Archive for February, 2011

An idea is just an idea if it stays in your head. Sometimes by sharing it, it can become real. - Caroline MacGillivray, Founder & Executive Director, Caroline MacGillivray

Several weeks ago, our Executive Director, Caroline MacGillivray met with Dr. Melissa Carr from Active Life Health Clinic to seek advice on how to bring acupuncture services to Beauty Night participants. “One of our focuses is to connect our participants to opportunities to improve their health & wellness. I had heard that acupuncture can be used reducing addiction and wanted to find out more about it before introducing it to our participants,” said MacGillivray. “Through an advisory meeting with Dr. Carr, I was able to pin point some of the key areas that acupuncture could benefit the lives of our participants.

Addiction, diabetes 2, depression, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, Hep C, and other health concerns that affect Beauty Night participants could be helped with acupuncture. “I had never tried acupuncture before so I had many concerns,” says MacGillivray with a smile, “Starting with my fear of needles. I was worried about the fact that many of our participants have experienced negative touch. Our makeover program is one of our methods to reintroduce touch in a non-threatening way. I wanted to make sure that participants felt safe.”

Dr. Carr spoke at our Volunteer Education 101 session on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011. According to program coordinator, Tiffany Telford both participants and volunteers were enthusiastic and excited about the concept of acupuncture services being offered at Beauty Night. The question was where would we find someone who could commit to coming twice a month to offer services.

“Vancouver is a small town,” said MacGillivray. “When we were offering outreach at one of our partner organizations, I ran into Laurel Irons, WISH’s Mobile Access Project program coordinator. Laurel and I have worked together before. I was excited as she was offering acupuncture through her mobile acupuncture company 5Shen. Without hesitation, I asked her if she would be interested in offering treatments for our participants.”

Laurel’s response?

“I’m looking forward to reuniting with Caroline MacGillivray & working with Beauty Night Society very soon. Acupuncture with the women 5:30 - 8pm at (our home base) PHS Lifeskills every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month, starting Feb 28. Beauty Night is a wonderful organization. Their vision statement: Because dignity is beautiful.” - Laurel Irons, 5Shen Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy.

With a smile, MacGillivray says, “It is perfect timing and a great fit. Laurel has worked with some of the most vulnerable women in Vancouver as a mentor and to provide acupuncture treatments. I am looking forward to welcoming her to Beauty Night.”

* As a side note, MacGillivray realized if Beauty Night was going to partner with 5Shen to offer acupuncture treatments to the women, it would be helpful to be able to describe how treatments felt. Thanks to Dr. Melissa Carr from Active Life Health Clinic, MacGillivray has become an acupuncture enthusiast! “After my first treatment, I felt completely blissed out,” said MacGillivray, “What a great thing to offer to our participants!”

Makeover + Wellness + Life Skill Development = Life-Makeover

A life-makeover is an opportunity for participants to access the 3 streams of programming to build self-esteem & change their lives.

life skills + makeovers + wellness = life-makeovers.

Wellness (foot care - diabetes 2 screening, walk/run program, yoga & journaling)
Makeover (hair, makeup, nails, skin care, etc) - reintroduction of touch, connecting to community partners for food, shelter, health care
Life Skill Development (goal setting, visioning, personal budgeting)

Participants come in, be accepted as who they are today, make friends, learn new skills & connect to services and opportunities to become leaders in their own community. Since 2007 20% of Monday night volunteers are previous participants. Most have moved onto other organizations for employment & volunteer opportunities

One of our 2011 goals is to have the opportunity to train more of them & give them honorariums to develop the skills set for event facilitation.

On the 3rd Wednesday of the month (known as cheque issue or “welfare Wednesday”, we have low turnout for participants. Starting in January 2011, program co-ordinator, Tiffany Telford & Executive Director Caroline MacGillivray decided to change that Wednesday into Volunteer Education 101.

“During the first session in January, our board walked in to see Lisa Dahling - who brings her massage chair down to offer services to our participants - teaching our volunteers & participants some relaxation massage techniques,” MacGillivray recalls. “It was great to see everyone connecting while developing different skill sets - volunteers and participants.”

“Everyone had a fantastic time. It solved the core issue which was to open or not to open on Cheque Issue. The numbers are low but we feel it is important to have somewhere for the participants to go. Some organizations are not open on Cheque Issue which does not encourage particpants to stay clean and sober.

It also helped us find a way to make sure we have enough volunteers for the times we do get more participants. We want to be able to find opportunities to reward them for coming in not just when they are in need. What we are doing is building a community through our three streams of programming - makeovers, wellness, and life skill development. Thanks to over 400 volunteers we are able to provide programming 3 to 4 days per week.”

This week had a variety of workshop leaders including:

Dr. Melissa Carr, Active Life Health Clinic spoke to our volunteers & participants about the benefits of acupuncture and different pressure points.

Anne Whitmore from Divafish Communications answered questions and offered guidance on goal setting.

Cory Thompson, trainer for Dermalogica set up a Skin Care Bar and taught his engaged audience of participants & volunteers the value of taking 10 minutes per day to take care of their skin. “I have never felt my skin feel so soft,” said one participant enthusiastically.

Laura Fairfield, one of our Sun Run walk/run team leaders spoke about our upcoming campaign & able fitness goal setting.

When asked about the future of this series, MacGillivray replies,”I am excited about having a forum for volunteers, supporters & participants to share their skills and knowledge. I hope that some day in the near future, we have some of the participants doing some of the presentations too.”