSW
Chaplain, First United Church
(604) 681-8365
www.firstunited.ca
@RabFirstUnited 

Share info, ideas, inspiration:  First United’s e-mail group.
Now 36 people – staff, community members, all kinds of folks.
To join us, press CTRL and click on this here.
Questions?  Write rabbi-david@firstunited.ca.