CRESCENT VALLEY RESOURCE CENTRE

ANNUAL REPORT2017

CRESCENTVALLEYRESOURCECENTRE.CA

Celebrating 10 Years2008-2018

The year 2017 has been busier, more productive and successful than ever before. We have developed in so many ways and directions. Our staff, our programs, our outreach, our partnerships, our special events, our volunteers and the number of residents served have all grown. This has happened under the outstanding direction of our Executive Director, Anne Driscoll and the dedicated work of our core staff: Nadhim Mansoor, who continues to help integrate our Newcomers and helps with all residents with their concerns; Justin Shep-ard, who has grown our literacy initiatives and engages the children and their families and Joy Comeau, who continues to share her expertise on nutrition and Food Security strategies. We were also fortunate to have two skillful Bike Technicians, Mohamad Younes and Mohamad Khawam, who helped keep our Bike Share program going. Our CV Caring the Environment Reps, Mary Doiron, Eva Feddery, Elaine Orser and Karen Rodgerson have continued to volunteer after our ETF funding was finished in March. Our Summer Squad team provided an awesome program for many children last summer.

Besides the many successful programs that are lead by our staff we have great partnerships with other organizations that provide programs and services in our facility. CVRC helps promote those programs and often provides nutritious snacks. During 2017 some of the programs and services were the Family Resource Centre’s Playgroup, The Newcomer Resource Centre’s Crafts & Conversation, Social Development’s spon-sored Art Classes for Children & Adults & the Singing Group. We also house READ SJ and for part of 2017, the Salvation Army.

For all this to happen we thank our committed sponsors who believe in our vision and work. Without this support we could not provide the much-needed programs and services. We thank all our major sponsors, the large & small donors, the grant donors, the in-kind goods & services received and the many hours of volun-teer time.

CVRC is a hub for Crescent Valley, a model to other priority neighbourhoods, a leader in poverty reduction and a great place to live and work. The CV newsletter is widely distributed monthly to keep residents, friends and partners updated. Thanks Anne Driscoll! CVRC is an active member of the CV Stakeholder Group, Neighbourhood Action Group, and several Living SJ committees. We continue to work with residents and make changes to programs & services as needed but remember to keep those that are well used and appre-ciated like our Healthy Breakfast Program and Yak & Snack.

We look forward to 2018. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary. We have plans to build a greenhouse & more garden plots and to expand our Food Security services around this new “Growing Place”. We hope to have a Bike Skills park built in the old playground. We are open to listening to residents on what they vision in the future of CV. In 2018 we will have a “Speak Up “event where neighbourhood voices will be heard.

Thank you to the CVRC Board, staff, partners, volunteers and friends. It is a privilege to know you and to volunteer in this community.

Let’s Celebrate our Successes! Let’s Continue to Grow!

Ann Barrett President CVRC 2017

Crescent Valley Resource Centre

President’s Report 2017

At the Crescent Valley Resource Centre, we are lucky to have folks from all walks of life pass through our door every day. Whether as a volun-teer, donor, participant or someone simply curious to find out what we do, the CVRC has generated a buzz around the neighbourhood, and in the region. We saw tremendous growth in 2017, and we had time to reflect on our role in serving newcomers and how the climate has changed in the neigh-bourhood and at CVRC.

The Crescent Valley / Anglin Drive residents and volunteers are at the heart of our work. We are proud to support them on their journeys and help them become connected and participatory, while embracing and promoting their gifts and talents.

We are so pleased to see residents engaged, taking part in heathy activities, developing entre-preneurial skills, having their voices heard and creating a neighbourhood to be proud of. Our neighbourhood is now home to over 55 newcomer families; how things have changed - for the better. Thank you to the newcomers who are teaching us, every day.

In 2017 CVRC was the recipient of three awards of which we are so proud. They were: The Com-munity Health Recognition Award from Horizon Health, NB Multicultural Council’s Champion of Cultural Diversity Award and, the Outstanding Community Partnership Award from the SJ New-comers Centre.

2017 in ReviewExecutive Director’s Report

Through our programs we’ve successfully in-troduced food security initiatives such as Savvy Soup, Healthy Snack Day and Grow Your Own Veggies; family literacy activities such as Book-wagon, Story tent, Pop-Up Literacy events, and Family Board game and Family Movie Nights; active living through the Saint John Bike Share program; and intercultural awareness through Crafts and Conversation Club (in partnership with SJ Newcomers Centre). What do these initiatives offer residents? • increased consumption of fruit and vegetables,

more affordable produce, improved gardening skills, acquaintance with different foods and cultures,

• extended hours (outside school hours) of literacy-based activity, interactive parent/child activity, new and gently-used books, a culture of literacy in the neighbourhood;

• stress relief and mental relaxation, increased self-confidence, opportunities for social ex-change, intergenerational opportunities, chance to learn marketable skills, a sense of community belonging,

• opportunity to advance bike culture in Saint John, physical activity, promote healthy life-style, increase knowledge of road safety and

promote helmet use, active / alternative trans-portation more readily available to all resi-dents. This program has expanded into Water-loo Village / Courtenay Bay neighbourhood.

