2024
Willow Place Spring 2024 E-News
Mother’s Day
RISK FACTORS FOR WOMEN
As we prepare to celebrate mothers this May, we are also acutely aware that violence against women remains the number one global human rights concern. Although all people, genders and cultures are welcome to reach out to Willow Place for violence prevention supports, the vast majority of those we help are women and children. Sadly, expectant mothers and mothers with young children face higher risk factors for intimate partner and family violence. When thinking of violence against women, it is important to know that most often the abuser or abusers are family members, intimate partners or close connections of the victim.
This Mother’s Day, please consider helping Willow Place sustain no-cost supports for women and children forced to flee violent situations. You can make a one-time donation, or become a monthly subscriber by clicking here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/27770
Summer Day Camp
DONORS AND GRANTS SUPPORT CHILDREN
Every year in late June through the month of August, Willow Place offers a summer day camp program for children in our violence prevention shelter program. This program is made possible thanks to annual staffing grants from Canada Summer Jobs. Willow Place also reaches out to recreation organizations and museums to provide enriching and educational options for the day camp. For most of our shelter children and their parents, these outings are a first-time experience.
Thanks to these exceptional organizations who have already pledged free admissions for summer day camp attendees: Royal Canadian Aviation Museum of Western Canada, Assiniboine Park Conservancy (Zoo and the Leaf), and the Manitoba Museum!
Willow Place is currently accepting job applications from university or college students who are returning to school in fall 2024. For info and to apply: https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob?cmp=Willow-Place-Inc&t=Camp+Counselor&jk=c53e68318b294188&xpse=SoDO67I3CQEo1twYoZ0LbzkdCdPP&xkcb=SoDd67M3D-KXJ4Qxmx0JbzkdCdPP&vjs=3
Staff Feature
MEET SHELTER PROGRAM TEACHER, MRS. S.
How long have you been in your current role?
I started with a half-time position in February, 2016. The Director and Board felt strongly that children should have full-time school, so they hired me on a contract basis to work with the children in the afternoons. In 2019, the Department of Education, now known as Inclusion Support Branch of Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning, funded the program full-time.
Please describe your typical work day in three words:
Awe-inspiring, Interactive, Safe
Why did you choose to teach in the shelter setting?
The principal of Interdivisional Student Services, Dee Smith, call me and offered an interview for the teaching role at Willow Place. We met at a Safeway and she drove me to Willow Place for a tour, to see if I was interested in the position. I went for the tour and, as they say, “the rest is history!” I have loved every day since then.
Have there been “aha” moments from teaching you can share?
I was teaching a grade three student who was behind in their reading. He was at a grade one level. We worked on learning the sounds of the letters using McCracken spelling. He said,”I didn’t know you could sound out words.” After working on the letters, he was able to start writing words and he was reading books by the time he left shelter.
What are the most challenging aspects of your work?
The most challenging aspect of my job is when children are turned off of school because of the trauma they are facing, being in a house where they have witnessed domestic violence, and the teacher does not understand. The beauty of our school is we work on helping children get their brains out of fight and flight mode, and into social engagement and their brains can learn again.
Who influenced your career choices as a student?
I cannot think of a particular teacher that influenced me, but I knew that I wanted to work with children.
Can you share a quote or song that inspires you?
“Find something you care about, and live a life that shows it.” – author unknown
Our shelter classroom and full-time teacher (grades K-8) is provided by Interdivisional Student Services, Winnipeg School Division, and funded by the Inclusion Support Branch (Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning).
THANK YOU, MRS. S. – WE’RE SO GLAD YOU ARE PART OF OUR TEAM!
Pink Walls
PERFORMER SUPPORTS VIOLENCE AWARENESS
In recent weeks, Willow Place was contacted by Canadian pianist and singer-songwriter, Esther Ling. Esther released her debut single, Pink Walls, and wanted to share it with violence prevention charities Canada-wide. The song is about the impact of violence upon children, and tells the story of trauma and recovery. In this poignant song, a young woman recalls the pink walls of her childhood bedroom where she hid from family violence.
