This week at FAME Toronto

Self Care is in the Air

" The most powerful relationship you will ever have, is the relationship with yourself "

- Steve Maraboli

This has been a BIG week for our small but mighty Toronto office . We had a tremendous turn out for our Yoga mindfulness program on Monday night and Tuesdays Support Group was Jam packed with supports and sharing. Amazing to see all our families coming together and engaging in self care.

 

Cultural Perspectives on Mental Illness

The World Within a Block

Our brand spanking NEW OFFICE is located in St James Town, which is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in North America, Due to its cultural and minority demographics, St. James Town is often thought as "the world within a block" representing a large range of languages and cultures.

Being in such a culturally rich environment, I have taken a personal interest into attitudes towards mental health, these attitudes tend to vary among;individuals,families,ethnicities,cultures, religions, beliefs and countries.

For Example;
* Hawaiian Culture suggests chewing khat root, and hashish for mental health concerns.

*Indian Culture ties mental health into karma, the idea that one's actions in a past life determines ones present life's successes, seeing ones mental health illness as a result of the past life.

Feel Good Friday

Is it Christmas?

Today, I wanted to share a feel good moment with you.The New FAME Toronto Office will be running an 8 week Meditative Self-Care Yoga program in Partnership with Family Outreach and Response(details to follow)

I had engaged every outreach opportunity available- short of sending carrier pigeons, when Chobra Yoga Centre came to the rescue.

 What is in these 3 massive boxes you may ask?

 50 FREE YOGA MATS!!!

Due to Vivian Wong and Chobras generosity, now all clients can do their breathing exercises in comfort.
Happy Friday!

Toronto Office

Good Morning! Good Morning! The birds are chirping, the sun is brighter, and the Toronto Office is now OPEN!

 

Alert the Press!!!

Toronto- Office- Open March 3rd!
Laura Vickers
Family Support Worker
laurav@fameforfamilies.com
416-324-5060
Room 2100 (2nd Floor) 333 Sherbourne St 

Toronto-New Group Begins April 29th!
Last Tuesday of the Month from 7:00 to 9:00pm
Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne Street
Room 2008 on the 2nd Floor

Ill save you a seat!

Strangers are Friends You haven't Met Yet

New Toronto Office Update!

In the words of Vince Lombardi, "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary".

As demonstrated by our sizeable excel document, dozens of recycles Caramel Macchiato cups and my sufficiently salt stained boots (ouch, leg cramp) we are meeting and greeting the movers an the shakers of the downtown core.

Through door to door visits, hand written cards, lengthy emails, excessive brochure distribution, attending community agency tours, sending Linkedin messages, joining committees, telephone conferences, providing agency presentations, attending conferences and cold calling. (Excuse me while I catch my breath) We have met the neighbours!

Any networking avenue short of Harry Potters Apparition teleportation, or  beaming through Spock's teleportation devise- we have utilized.

And its working! Onwards and Upwards!!!

Follow us on Twitter or Facebook

FAME: TORONTO EDITION

WHO AM I?

Hello!  I'm Laura Vickers.  Yours truly has a splash of experience working in both judicial and trauma therapy, a sip of work in gerontology, a gulp of experience in newcomer and community settings and a bucket full of enthusiasm. I’ve backpacked on 4 continents but this might be my biggest adventure yet.

 Ok, first things first. Confession time. I am the new Family Support worker at FAME and I am thrilled to be a part of such a lively and passionate team. The excitement and energy surrounding the opening of our new office beats any Rob Ford video (sigh, oh Rob).  Like TFC soccer star Jermain Defoe arriving in Toronto...  FAME - ITS A BIG DEAL! 

The mothership itself is located in St James town at 333 Sherbourne in downtown Toronto, not far from Carlton and Sherbourne- an area representing all shapes and sizes of Toronto's varied population. Our community combines 160 languages and as many as 32,000 people with an average family income that is 41% below city average. FAME  is ready to hit the ground running!

FAME’s reputation and assistance has spoken volumes in the local area and we’ve already found ourselves on the St James Town network committee, participating in Toronto public mental health programs, leading scheduled information sessions, and have a continuously growing client base before we’ve even put a lick of paint on the walls. Our calendar is filling up fast with organizations eager to learn more!

Alright...Alright...I swore I wasn't going to just write facts, but I had to be sure to give you the low down on our neighborhood and quite frankly I'm pretty darn excited about what we are doing. Follow me through the trials and tribulations of opening our new office and thanks for reading!

Follow how things are growing by finding us on Twitter: @FAMEforFAMILIES

And on our Facebook too!