Issue 87 December 2006 Subscription: a donation towards our work

• John Jackson - Mayors’ DinnerGuest of Honour

• Ecological Restoration: Inte-grated Models of Cooperation

• The Meaning of Hospitality• 97 Victoria St. N. Open House• Outreach Develops in

Dowtown Kitchener• Working Centre projects• Wendell Berry - People, Land,

and Fidelity

Come see whatKitchener’s largest

furniture andhousewares recycling

centre has to offer thisholiday season!We offer a wide range of

quality used goods ataffordable prices, including:

Children’s Toys & GamesTables & Chairs

Art & CraftsCookware

Books

Christmas DecorationsMusic Cassettes & LPs

Small AppliancesJewellery

And More!

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This year, we recycled over 93,000 items, keeping tonnes ofmaterial out of local landfills!

97 VictoriaStreet North

(519) 569-7566

Monday - Friday:9:00am- 5:00pm

Saturdays:9:00am - 4:00pm

An Inconvenient TruthMichelle Dick

Excerpts from Al Gore’sAn Inconvenient Truth:

The Planetary Emergency ofGlobal Warming and What We

Can Do About itI have learned much more about this

issue over the years. I have read and lis-tened to the world’s leading scientists,who have offered increasingly dire warn-ings. I have watched with growing con-cern as the crisis gathers strength evenmore rapidly than anyone expected.

In every corner of the globe, on landand in water, in melting ice and disap-pearing snow, during heat waves anddroughts, in the eyes of hurricanes andin the tears of refugees – the world iswitnessing mounting and undeniableevidence that nature’s cycles are pro-foundly changing.

I have learned that, beyond death andtaxes, there is at least one absolutely in-disputable fact: Not only does human-caused global warming exist, but it is alsogrowing more and more dangerous, andat a pace that has now made it a plan-etary emergency.

As I’ve travelled around the worldgiving my slide show, there are two ques-tions I most often get – particularly inthe United States – from people who

already know how serious the crisis hasbecome:

1)“Why do so many people still be-lieve the crisis isn’t real?” and

2)“Why is this a political issue at all?”My response to the first question has

been to try to make my slide show – asclear and compelling as I can. As forwhy so many people still resist what thefacts clearly show, I think, in part, thereason is that the truth about climatecrisis is an inconvenient one that meanswe are going to have to change the waywe live our lives. Most of these changeswill turn out to be for the better – thingswe should really do for other reasonsanyways – but they are inconvenientnonetheless. Whether these changesinvolve something as minor as adjustingthe thermostat and using different lightbulbs, or as major as switching from oiland coal to renewable fuels, they willrequire effort.

But the answer to the first question isalso linked to the second question. Thetruth about global warming is especiallyinconvenient and unwelcome to somepowerful people and companies makingenormous sums of money from activitiesthey know full well will have to changedramatically in order to ensure the plan-et’s livability.

Worth a Second LookBy Don Gingerich

Worth a Second Look Furnitureand Housewares grew out of a con-versation with the Society of St. Vin-cent de Paul about transforming theold thrift store at 97 Victoria into arevitalized community venture.

Our goal was to initiate a commu-nity-wide effort to decrease theamount of furniture and housewareitems that end up in landfills, whilecreating a welcoming, clean and in-teresting recycling centre.

Worth a Second Look has evolvedas a community tools project that isunique in the way that it is structuredand the way that it functions.

The goal of a Community Toolproject is the wide involvement ofthose not able to work in the regularlabour market and those wanting tocontribute in many different ways.

Those involved do not perceive theirefforts as charity but rather as an ef-fort towards contributing to the goodof society. The practicality of theprojects helps everyone stay focusedon the tasks at hand. This way of de-veloping community provides oppor-tunities for individuals to express theircreativity and skills in a meaningfulway. It is work that facilitates environ-mental sustainability and the meansto help individuals to meet basic ma-terial needs and creative desires.Since January 2006:

over 93,789 used items have beenrecycled

39,634 houseware items3,754 pieces of furniture14,227 books

Up to 29 individuals volunteer eachweek, resulting in 11,200 volunteerhours

December 2006 Good Work News Page 2

Twenty-Second Year Issue 87 December 2006

Good Work NewsGood Work News was first produced in September 1984. It is pub-lished four times a year by The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchenas a forum of opinions and ideas on work and unemployment. Thereis a circulation of 9,500 copies. Subscription: a donation towards ourwork.