Listen to Pink Walls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlYeveZBPxQ
About Esther Ling: https://www.estherlingpianist.com/
Follow Esther: https://www.instagram.com/estherlingpianist
Thank you, Esther for sharing your beautiful artistry with us! Watch for an upcoming public education series on our social media this June aligned the United Nations’ June 4 observance, International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (Child Victim Day), featuring the beautiful music and lyrics of Esther Ling’s, Pink Walls.
Spring Wellness
RAINBOW INSPIRATION FOR IMPROVED HEALTH
Spring is finally here and it is a great time to revisit wellness goals. When it comes to nutrition, more and more health promotion organizations are recommending “eating the rainbow” for improved well-being. Based on the Mediterranean diet consisting of an array of colourful vegetables and fruit, healthy fats and moderate, lean proteins, eating the rainbow has been shown to support immune and heart health, as well as healthy weight goals. Possibly you have heard the phrase, “we eat with our eyes” – enjoying food truly is a sensory process involving taste, scent, texture and sight. Beyond improved appearance and sensory aspects, selecting a wide variety of colourful foods helps to ensure that a healthy assortment of essential nutrients, vitamins, and fibre are present in the daily diet.
Want to learn more? Here are some helpful links to get started:
RAINBOW EATING BASICS: https://the-rainbow-diet.com/articles/the-colourful-mediterranean-diet/what-can-i-eat-on-the-real-rainbow-diet/
RAINBOW RECIPE BOOK: https://www.amazon.ca/Rainbow-Recipes-Inspired-Health-Benefits/dp/095653919X
Inspiring Community Support
PEGCITY STEPPERS COMBINE ACTIVE LIVING & ACTIVISM!
Earlier this spring, Willow Place was fortunate to receive very generous donation support from a Winnipeg active living group called PegCity Steppers. This group meets regularly to exercise and connect socially. Although they started as a BIPOC activity group, all cultures are welcome and invited to participate. All levels of fitness are also included and encouraged to participate. Members benefit in many ways, including through improved motivation and resulting fitness outcomes!
Aside from their dynamic healthy living focus, the Steppers also like to incorporate community support into their activities. On March 8th they hosted an International Women’s Day get-together, including a virtual presentation on Willow Place services and the topic of violence prevention. Those attending brought priority donations for Willow Place’s busy violence prevention shelter program, which were later delivered to our community outreach/flex office by PegCity Steppers founder, Shana, and member, Meridith.
We are so inspired by PegCity Steppers and are grateful for the awareness they raised. Additionally, their monetary gifts, and a large collection of toiletries, hygiene, and self-care items will greatly-benefit vulnerable populations in our shelter program.
How to Help
VIOLENCE PREVENTION – WE NEED CARING COMMUNITY
Increasingly, Willow Place relies upon both monetary and in-kind donations to sustain no-cost, 24-hour violence prevention supports for Manitobans in crisis. If you would like to help out, but are unsure what to do, there are many ways to offer support! No support is too small – every supportive action has potential to positively impact for those in need. Here are a few options and ideas:
- Follow us on social media – please like and share
- Subscribe to and read our quarterly e-news – share with your contacts
- Consider becoming a MONTHLY DONATION SUBSCRIBER – just $10 or $20 monthly can have a big impact for those in need, and subscriptions make great gifts as well! CLICK HERE!
- Check out our shelter program WISH LIST and call 204-615-0313, ext. 237 or ext. 231 to set up your donation drop-off appointment CLICK HERE!
- Purchase something on our AMAZON WISH LIST ((insert link here)) and contact us re: drop off (same as above) CLICK HERE!
- Donate gently-used towels or blankets for the shelter program
- Donate household items and clothing to our community partners, Centre Flavie-Laurent and The Helping Hand (these cannot be accepted at the shelter program due to space and staffing limitations)
Questions? Need more information? Call 204-615-0313, ext. 237 (weekdays, daytime)
