Open Heart Collaborative

As we move closer to AI generated everything, I've started considering the impacts that prompts may have on those who are underrepresented. Will text or images be used to to negatively impact those who are already facing and thriving through barriers by adding additional false narratives?

Or.... will we use it to swing a positive perspectives and love towards our fellow humans. Well dove has a great worksheet on "Real Beauty" and how prompts may impact AI. This reminded me that we are always training the future of AI. Here's an interesting thought exercise to think of prompts if you do use DALL-E or other AI Image makers. Check it out: (Clicking link below will download a PDF booklet by Dove)
https://assets.unileversolutions.com/v1/125422237.pdf

If you are in the E.R., or Hospital in Nanaimo General, please access Island Healths new Harm reduction machine. This is also a life saver for those having to purchase syringes for other life saving medical issues, HRT and Insulin comes to mind. Harm reduction is for everyone! Open Heart provided feedback around some of the ways to reduce stigma, and includes art by one of our Co-Founders. We also made it to the Times Colonist

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/outdoor-vending-machines-filled-with-harm-reduction-supplies-coming-to-three-island-hospitals-7705005

Island Health is introducing three Care and Connection Kiosks at hospitals in Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria offering community members an innovative way to access free, life-saving, harm reduction supplies and information about mental health and substance use services, supports and treatment.

The kiosks will electronically dispense discretely packaged harm reduction items including condoms, wound care supplies, naloxone kits, take-home drug testing strips, and syringes and safe disposal containers.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/sTJE50PYlhV

“My landlord just came up and told me I had to move in two weeks. No paperwork. Nothing,” said Nanaimo resident Sharon Kowalchuk.

According to Kowalchuk, the verbal eviction notice from her landlord made it clear, the end-of-life care she needs is too disruptive.”

However, one advocate is helping the couple fight back.

“Obviously that is an illegal eviction, there’s no doubt about it,” said Risebridge Director Alex Martino, a local charity that helps tackle the housing issue in Nanaimo.

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sharon-kowalchuk

Full article here:
https://www.cheknews.ca/dying-nanaimo-woman-evicted-because-i-have-ambulances-coming-1143021/

The 4 Agreements

On international we remember the women and girls killed by drug policy.

Oct. 26--Day 17 of Aubrey's Marathon a Day for Safe Drug Supply

In sad news, there were a number of people who died in Victoria today. My condolences to their families.

Trauma and Violence informed care class

Thanks for everyone who came out today, there was an amazing energy in the room. So grateful to everyone we got to learn along side with

Trauma and Violence Informed Care Trauma and Violence Informed Care in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Health Services

Trauma and Violence Informed Care Trauma and Violence Informed Care in Mental Health, Substance Use, and Health Services

HSABC Annual Conference

Island Clinical Counselling – Counselling Services in Nanaimo British Columbia We at Island Clinical Counselling want to provide you with a safe space to share your struggles, be truly heard, and understood. Team up with our specialized counsellors and together we will find ways to increase your resilience and climb those mountains that seem insurmountable or traverse those da...

Please join us in welcoming Literacy Central's new Executive Director, Aimee Chalifoux! Previously here as the Indigenous Literacy Coordinator, Aimee has worked tirelessly to open the door to literacy for those who are marginalized, creating safe learning environments and offering workshops that give people a space to be heard. Earlier this year, Aimee was awarded the British Columbia Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award for Breaking Barriers from the BC government, for her work in tackling systemic or institutional racism and reducing barriers for marginalized communities. Welcome Aimee!

Obituary: Paige Phillips was a fierce advocate for drug users A street worker who fought for better treatment for drug users, Paige Phillips was killed by B.C.'s tainted illicit drug supply

International Overdose Awareness day is coming up quickly!

Come down to Maffeo Sutton Park on August 31, 2022, to see what Nanaimo is doing to curb the drug poisoning crisis. This event is great for kids, families, and anyone else who has lost someone to a drug poisoning, has a loved one who uses substances, or is a substance user themself.

There will be service providers, speakers, music, kids' stations, and many other activities.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/nanaimos-international-overdose-awareness-day-tickets-399726220887

Nanaimo's International Overdose Awareness Day An event to memorialize those lost to the ongoing drug poisoning crisis in B.C. Learn about resources, meet others and share the love!

A researcher and faculty member in Journalism and Communication Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University is leading a research project in order to assist peer harm reduction workers in B.C. to record oral histories about their work and stressors.

These audio narratives will be published as a short-term podcast in order to help inform the wider public and policy makers about the critical work peers do and the challenges they face. Fine Arts students will produce graphic illustrations focused on peers’ oral histories which will be published on the project’s website and social media sites.

