Since 2002, community leaders across Canada have been building momentum to bring together those who are committed to innovative local action on poverty issues. In Surrey, this led us to become a member of Vibrant Communities, a national initiative to learn more about how to reduce poverty in our own communities. Vibrant Surrey now has members from every sector of the community including business, city, provincial and federal governments, social service sector, academia, and private citizens.

Vibrant Surrey is made up of leaders from every sector of the community who are committed to improving the economic situation for those living in poverty. Working collaboratively and using practical applications learned from national partners, Vibrant Surrey supports local poverty reduction efforts and complements those with economic development projects that make a real difference in people's lives.

Learning nationally and acting locally, Vibrant Surrey unites leaders from every sector of the community committed to improving the economic situation for those living in poverty.

We help grow local poverty reduction efforts by building networks and increasing opportunities for collaboration. We also provide access to learning and capacity building conferences and workshops.

Through collaborations with our members we help create and fund community economic development projects that make a real difference in people’s lives. 

And through participatory, community-based research, we try to understand the perspectives and reality of those who are affected by poverty in our community.

Vibrant Surrey AGM September 29 2011, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Surrey Arts Centre. The AGM featured a report on the Collaborative Research on Poverty in Surrey (see below for details), an update on the Vibrant Communities Canada evaluation, followed by the business meeting and election of board of directors. A Special Resolution was adopted by the members to amend the bylaws related to number of directors and number of consecutive terms permitted. Click here for a copy of the minutes.

Collaborative Research on Poverty in Surrey. Vibrant Surrey has partnered with Surrey Homelessness and Housing Task Force and Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society to undertake a comprehensive resarch project looking at poverty in Surrey. We have been working closely with Surrey City staff, representatives of Fraser Health and with SPARC BC to compile existing data from a wide variety of poverty statistics. The next part of the Planning Committee's work will be launched under the title of "THIS" - derived from the four key areas that can make a difference in reducing poverty: Transportation, Housing, Income and Supports. Click here to learn more.

Voices of Experience now available for viewing on YouTube. Voices of Experience is a project that hosted a series of dialogue sessions with people living in poverty - specifically women, immigants and youth. The product of the project is a DVD containing 14 stories that convey the real experience of living in poverty. Eight of the stories are now posted on YouTube. You can view them by clicking on Vibrant Videos link on this page. The stories provide powerful messages for the broader community and for policy makers. To receive a complimentary copy of the Voices of Experience DVD, email us at info@vibrantsurrey.ca.

Vibrant Surrey Food Security Initiative. The Vibrant Surrey Board is pleased to announce grants to DiverseCity Community Resource Society and Surrey Urban Mission Society towards their food security projects. A grant of $8,000 was awarded to DCRS toward the Community Kitchen component of their Food Security Hubs program. SUMS received up to $12,000 to produce a business plan for a food co-op serving low income households in Surrey, Congratulations to both groups, and thank you for the work you do to improve access to nutritious and affordable food for low income individuals and families in Surrey.

Living Wage for Families Coalition. Vibrant Surrey is proud to support this initiative by co-hosting a forum for employers in Arpil 2011, and signing on to the Open Letter to Municipal Candidates in October. Click here to learn more about Living Wage employers.

In March of 2010 Vibrant Surrey adopted a renewed Framework for Change.