We will be hosting our AGM on July 4th 2016 at 5:30pm in the old wading pool in beautiful Girouard Park. Theres lot’s on the agenda- we will tell you about the year we had, exciting plans for the future, we will vote in new board members,  and we will be proposing a number of bylaw changes! We are going to need your input and help! The proposed changes document is long, and text heavy, so please take a look at them before the AGM.  If you would prefer to talk them through rather then read them, that’s no problem- just get in touch and we’d be more than happy to chat. Of course, you should also get in touch if you have any questions.

Thanks! See you on the 4th of July, if not sooner!

Is there a better feeling than the excitement that  comes from putting our gloves and coats back into our closet for the next six month, and saying goodbye to the boots we pranced around in all winter long?

It’s finally time to welcome Spring, and of course, the arrival of a new season is usually coupled with the welcoming of new and exciting challenges.

For people like me who have missed out on accomplishing their early New Year’s resolutions  (like heading back to the gym or starting to eat healthier) thankfully the arrival of buds can often be a second chance for new beginnings, thus creating an improved and empowered versions of ourselves.

On my side, I am ‘in ’between beginning my contract as a new Serve coordinator and ‘’restarting’’ my diet left between the doors of February and March.

The countdown has begun! For the next few months,  with the help of our dynamic and motivated team, we will work together, mixing all the best ingredients to make the 11^th  annual Serve an amazing experience.

Serve is an initiative that we put on for old and new friends of Head & Hands, but for those who are hearing it for the first time, let me give you a little introduction:

Serve is the fundraising idea of the century!  It’s the perfect fusion of community action and education. Through this volleyball tournament, bars and restaurants  face off to fundraise for the Sense Project, our sexual education program.  In 2005, the Quebec government removed sex education as a mandatory part of the curriculum, so Head & Hands created the Sense Project to fill that gap.

Let me give you 5 kicking good reasons why you should be at Serve on July 24^th.

1. “Bow down’’ to the sand: if you’re like me and you hate that annoying crunching noise of boots on snow, Serve is the perfect time to enjoy the beach volleyball courts and to let the little grains of sand caress your feet.
2. Combine the useful and the enjoyable, by supporting a good cause: help us in our mission to inform and educate our youth! The Sense Project is coordinated by amazing animators who travel around Montreal responding to youths’ questions and giving workshops.
3. Take the chance to be carried away by new smiles: if you’re like me and your winter has ended with a tough break-up, Serve will be a great opportunity to embrace all things new, because when you smile at life, life smiles back.
4. Sip some refreshing beer or pop in the warm weather, definitely what we love most about summer.
5. Allow yourself to cut loose a little, to step out of your daily routine : because every summer has its story.

#Sunscreen #sunglasses #beach #volleyball #drinks #Sunday: you’ve got all the #best #summer #hashtags at #Servemtl. Mark July 24th into your schedule and come share in the fun.

Give the Gift: A Love Letter for Head & Hands

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

For the past seven months, I have been working at Head & Hands as a Special Events and Fundraising Assistant, and what a journey has it been. Although, it is now time for us to part ways, it certainly is not the end of one of the healthiest most wonderful, and rewarding relationship, I have ever experienced. It has been a labour of love from beginning to end, every second spent at H&H has been magical. Of course, I was already quite familiar with the organization, but I did not expect to be this enthralled. From the first moment I stepped foot into the office, I fell in love with the staff, the clients, its mission, programs and services, and even its oddly charming offices.It has never been a chore to get up in the morning to go work, because I know that every day is filled with a degree of excitement. It is with great sadness that I have to  leave the first job that I actually genuinely loved and enjoyed, but it only makes me appreciate the organization even more. My time at H&H has truly been a life-changing experience that I will forever cherish, and from the bottom of my heart I thank H&H not only for all that it has given me, but for all of the amazing work it does for its clients and the community. In my heart H&H is the best nonprofit organization out there, and it deserves all the support it can get.