Editors: Joe Mancini, Stephanie Mancini, JenniferMains,John R. Smith

Editorial comments, changes of address and new subscrip-tions should be directed to:

The Working Centre58 Queen Street South

Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 1V6Phone: (519) 743-1151, Fax: (519) 743-3840

e-mail: genmail@theworkingcentre.orgwww.theworkingcentre.org

Canada Post Bulk #05306256Charitable Registration #13092 9607 RR0001

The Working Centre is pleased to announce that

John JacksonJohn JacksonJohn JacksonJohn JacksonJohn Jacksonwill be Guest of Honour for the 20th Annual Mayors’ Dinner

In recognition of his personal commitment to environmentalissues in the Province of Ontario

Saturday April 14, 2007The Mayors’ Dinner is an evening that celebrates individualswho have made outstanding contributions to our community

We invite you to become involved by buying tickets, purchasinga community table for your group, company or church,

purchasing sponsorships or contributing an item for the auction. For more details, please call

Kara at (519)743-1151 x119.

John Jackson is a citizen of Kitchener who has worked for almostthirty years as a dedicated environmentalist. He has used his consid-

erable organizing, writing and speaking skills to work with a widerange of citizen groups throughout Ontario, mainly on waste man-agement, contamination issues, and Great Lakes ecology. John hasbeen President for 6 years and a Board member for 25 years of GreatLakes United, which is a coalition of citizens, environmental, labourand conservation groups from Canada, the United States, and FirstNations working to protect the Great Lakes. John has also been thecoordinator of the Citizens Network on Waste Management, whichis a coalition of grass-roots, citizens' groups working on waste issues.

John Jackson has devoted the past thirty years to helping citizensprotect their communities from assaults on the environment. He has

worked with citizens in all parts of the Great Lakes on a wide range ofenvironmental issues from the push for zero discharge of the contami-nants most threatening to human and wildlife health, to preventing

the excess use and needless diversion of the waters of the GreatLakes, to promoting waste reduction and preventing needless incin-erators and landfills from being built. The Mayors’ Dinner will cel-ebrate John’s life long commitment to environmental issues through

supporting citizen groups to respond to environmental issues.

Contributors: Joe Johnson, Glenn Fretz, Jesse Robertson,M. A. Grubbs, Don Gingerich, Angie Freeman,Michelle Dick, and Rebecca Mancini.

There has been a tradition in theDecember issue of Good Work Newsto provide insight into the parallels be-tween work, consumerism and theenvironment. This year the knowl-edge of the looming effects of GlobalWarming are everywhere. How elsecan one respond but to understand theimplications locally. The following ar-ticle tries to put into context these starkenvironmental questions using the coreideas of The Working Centre and adescription of how the centre is or-ganized as a model for environmentalaction.

By Joe ManciniIt is hard to escape the warnings

about how fragile the earth’s ecosys-tem is. While it may be easy to ignoreor deny such warnings, when we takethe time to review the literature of en-vironmentalists and scientists, the re-alities that they write about are stag-gering. (Some of these books are fea-tured on pages 6 and 7). They cut intothe heart of what we call our westernstandard of living. They warn us thatthe wealth that is enjoyed is a directresult of “drawing down nature’s capi-tal by overusing our soils and forests,over fishing the oceans and pouringimmense quantities of carbon dioxideinto the atmosphere.1”

Thomas Homer Dixon has just pub-lished a multi layered book that docu-ments the wide ranging ecological cri-sis, while exploring theories of the waysocieties collapse (almost always by ig-noring dire environmental pressures).The Upside of Down, Catastrophe,Creativity and the Renewal of Civi-lization is a warning on many levels ofhow “population imbalances, energyshortages, environmental damage, glo-bal warming and widening gaps be-tween rich and poor” are like the tec-tonic stresses that cause earthquakes.They are slowly colliding against eachother until a catastrophe is unleashedthat is impossible to ignore.2”

We are left observing and siftingthrough troubling crises that pile oneach other with little resolution.Homer-Dixon, who makes his homein nearby Fergus, is a University of To-ronto Political Science Professor and isthe Director of the Trudeau Centrefor Peace and Conflict Studies. Therealities he has been writing about for15 years leave him no choice but toquestion the West’s reliance on falseeconomic growth strategies which havesuccessfully lifted much of the Westbeyond the grim reality faced daily by80% of the world’s population.

This approach allows us to believethat tar sand oil production that takesnearly thirty cubic meters of gas to pro-duce one barrel of oil, is good for theeconomy3; or that we need all this oilto subsidize the increasing availabilityof consumer items, manufactured fur-ther and further away in low wage

countries. We start to believe this waste-ful use of energy is normal and inconse-quential. We think it is helping the‘poor’, when there is little documentedevidence to support this.

