Newsletter: February 2025
A FEW WORDS FROM:
MARLEE POOLE, OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER
So, how about this weather?
It may normally be small talk, but the snow from this last week has me thinking a lot about balance. The sunny skies and cool air both energize me and remind me to care for myself by keeping warm. As a Métis youth from the prairies, balance for me is about setting good intentions and boundaries when it comes to my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
I’m reflecting on how I can better process current events and have healthier screen time (I’m a doomscroller), move my body in ways that feel good, and be more present in my communities. In my teachings, winter is traditionally a time to rest, nourish, and reflect. Last month, the CityHive team held our annual Action Planning Retreat, where we shared impactful moments from 2024 and our priorities for the year ahead. To me, this year is about finding balance in how we grow and refine our programs/services, how we nurture our relationships within community, and how we sustain our work as a youth-led organization. All of this is connected to our new 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, which will be available to read very soon!
I hope that you’re able to keep warm and balanced – whatever that looks like for you!
pishapmishko (“take care” in Michif),
Marlee Poole, they/she
Operations Manager
JOIN CITYHIVE’S 2025 YOUTH ADVISORY
Ready to lead change and shape youth engagement in Metro Vancouver? We’re looking for 8 passionate youth (18-30ish) to help guide CityHive’s programs and future!
Up to $300 honorarium
Influence strategies & goals
Connect with changemakers
Build leadership & advisory skills
BIPOC, newcomer, disabled & underrepresented voices are strongly encouraged to apply!
WE ARE HIRING!
Graphic Design & Communications Assistant
We are looking for a communications and social media savvy individual to lead our presence on social media channels and grow our reach to youth, all in alignment with our Strategic Plan. This is a great part-time position for a student or contractor interested in engaging, dynamic, and fun work!
PROGRAM UPDATES
CLIMATEWORKS LAB HIGHLIGHTS
The ClimateWorks Lab is well into our action phase of the program! Participants are now easing into monthly meetings, rather than weekly. Instead of regular meeting, learning, and planning – participants are taking their plans outside of our cohort and into their workplaces and communities.
We have been delighted to welcome in a few new participants to the program, identify core values of each participant's action plan, and tackle barriers to action as an entire cohort. One of the joys of this program is that we are all youths, figuring out how to make change together. I am excited to continue watching plans unfold, pair participants up with mentors and see how each person stewards change in ways that honour their interests and strengths.
- Anjali Carter-Rau (ClimateWorks Lab Coordinator)
CITYSHAPERS IN COMMUNITIES HIGHLIGHTS
This past month, CityShapers in Communities partnered with youth at Marpole, Mount Pleasant, and Little Mountain Neighbourhood Houses to explore how young people can take civic action on issues they care about. We used Deepa Iyer's Social Change Ecosystem Map to identify the diverse roles individuals can play in social change movements. Across the workshops, participants resonated with a wide range of roles, from builders, visionaries, healers, disrupters and more. This highlighted the importance of having a variety of roles represented in any successful social change effort, as each contributes uniquely to creating lasting impact.
If you want to book the CityShapers in Communities program for your organisation’s youth program, reach out to Mackenzie at mackenzie@cityhive.ca to learn more!
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