CommunityBeCause Radio shares stories about people who care for our community.
What do you care about? We care about it too! Discover the Causes people care about, and what drives them to give back. The Foundation’s radio show BeCause Radio, hosted by Robert Zirk and Sonny Primolo, featured stories about local charities, impact-makers, and Foundation activities. The show broadcasts on CJNU 93.7 FM but is currently on hiatus. Past episodes are available at becauseradio.org.
Keeping learners connected on their education journeys
When Stevenson-Britannia Adult Learning Centre (SBALC) had to shift its programs online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it began working to address barriers faced by many of its learners: isolation, lack of access to technology, and difficulty in connecting through online learning platforms.
“As much as [our learners] appreciated the daily emails and phone calls, what they really wanted was to see their teacher – not a YouTube video, but their actual teacher, teaching in the classroom,” says Jennifer Muir, executive director of SBALC.
A grant through The Winnipeg Foundation allowed SBALC to set up live streaming for its classes. It has also resumed smaller, socially distanced in-person classes, and students can drop in or make an appointment to meet with their teachers.
“Our greatest successes in this pandemic year have been staying open, staying healthy, and being able to support our learners through that.”
Original air date: March 11, 2021
Celebrating and promoting Manitoban and Canadian black history
In 2021, Black History Manitoba (BHM) celebrated its 40th anniversary of honouring, recognizing and celebrating Black history in Manitoba and Canada.
“We respect those who came before us, and for those who are coming up after us, we want to make sure we have a platform and steady base for them to continue what we’re doing,” says Nadia Thompson, chair of BHM.
Outreach and education are key to combating racism and discrimination, and one of BHM’s goals is for Black history to be included in the school curriculum.
“It’s important to help change the narrative that’s out there when we’re talking about Black history,” says Thompson.
“We need to start within, and if we’re not educating ourselves, then how can we educate others?”
Original air date: June 17, 2021
Building connections with nature
With more than 50 years of conservation efforts and 660 acres of urban greenspace, FortWhyte Alive continues to grow with the community and nature around it.
“We’ve got forests, marshes, and lakes – that’s all the hard work of a group of passionate people that wanted to see this area restored to its natural state,” says Carolyn Townend, communications and brand manager at FortWhyte Alive.
Through its green spaces, programs, and events, FortWhyte Alive encourages Winnipeggers to visit and appreciate the calm and clarity of mind that nature can provide. “Our mission and philosophy remain the same: when you connect with nature, you build a central relationship with it; that, in turn, leads you to care about [nature] and take care of it.” says Townend.
Original air date: Aug. 16, 2021
This story is featured in the Fall 2021 issue of our Working Together magazine. Download or view the full issue on our Publications page.