The Alex In Action

The Alex In Action
July 2013
Calgary Marathon
Calgary Strong
A Story of Courage
Every time we step out of our comfort zone to do something
new it takes courage – now imagine not just taking the first
step out of homelessness, but signing up for a 5k race in the
largest marathon in Canada. 11 formerly homeless clients of
HomeBase did just that – participating as part of Team Alex at
the 49th annual Calgary Marathon.
At the beginning of the race our HomeBasers lined up with
thousands of Calgarians to be a part of The Alex movement,
a movement that is changing the lives of our vulnerable
neighbors.
At the finish line we kept a special eye out for our HomeBasers.
Some crossed early, others a little later, but all were jubilant,
beaming as they received their medals, except two who were
still missing as the crowd thinned. Eventually we heard an
announcement that there were two walkers left on the route,
still completing the 5k. We knew these walkers were ours, a
HomeBase client and her Case Manager persevering together
to finish the race. Without hesitation 3 HomeBase clients
determined that they would walk out to meet them and bring
them home.
When they crossed the finish line only the members of Team
Alex and race officials were left to witness the triumph. As the
medal was placed around our HomeBaser’s neck, she picked it
up and waved it – a symbol of a life changed, a journey started!
It has been a period of unprecedented devastation in
Calgary and neighbouring communities over the last
several weeks. Flooding has ravaged homes, cost
extensive dollars in revenue, and affected many of our
most vulnerable clients.
While the cleanup continues from this disaster we
know the road to recovery will be long and sometimes
challenging but we also know that we are not alone in
our efforts to support our most vulnerable neighbours.
We are humbled by the Calgary spirit that has shone
through the tragic events as we all do what we can to
rebuild our City.
As front-line service providers we were proud to
offer support and mobilize our Mobile Health Fleet to
emergency evacuation stations throughout Calgary. Our
Seniors Health Centre (SHC) and many of their clients
were, and remain, impacted by the flood. In order to
best support their clients, many of our SHC workers
were deployed to evacuation sites offering much needed
medical and emotional support.
Please logon to our Twitter and Facebook to keep up to
date with the latest information and how you can help us
rebuild our community.
In the Community
The Alex Health Bus along the Scotiabank Marathon route.
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Our mobile health fleet was on site at the Scotia Bank Calgary
Marathon, serving as official medical stations. We are grateful
for the 52 runners who joined Team Alex and the over 20
volunteers who made the day a huge success.
People’s Pow Wow
On the Move
• Youth Health Centre has a new home, at 101, 1318 Centre
Street North.
• HomeBase has moved to 124, 6170 12 Street SE.
• Thanks to all of The Alex Change Makers who helped
ensure our affordable housing complex is a comfortable
home for our HomeBase Clients
The 2nd Annual People’s Pow Wow, celebrating National
Aboriginal Awareness Week was held July 4th, when hundreds
of people turned out for a celebration of Aboriginal culture that
included authentic drumming, teepee tours and traditional
dancing.
In the News
• March 15 – CBC, Schools, Agencies Struggle to Keep Up
with Youth Mental Health Issues
• March 20–Breakfast Television, ScotiaBank Marathon The
Alex is at 9:29 – 12:24
• April 6 - Calgary Herald, Pathways to Contentment
• April 9 – Global Calgary, Woman of Vision
• April 11 – Calgary Herald, Alberta Urged to Improve Support
for Children
• April 18 – FFWD, Rethinking Foster Care
• Dental Health Bus has partnered with Crescent Heights
Dental to offer dental hygiene and care to Calgary youth. On
June 9 the first of many bridges was crossed for 41 children
between the ages of 6 and 14 who required essential dental
treatment. Working together, a team of 14 staff from Crescent
Heights Dental Clinic and The Alex executed the first Calgary
SMILE Clinic for Kids at the Crescent Heights location. Having
determined the most immediate need children identified
through the DHB pilot The Alex coordinated the booking of 41
appointments for the day. In total over 49 fillings, 13 extractions
and dozens of x-rays, polishes and fluoride treatments were
performed in a 5-hour dental marathon. Dr. Matthew Karavos
says “as a father and dentist it alarms me that there are kids
out there struggling each day with untreated dental conditions
and constant pain. As a member of the community, I knew that
I had to step up and be a part of the solution”.