Whether or not one could argue that Valentine’s day has been commercialized and is no longer representative of a celebration of love, the presence of love all around us is undeniable, and with everything happening around the world, there is no harm in being reminded that love is the most powerful and positive energy in the universe. Love and compassion are the driving force that compels us to work for social change. Although some of us tend to ignore the holiday all together, out of principle, a lack of interest, or because we are single, it is of the utmost importance to take a second to think about everyone we appreciate, and most of all take care ourselves. Ok so, Valentine’s Day is just like every other day, and we should celebrate love on a daily basis, but if you have been forgetful lately, why not use the day as an excuse to take yourself out on a date,  treat yourself to something nice, or just do something that makes you feel good? Give the Gift is a great way to make you feel good about yourself, and also a way of making a difference in your community, by supporting Head & Hands (H&H).

If you care about H&H and its clients as much as I do, Valentine’s Day is a wonderful occasion to show your appreciation and devotion to the organization by “giving the gift” of making a difference and making yourself feel good in the process. Give the Gift  to everyone to help us meet the growing demand for our medical, social, and legal services! This past year alone, our health services were accessed by over 1,200 youth, close to 6,520 clean injection kits were distributed by our Street Worker, and an estimated 309 people registered for the emergency food pantry. No matter who is on the receiving end, there is nothing more satisfying than the goodness that comes from a donation being made in one’s honour to support youth in our community.

Gifts of all sizes make a difference to Montreal youth:

• $15 provides 2 days of healthy food for a young family
• $25 funds one counselling session
• $50 covers the cost of 5 after-school tutoring sessions
• $75 allows us to give one sexual health workshop to a group of youth
• $250 puts our Street Worker in the community for 15 hours of outre
• ach, distributing clean needles, crack pipes, and condoms
• $500 foots the bill for one week of evening medical clinics

On September 24th 2015, Jam for Justice (J4J) a little know non-profit student organization that organizes and hosts benefit concerts to support community organizations and Montreal’s local talent, took L’Alizé’s stage by storm to support Head & Hands. The crew took the initiative via Head & Hands’ peer-to-peer third party fundraising program Solidarity Through Action. The benefit concert focused on the MusikAddict program offered by Head & Hands’ very own Jeunesse 2000 (J2K) youth drop-in center. The production drew a significant crowd by showcasing acts such as MOOCH, Winterstone, as well as Magi Merlin, and   raised funds for our programs.

President Dave Fang, VP Michelle Shi, VP External Jamie Snytte, VP Design Prerna Ramaswamy, VP Internal Liang Chen, and VP Finance/Charity of the McGill Students’ Chapter of Jam for Justice Aidan Steinmetz-Wood, gracefully provided us with some insight into Jam for Justice. The team works wonders together and makes a concerted effort to promote social change through music..

The J4J crew Michelle Shi, Aidan Steinmetz-Wood, and Toby Moore

H&H: Why did you decide to organize a benefit concert for Head & Hands specifically?

Aidan: For each benefit concert, all the execs research a charity that is important to them and that they want to donate to. We then have a meeting and vote on which one we all like best. For this concert, Head & Hands was actually my choice. My mom worked with you guys when she was in her twenties, so I looked you guys up and really liked what I saw. We really liked the idea behind the MusikAddict program that promotes musical growth in kids and teenagers, so we decided to donate to you guys.

Magi Merlin

H&H: Why did you get involved with Solidarity Through Action by holding your own fundraiser?

Aidan: I think that third party funding is important because it supports charities that may not have the manpower to fundraise for themselves, and it helps expose the charities to the world. As a University chapter one of our main goals is to expose McGill students to local charities and initiatives. Many students are not from Montreal and just stay in the “McGill Bubble”, so they aren’t exposed to what’s going on in much of the city. Our concerts introduce these students to different charities and organizations that they can support or get involved with.”

Jam for Justice takes great pride in helping community organizations and its youth by showcasing local musical talent in innovative ways. Head & Hands is extremely grateful to Jam for Justice for working in solidarity with others, to encourage social change while promoting youth empowerment through engagement.   