Peers who participate in the project will be invited to:
- Take part in 20, remote, hour-long oral history conversations between September 2022 and March 2023.
- Review and share feedback about the audio recordings.
- Review and share feedback about illustrations made about their testimonies.

For more information, please email: [email protected]

Dear Snuneymuxw,

Today we officially opened the Snuneymuxw Learning Academy (SLA) in partnership with Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools. This marks a profound milestone for Snuneymuxw knowledge and for Hul’q’umi’num speaking people. The SLA building (formerly known as Woodbank) is also home to our Snuneymuxw Traditional Medicines Clinic, because to learn is to heal and to heal is to learn.

SLA was created with an understanding that the ancient knowledge systems of our great lands can only be fully appreciated by first knowing and recognizing the relationship between language, land and culture. All Snuneymuxw learning and wellness knowledge built by our ancestors, was done so by watching the relationships within, and being a part of, the natural world.

The knowledge of the land expressed through Hul’q’umi’num is critical to maintaining the continuity of Indigenous knowledge systems. As such, we are honoured to partner with the Hul’q’umi’num Language & Culture Society and SFU Indigenous Languages Program, and host the Hul’q’umi’num Certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency 2022-23 cohort. We are also thankful for University of Victoria’s support and commitment to Hul’q’umi’num revitalization. Starting up again this fall, we will be offering our own Snuneymuxw Hul’q’umi’num classes.

We are committed to preparing Snuneymuxw learners with the skills needed to respond to the everchanging complexities of today’s world and society. Additional SLA programming includes computer and employment training courses and Indigenous medicines classes.

The SLA satellite classroom on Centre Street will be open in September for students under the age of 19, who are pursuing their high school graduation requirements. We are hiring two additional key roles to support this class including an SFN Outreach Worker and Navigator.

We are grateful for the Snuneymuxw Education team and all those who helped us transition Woodbank into an extraordinary Snuneymuxw-led learning and wellness hub. Today we celebrate a new era of learning and healing together.

Sincerely,

Chief Mike Wyse

-Are you a peer-led organization in B.C?
-Are you looking for ways to grow your impact and reach?
-Are you looking to connnect with other agencies and services in B.C?

If your answer to these 3 simple questions is yes, then we want to hear from you!

Homelessness Services Association of BC has a small grant program to help you showcase your work so you can continue to do the much-needed work you do in your respective communities!

Thank you to our funders: FRAYME - Great Big Stories, for your support in bring this project to life.

THRIVE is a youth (aged 12-30) directory, created with the intention to make accessing support services in Nanaimo easier for youth experiencing substance use, homelessness, or situations of crisis.
This directory was created through months of work between our Youth program, Indigenous Program, and peers with lived and living experience from our community. We’d like to thank all our peers who came by and shared their stories, experiences, and expertise with us each week. This project would be impossible without peer input and guidance.
We would also like to thank all the community resources featured in this directory, for your continued support and compassion for vulnerable youth in our community.

THRIVE Pamphlets are available in our bookstore downtown (19 Commercial St), and free packages of pamphlets are available to be picked up by support organization that would like to distribute them at their agency.

For more information please reach out to our Youth Coordinator at: [email protected]

Hello! We're hiring for quite a few positions right now! We're looking for an Enhanced Harm Reduction Service Clinical Nurse Lead, an Enhanced Harm Reduction Service Coordinator, and a Medical Office Assistant, all in Nanaimo. SAFER Victoria is hiring a Casual System Navigator, as well as multiple nursing roles.

**Most postings open until next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Check out http://avi.org/about-us/careers-avi for more info

It’s time to connect in-person again! All programs and events will be happening IN PERSON as of March at the new RB community centre 🙌🏾 come join us for MOVIE NIGHT! A FREE community event happening the first Saturday of every month at 7pm. All welcome.

Hey all, we're hiring for a few positions at our Victoria location! A Housing Overdose Prevention Worker (closes Feb. 13th), a SAFER Program Manager (closes Feb. 10th), as well as weekday, weekend, and casual Nurses for our SAFER program.

For more information, visit http://avi.org/about-us/careers-avi

Correctional Service settles human rights case for prisoners addicted to opioids The federal prison service says it is making several changes to help prisoners addicted to opioids, including getting them faster access to treatment by eliminating a waiting list that is hundreds of people long.

UPDATE FROM WARMREACH
January 8th

Current needs:
Hot chocolate powder
Granola bars
Coffee cups

We’ve continued to be at capacity hourly
Yesterday we severed 86 individuals in our evening shift and 54 in our morning shift.

Community efforts and compassion continue to be the only reason we can offer this support right now

Thank you to all those working tirelessly behind the scenes
💜🧡🖤❤️

TOGETHER WE RISE