Woman of Vision
Pathways to Housing (P2H) is a nationally renowned Housing
First Program recognized for setting the standard of service
for the most vulnerable in homelessness. Program Director
Sue Fortune leads a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team of
professionals. Under Sue’s vision and leadership P2H has
realized an 87% success rate in keeping folks in their homes. Through streamlined services, P2H per client cost is less than
a third of the social cost incurred when assisting the average
chronically homeless individual. Recently Global Calgary
and the Calgary Herald awarded Sue their Woman of Vision
distinction.
• May – Vital Signs, Forty Years of Caring for Calgarians pp.
1, 11-12
• May 2 – SHAW, The Alex Dental Health Bus
• May 8 – Swerve, The Alex Dental Health Bus
• May 31 – Swerve, There’s No Place Like HomeBase
• June 12 – Global Calgary, Plan to End Homelessness
Targets Most Vulnerable
Sue Fortune, Program Director at Pathways to Housing
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Call to Action
Volunteers in Profile
• Sponsor Energy – click here to find out more about how
you can help us fuel innovation while fueling your home or
business.
Starbucks Day of Caring
• Gifting Change – click here to discover our greatest needs
areas and stories of lives changed through your support
Change Makers Recognition
• Encana graciously donated furniture for the Youth Health
Centre, new HomeBase location and Pathways Team Three, in
addition to making a financial donation for medications and
supplies on the dental buses.
• Thanks to Bucars RV for choosing us as their Charity of
Choice by covering all repairs and services on our Mobile
Health Fleet!
• Thank you to Mark’s and Wild Rose United Church for
partnering for the Community Closet for our most vulnerable
neighbours!
• A big shout out to Lazy Boy Furniture who took charge with
donations of needed furniture.
• A long-time supporter of vulnerable populations, McArthur’s
stepped up in a huge way to make sure our affordable housing
complex was welcoming for newly housed clients.
It was a delight to have Starbucks volunteers at Pathways on
April 30 & 31. About 17 ambitious volunteers gave Pathways
offices a makeover by detailing a vehicle, washing walls,
sweeping the parking lot and weeding garden beds.
Pathways is very grateful to Starbucks and the wonderful
volunteers who came out and dedicated their time.
Junior League of Calgary
The Junior League of Calgary (JLC) identified The Alex
Parenting Group as a program that aligned with their focus
on strengthening families through education and support and
has partnered with the Youth Health Centre to create parenting
program modules for delivery this fall. Additionally, Tara Shaw,
a member of JLC, has gone above and beyond to create a ‘Hot
Meals Tuesday’ program for our youth.
The Writer’s Series
The Writer’s Series, a program that was originally planned for
four sessions, has grown into an ongoing offering. A blend of
facilitated learning, courtesy of author Susan Scott, individual
discovery and peer support, the Writer’s Series has evolved
into an outlet for empowering clients through writing. The
result has been outstanding growth for the participants,
which culminated in a coffee house presentation of some of
their work.
• Cenovus has stepped forward with much needed furniture
through the Suite Give Away.
• Thanks to those who promote a sustainable future through
Green Standards, which provided much needed office furniture
to The Alex.
• Deliver Good allows us to focus on our clients by supporting
The Alex in matching our needs with donors in the community.
• Costen and Associates, thanks for choosing The Alex as
your Charity of Choice.
To help visit us at www.giftingchange.ca
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The Alex
101, 1318 Centre Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2R7 • Phone: 403.266.2622 • Fax: 403.266.2692
E-mail: [email protected] • Web: thealex.ca
www.twitter.com/thealexchc • www.facebook.com/thealexcommunityhealthcentre