The PaceSetter

Issue #85 - February 2012
From the desk of Brigitte Witkowski:
Executive Director of Mainstay Housing

In This Issue:

February LARC Calendar
Medication Chart
LARC: Learning & Resource Centre
Board of Directors

February 2012 Learning and Resource Centre Calendar The LARC is closed on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, unless otherwise noted.
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
		1 CLOSED	2 Popcorn & movie 1 — 3 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	3 CLOSED
6 CLOSED	7 CLOSED	8 CLOSED	9 Popcorn & movie 1 — 3 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	10 CLOSED
13 CLOSED	14 Valentine’s Day Party 12 — 2 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	15 CLOSED	16 Popcorn & movie 1 — 3 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	17 CLOSED
20 CLOSED Office is closed	21 Community Kitchen Cooking from 11 — 1 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	22 CLOSED	23 Popcorn & movie 1 — 3 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	24 CLOSED
27 CLOSED	28 Community Kitchen Cooking from 11 — 1 pm Drop-in: Computer Room Clothing Room	29 CLOSED
Regular LARC Programs: Community Kitchen Held every Tuesday from 11am - 1pm Come and learn to prepare and cook meals which are fast, affordable and tasty. Two TTC tickets will be provided upon completion. Must arrive before 11am Popcorn & Movie Held every Thursday from 1 - 3. Come and watch an exciting movie while enjoying popcorn and light refreshments. Drop In Available every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 - 4. Computer and Clothing Room available, a common area to read, do activities and there's always someone to talk to. Free coffee and tea. Book sign-outs available. Pancake Brunch is on the last day of every month from 10-12: All for only $2.00

Medication Chart

This provides some basic information on medications that are commonly prescribed for various mood disorders, however you should talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about medication you are taking.

Learning & Resource Centre (LARC)

bird graphic In October 2001, Mainstay embarked on a new project with the tenants in mind. The objective of this initiative was to provide a welcoming place for tenants where they have access to both information and resources. All tenants are free to participate as little or as much as they choose. Mainstay acknowledged at the beginning of this project that there were many tenants who were socially isolated. Many of these tenants do not often leave their apartments, let alone venture far beyond the building they live in. With only two objectives in mind, to increase opportunities for tenant participation, and to provide opportunities for skills development, Mainstay secured suite 201 of 761 Queen St. W. This space is equipped with a fully functioning kitchen, a computer room with 3 Internet accessible computers, and a lending library for Mainstay tenants to use.

In January 2002, an Advisory Group was formed from tenants of various Mainstay buildings. This group was given the task of developing a centre that was truly theirs. The advisory group tackled the very difficult task of giving tenants a space that stood out from all other drop-ins centres. The first step, as addressed by one of the advisory group members, was giving it a name. The members indicated that the centre needed to have an active title instead of a passive one, and suggested calling it the ‘Learning and Resource Centre’ (or LARC).

The Learning and Resource Centre had its grand opening on March 1, 2002, when all tenants, staff, agencies, and Board of Directors were invited to explore the new tenant space. Throughout this time, the advisory group continued to work on its operational framework. The group felt that in order to have tenants take ownership of the centre, it was imperative that the mission statement of Mainstay, and a statement of appropriate behaviours be clearly displayed for all tenants to read and understand. The statement is as follows:

All tenants who use the Learning and Resource Centre are expected to follow these stated rules:

Use the Learning and Resource Centre in an appropriate and responsible manner;
Treat other tenants with respect;
Follow the nondiscrimination policy of Mainstay;
Respect the Learning and Resource Centre property;
Respect the property of other tenants;
Zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use in the Learning and Resource Centre.
All tenants will be held responsible if they do not follow the statement of appropriate behaviours.

After developing this statement of appropriate behaviours, they also discussed the method that would most appropriately deal with tenants that were unable to abide by this statement. They collectively agreed that it was necessary to speak with the individual before making a decision as to the next step. With the tenants in mind, the group also developed a needs assessment to determine what programming other tenants would be interested in, and to also get other tenants involved in all operational aspects of the Learning and Resource Centre.

The first area of programming that a number of tenants said they were most interested in was developing a community kitchen. On April 24, 2002, the group held a community dinner to get other tenants involved in developing a tenant community kitchen at the Learning and Resource Centre. The group, realizing that there was no funding available to develop this community kitchen, also decided to hold an all-you-can-eat pancake brunch fundraiser to buildup a monetary reserve for future programs. This fundraiser was successfully held on April 30, 2002.

Would you like to serve on the Mainstay Board of Directors?

Linda Chamberlain, Past President, speaking about serving on the Board of Directors:

I served on the Board of Directors for 6 years. I ran for the Board because I knew how lucky I was to live in Mainstay housing. I wanted to give back and be a voice for all tenants and advocate for housing to help make Mainstay become the best it can be for all of us.

My goal was to get tenants to run like I did because I know we are very special people, who all have talent.

Being on the Board gave me knowledge of what great staff we are lucky to have. The staff believe in and care about us and go beyond the call of duty for us. Brigitte, our Executive Director, is amazing.

As a Board member, I was able to join the Boards for Mental Health Housing Services, which consists of many housing agencies in Toronto and I became part of its Dream Team, whose goal is to educate, advocate and inform groups and individuals about the need for more affordable housing in the City of Toronto. We have made presentations to politicians and at annual general meetings on how housing has changed our lives for the better. We emphasize the need for more safe, affordable, and supportive housing in the City of Toronto for the homeless, and people with mental illness and special needs. I got to attend different conferences, meet tenants, staff and directors of many agencies, meeting great speakers like Maude Barlow, a political activist, author, policy critic.

Being on the Board has given me so many opportunities to grow and gain a better understanding of my abilities and just how much I can do, that I never thought I could. I sit on the Clinical Ethics Subcommittee at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and I am a member of the Equity and Access Committee of this group. That is what being on the Board did for me. It gave me confidence and self-assurance.

Serving on the Board helped me work on my wellness, not my illness, but most importantly, being on the board showed me how lucky I was to be part of great organization.

If you are interested in serving on Mainstay's Board of Directors, please call Nancy, at 416-703-9266, ext. 233, who can give you some more information.