“All this consumption and movementneeds a lot of energy. The energy is pro-duced mainly by burning oil, coal andnatural gas, which generate carbon di-oxide. In most rich countries, wealth hasgrown faster than energy efficiency,which means total energy use has risentoo, as have total emissions of carbondioxide.4”

For over 20 years we have beenlocked into an unsustainable twin de-mand of maintaining economicgrowth through extracting energy re-sources. Homer-Dixon quotes com-mon sense theory to remind us “thatthe longer a system is ‘locked in’ to itsgrowth phase, the greater its vulner-ability and the bigger and more dra-matic its collapse will be.5”

Rather than fixating on a path thatworsens the problem, our challenge isto grasp alternatives. This fall, GregoryBaum, speaking at the St. Jerome’s Cen-tre for Catholic Experience, noted thatup to the 1940’s, the Catholic Church,many intellectuals, and most of the gen-eral public worried about rural peoplemigrating to the city searching for fac-tory work. This disrupted long estab-lished patterns of mutual aid that hadheld families and villages together. JohnDewey in the 1920’s feared the longterm implications. “The significantthing is that the loyalties which onceheld individuals, which gave them sup-port, direction, and unity of outlook onlife, have well nigh disappeared.6”

Now 100 years later, we have gonefrom questioning the modern project tofully embracing it - to our detriment.Cars have become our symbol of free-dom, happiness is walking in a mall tobuy stuff, and the idea of work as craftbecomes more and more remote.

There is a myth that people can maxi-mize their pleasure through consump-tion. Up to now the system not onlydelivers the goods but also an ever ris-ing standard of living for the few. Butwhat happens when this growth is in-creasingly less likely or the very cyclethat will make the situation worse?

Ecological RestorationHow we walk on the land is a simple

way of understanding the personal sig-nificance of environmental issues. Is itpossible to recreate communities of workand support that are less dependant onoil fuelled growth? Or as Wendell Berryputs it, “Can we change the ways welive and work so as to establish a pre-serving harmony between the madeand the given worlds?7”

I am increasingly struck by the na-

Ecological RestorationIntegrated Models of Cooperation

continued on page 3

Page 3 Good Work News December 2006

St. John’s KitchenThe Meaning of Hospitality

This talk was given by JenniferMains, coordinator of St. John’sKitchen, to the congregation of St.John’s Anglican Church on Sunday,June 25th, celebrating over 20 years ofserving meals at St. John’s Kitchen.This special mass was followed by awalk from St. John’s Church to the newSt. John’s Kitchen at 97 Victoria.

By Jennifer MainsI would like to spend a few moments

to celebrate and reflect on the relation-ship between the congregation of St.John the Evangelist and the communityof St. John’s Kitchen.

In our secular society we place greatemphasis on defining ourselves in termsof roles. We are mothers, fathers, labour-ers and plumbers, to name a few. A greatmany hours are spent defining these rolesand measuring their effectiveness. Inthe workplace, binders are brimmingwith job descriptions, protocols, andevaluations. But in the midst of this flurryof words we often miss those roles thattruly define us.

I am not sure that the congregationof St. John the Evangelist realizes therole they play in the broader commu-nity. Your church is considered “radi-cal” – in the best sense of the word-meaning from the root- the root beingthe gospels.

I hear this comment when I speakwith other church or community groups.They say they do not know if they cantake the risk to be radical. Your congre-gation has taken the risk- to invite intoyour building 300 people a day so thatthey can be fed. You are consideredexemplary for you have taken to heartthe words of the gospels- and the gospelvision is not an easy one.

As Christians we are called to createChrist’s vision of the kingdom. The hun-gry must be fed, enemies loved. Thismay sound simple but we all know thatit takes great risk. We must invite stran-gers into our midst, people whose livesdiffer vastly from ours. This can causefear, and aggravation for it can disruptour lives. This vision of Christ’s, this vi-sion of a new kingdom is a challengingone but as a congregation, you acknowl-edged its importance in your church life,you struggled with it, and for 21 yearsprovided a place to feed the hungry and

supported this work in many fruitfulways.

I would like to refer to one of my fa-vourite Psalms, Psalm 27

“I believe I shall see the goodness ofthe Lord in the land of the living.”

This is, of course, an old Testamentprecursor to Christ’s concept of the king-dom on earth. I chose this passage be-cause it best reflects one of the mostpoignant teachings I learned at theKitchen. This passage reflects the beliefof many people in the community of thekitchen. They believe that because youare Christians you are a group of peoplewho hold to a set of beliefs that reflect avision of a better world- a world wherewe see the goodness of God in our lives.They believe that you will protect them,that because you believe in Christ’steachings you will honour the poor, blessthe most wretched, give dignity to themost downtrodden, that you will workto uphold this vision.

I remember when the Eaton’s build-ing behind the church was being reno-vated. There were rumours that theowner of the building was petitioningthe mayor to have St. John’s Kitchenmoved- we didn’t fit the new image.One man came to me, actually severalspoke to me about the rumour- but this

It has come to our attentionthat from time to time individu-als claim to be raising funds forSt. John’s Kitchen by collect-ing money door to door. Whilewe do drop flyers door-to-door,we have always asked that do-nors mail or drop-off donationsdirectly at the Centre.

ture of The Working Centre commu-nity where the work each day is con-cerned with creating places where peo-ple can meaningfully contributethrough mutual aid and acts of preser-vation.