Mooch

Solidarity Through Action is a great way to get involved and support Head & Hands’ core programs and services. To find out more about Solidarity Through Action please visit our webpage “Run an Event” or contact our Funding and Partnerships Coordinator at 514-481-0277 or funds@headandhands.ca  

Please have a look at  the McGill Students Chapter of Jam for Justice‘s facebook page, as well at the Jam for Justice page to see their upcoming events, and the amazing work they have been doing. If you wish to join-in the efforts please feel free to consult their website jamforjustice.org

Last month, we were extremely saddened to share the news that our dear colleague Paul passed away suddenly on Friday April 3^rd, 2015. Paul was one of our two Street Workers, and provided on-the-spot support to NDG youth where, when, and how they needed it. His dedication, empathy, and joy were both infectious and inspiring. The loss of this unique and wonderful person is deeply felt throughout the many communities Paul touched with his light.

Please join us in celebrating Paul’s memory and time with us. On Tuesday May 26^th, we invite community members to gather together to plant seeds around NDG – in honour of Paul’s impact on the neighbourhood. The seeds we will help support and nourish bees contributing to environmental and community wellbeing; philosophies that embodied Paul’s work and represents Head & Hands’ approach to holistic health.

There are a number of ways to participate in this memorial:

• On May 26^th you can join us at 5833 Sherbrooke West (our main office) to pick up seedbombs as of 2pm. You are invited to join a small walking group that will leave around 2:15pm or you can grab the seeds and commemorate Paul in your own way.
• We will give out seeds until they run out – so if you can’t make it on the 26^th and would like to participate, give us a call and if we have any left we would be happy for you to come get some.

If you need support, we invite you to please call us at our main office at 514-481-0277.  

The Serve Tournament needs YOU for our volunteer Planning Committee!

The Serve Tournament, an annual beach volleyball tournament fundraiser, is seeking three (3) people to join its volunteer Planning Committee! Now in its 10^th consecutive year, Serve raises funds to support the Sense Project, Head & Hands’ non-judgmental and inclusive sex education program by and for youth. This year’s tournament will take place Sunday July 26^th at Parc Jeanne Mance (corner of Park and Duluth).

The Planning Committee is responsible for supporting the Serve Coordinator in various aspects of organizing the event. Volunteers are asked to commit an average of 15 hours per month, from May 1^st 2015 to August 1^st 2015.

We are looking for individuals to fill the following positions:

Sponsorships Coordinator: The Sponsorship Coordinator will be responsible for securing food and prize sponsorships for the event. Responsibilities include: researching potential sponsorships, approaching local businesses for food and prize sponsorships, picking up prizes, documentation and follow up, and thanking sponsors.

Participant Coordinators (2): The Participant Coordinators will work directly with the Serve Coordinator to establish relationships with bars, restaurants, cafés, and other establishments participating in the tournament. Responsibilities include: recruiting and signing up teams, supporting teams with fundraising efforts, attending bar/restaurant fundraisers. ***Due to provincial liquor laws, volunteers for this position must be over the age of 18***

In addition to these profiles, all volunteers will assist with promotion and outreach regarding the event including social media updates, postering/flyering, and helping get the word out about Serve! In exchange for your time, we are happy to offer leadership development and support, skill building, letters of reference, and/or volunteer hours.

To apply, email Kay at serve@headandhands.ca with a cover letter explaining which position interests you, why you want to get involved with Serve, and what you would bring to the Planning Committee (you can talk about your previous experiences, motivation, personal interests – anything you feel is relevant to the position!). Working knowledge of both French and English is required for these public-facing positions, but letters may be submitted in either language.\

Applications are due April 24^th at 10:00 A.M!

Head & Hands welcomes the contributions that individuals from traditionally marginalized communities bring to the organization. We encourage applicants to identify in their letter the unique perspective they would bring to Head & Hands. Please also feel free to consult our website for tips on writing a cover letter!

Click here for a PDF: Committee callout_ english