We would not be successful in carrying out our programs and continued work toward making positive changes in the neighbourhood without the ongoing support of funders and supporters. Each donation grant or gift we receive is needed - and appreciated. However, I want to mention the following supporters who have consistently con-tributed to the CVRC over the years and without whose support we would not have made progress toward ending generational poverty: Emera New Brunswick, City of Saint John, Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, Port Saint John, the Community Foundation, NB Depts. of Post-Sec-ondary Education Training and Labour and Social Development, Saint John Energy, Irving Oil and the NB Children’s Foundation. These “friends of the Crescent Valley Resource Centre” have en-abled us to create change and change lives.

The support of the CVRC’s board of directors has enabled us to build upon our successes and see tremendous growth. Thank you for your guidance; and especially our president, Ann Barrett who has

persevered to improve the outcomes of neighbourhood residents and supported my work as execu-tive director.

A special recognition goes to CVRC staff who have worked tirelessly - with enthusiasm, to support the residents and the programs in Crescent Valley / Anglin Drive. Justin Shepard is committed to improving the neighbourhood and his love of literacy is being passed on to families; Joy Comeau has built sincere, caring relationships with residents and brought forth unique and valuable food se-curity initiatives to the neighbourhood; Nadhim Mansoor has worked above and beyond the norm to assist newcomers and community partners work through the challenges that our families encounter; and Mohamad Khawam and Mohamad Younes, our bike technicians who showed patience and skill while learning the ropes of Canadian culture and teaching us about their culture (and treating us to lots of delicious foods).

Community partnerships enhance our work and help us build upon success. Look for innovative programs and services coming.

Anne Driscoll, Executive Director

We’re working toward:

maintaining current core staff complement (four full-time) including resources to adequately serve newcomer familiesdeveloping “The Growing Place”, a community greenhouse / garden learning centrecreation of a Bike Skills Park for youthincreased resident engagement through more outreachincreased hours of operation at the CVRC (weekends)

40 Family Literacy Events 600 participants

40 meetings with partners400 participants

60 Events for newcomers (Various, activities and support directly involving newcomers) 1500 participants

24 Information Sessions 225 participants60 volunteer hours

90 Healthy Breakfast programs 350 volunteer hours 375 participants

5,100 copies of CV News (printed for residents, includes Arabic translation)$16,000 value donated by Irving Oil

30 Various meetings / events (resident engagement & participation) 400 participants

31 Food Security sessions 375 participants

24 Information Sessions 225 participants60 volunteer hours

2000 volunteer hours donated

2017Fast Facts

2017SNAPSHOT

7000+

400+ bikes & 450 helmets donated to families through the Bike Share Program

55newcomer families living in neighbourhood

visitors/participants to CVRC for services and programs

3 CVRC recipient of three awards (local & provincial)

CVRC increased hours of operation & programming with additional staff

Unique waste-reduction program involving residents keeps environment clean.

10 CVRC celebrates 10 years in 2018!

In 2017 CVRC was the recipient of three awards:

The Community Health Recognition Award from Horizon Health. The award “celebrates individuals and groups that are making a difference to improve overall health in their community.’’The NB Multicultural Council’s Champion of Cultural Diversity Award recognizing how readily CVRC has embraced newcomers to the region and,The Outstanding Community Partnership Award from the SJ Newcomers Centre to “honour the generosity of spirit, and dedication in building and facilitating successful programs and events for our newcomers in the greater Saint John area.”

Quote from participant:“I had never eaten broccoli in my life. I just didn’t think I would like it. I came to make soup at the

CVRC and guess what? One of the soups we made was cream of broccoli, and I loved it. Now I not only like broccoli soup but I like broccoli. Thanks Joy and Savvy Soup.”

Clothing Room • Savvy Soup • Play Group • Food Purchasing Club • CV Trike Lending and Saint John Bike Share • Healthy Start Breakfast • Splash Pad & Potash Playpark • CV Community Library • Resume and Letter Writing help • Fax & Copy Services • Crescent Valley Newsletter • Yak and Snack • Storytent • and…so much more, building resiliency and leadership in individuals and families and promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

The Crescent Valley Resource Centre Inc.Financial SnapshotYear Ended December 31, 2017

In 2017 we received support totaling $275,773

• 75% designated for our general purposes of community support & development• 12% designated for our Summer Squad youth support program• 7% directed to support our food security programs• 3% for the Bike program• 3% for our Literacy efforts

In 2017 we were busy doing some great things…costing $241,207

• Over 75% of our costs are salaries for people ($185,400). That makes sense because CVRC is all about people helping people!

• About 1/3 of our 2017 salary costs (over $60,000) reflect our efforts and programs to ensure Crescent Valley is a welcoming place where our new Syrian Families can make new homes and thrive in their new country.

• CVRC’s eight-week Summer Squad program in 2017 ensured that Crescent Valley children spent time doing fun and productive and safe summer activities. We employed 6 incredible post-secondary students at a cost of $32,400 during the 2017 summer

Pat Kiely,Crescent Valley Resource Centre Treasurer

Staff in 2017:Joy Comeau Community Liaison (part-time)

Cherie Cormier Community Liaison (left in 2017)

Anne DriscollExecutive Director

Mohamad Khawam SJ Bike Share Technician

Nadhim Mansoor Community Engagement Coordinator

Katherine MillerCommunity Engagement Coordinator (left in 2017)

Justin ShepardCommunity Engagement Coordinator

Mohamad Younes SJ Bike Share Technician (left in 2017)

Summer Staff:Mechlin Aide Mouni Sadaf AnjumAlyssa CalderRyan McGovernVictoria OickleBrittany Skelding

Board of Directors: Ann Barrett (President)Mary DoironKathy HannaPat Kiely (Treasurer)Craig EstabrooksPeter McGuireTroy Saunders (Secretary)Janet Towers (Vice President)Mark Wilson

Volunteers:Said Al Rajeh Reham Abazid Wayne Arrowsmith Juanita Black Rose Butler CV Caring for the Environment reps: - Mary Doiron- Eva Feddery

- Elaine Orser - Karen Rodgerson Tina Chaffey Craig Campbell Bill Consolvo Kim GrayJane HanlonKathy HannaErin KellyJanet McLaughlin Abdulkadir LebebidiRama LebebidiWanda RocheCathy SabeanCatherine SabeanKhaled ShareeSaint John Cycling members Sher WhiteFatima Xlefe

Community Partners:• ACAP-SJ• Anglin Drive Tenants’ Assoc.• Anglophone School District South • Avenue B / AIDS Saint John• The Blue Run• Brilliant Labs • Carleton Community Centre • Kim Cookson / Art Mamma• Courtenay Bay Tenants’ Assoc. • Crescent Valley Community

Tenants’ Assoc.• Family Resource Centre - SJ• Hazen White – St. Francis School • Horizon Health / NEW -C • ONE Change Inc.• PRUDE Inc• PULSE Inc• Princess Elizabeth School• Promise Partnership at UNBSJ• READ SJ• RiverCross Church• Saint Joh. Fire Dept. • Saint John Free Public Library• Saint John Newcomers Centre • Saint John Police Force /

Community Police• Somerset Pre-School • Waterloo Village Assoc.• Westside PACT• Women's Empowerment Network/

Learn and Go• YMCA

Supporters:• Anonymous and Individual Donors• Above and Beyond Construction• CAM ROC Construction Ltd.• Canadian Federation of University

Women - Saint John • Canada Summer Jobs Program• Kevin Cleghorne • City of Saint John • Community Foundation• Crescent Valley Community

Tenants’ Association • Mike Douglas• Emera New Brunswick• Ernie’s Landscaping • Four Seasons Property

Maintenance • Friars Family • Horizon Health• Inner City Youth Ministry / Lunch

Connection • Irving Oil • J.D. Irving Limited• Kiwanis Charities• LivingSJ • McInnes Cooper• NB Children’s Foundation• NB Dept of Post-Secondary

Education Training and Labour• NB Dept of Social Development• NB Dept Tourism, Heritage and

Culture / Sport and Recreation Branch

• Percy's Home Improvements • Port Saint John • PRO Kids • River Valley Septic System • Saint John Energy• Saint John First Wesleyan Church• Saint John Neighbourhood Police

Council • Saint John Real Estate Board • Salvation Army• Sisters of Charity of the

Immaculate Conception • Taylor’s Lawn Care• UCT Jack Kidd Council #755• UNB SJ• VeloNB / NB Trauma Program • Wiggins Home• Youth Enhancement Program of

HWSF School

Thank You to:

CRESCENTVALLEYRESOURCECENTRE.CA