The Working Centre has become asocial architecture of support that linksthe many who are not able to partici-pate in the regular labour market withopportunities to participate in projectsthat help others to live with less money,that support skills building through in-formal learning, that provide smallearnings potential, that support acts ofrestoration in multiple environments,and that enable the helping of othersin countless ways.

We provide the buildings, leaderswho act like servants, the actual toolsto make the projects function, a knowl-edge base of community developmentand design, and above all a commit-ment to support individuals throughtheir stories and pain.

Integrated Models ofCooperation

The 97 Victoria project is an exam-ple of what can be achieved by chal-lenging the myth that there is only onebureaucratic model of production orthat people are satisfied sitting on thesidelines not able to contribute.

From the moment the project started,in May 2005, we had an overwhelmingtask of completely stripping down anold two storey 15,500 square foot build-ing, while starting up a new thrift storeconcept and planning for the new St.John’s Kitchen in its own space withenhanced services. At every stage newvolunteers, job cafe workers and JCPworkers (paid through E.I. on a workexperience grant) came forward to fillidentified gaps.

Worth A Second Look was blessedwith over 50 volunteers, many offeringhundreds of hours to launch the furni-ture and housewares recycling store.The construction project moved inrhythm with the planning process as thepotential for St. John’s Kitchen realizeditself in the evolving space. How do wedesign an open kitchen, a bright calm-ing dining area, public access wash-rooms, showers and laundry area?

In July 2006 as St. John’s Kitchenmoved in to its new space, the realiza-tion of the project’s potential was clear.An old, spent building had in little morethan a year been completely trans-formed into a space where over 300meals are served each day; where amedical clinic provides primary care;where soon showers and laundry would

man’s comments stood out. He said, “thechurch would never allow them to kickus out.” This man’s belief is not naïve –it is simply – a sincere hope that there isgoodness beyond the brokenness of ourgovernments, our agencies and our ownlives.

I love to quote Jean Vanier becausehe speaks so eloquently about the hu-man condition. He says, “We are all fun-damentally the same. We all belong to acommon broken humanity. We all havewounded and broken hearts.”

On behalf of the community of St.John’s Kitchen- we thank you for themany years of generosity and hospitalityyou have shown us and we hope to con-tinue, in new ways, in this relationshipof risk that exemplifies Christ’s vision ofthe Kingdom on earth.

To close, I would like to quote againfrom Psalm 27:

The Lord is my light and my salvationWhom shall I fear.

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97 Victoria Street North Open House

continued from page 2

continued on page 6

October 19th was the date for ourgrand open house attended by close to400 people to celebrate the completionof renovations at 97 Victoria. Many tookthe opportunity to tour through thecompleted space to see the new loca-tion for St. John’s Kitchen and WorthA Second Look. The evening was high-lighted by a special recognition for thecontributions of hundreds of volunteerswho work in these projects everyday.Their work and effort make these project

possible. It was also an opportunity tothank the many donors of financial andinkind support that supported the revi-talization project. Greetings were of-fered by Mayor Zehr, Barry Verbanovic,Tom Galloway, Ken Seiling, John MilloyMPP, Harold Albretch MP and NielAitchison represented the OntarioTrillium Foundation.

We are very grateful for all the sup-port we have received to make thisproject a reality.

All individuals want the opportunityto participate in the labour market.

The Job Café Project connects individuals who areunable to work in the full-time labout market to part-timework opportunities in and around the community.

Operating from the belief that the individuals being served have much to offerthe community, Job Café provides supportand encouragement to help people realizetheir potential.

This year, Job Café has employed 178 in-dividuals to sweep streets, shovel snow, workon 97 Victoria and 66 Queen constructioncrews, help at Worth a Second Look, andperform other small jobs around town. In to-tal, $45,900 was paid out to workers.

This program works well within the Outreach program in that it aims to buildstrong connections with individuals who have been traditionally excluded fromthe regular labour market.

December 2006 Good Work News Page 4

Outreach Develops inDowntown Kitchener

TheTheTheTheThe

PsychiatricPsychiatricPsychiatricPsychiatricPsychiatric Outreach Outreach Outreach Outreach Outreach Project Project Project Project Project

This exciting initiativeprovides a patient-centred,

community-based approach tomental health care for members

of our community who are facingthe challenges of poverty.

Psychiatric OutreachPsychiatric OutreachPsychiatric OutreachPsychiatric OutreachPsychiatric OutreachEmphasizes:Emphasizes:Emphasizes:Emphasizes:Emphasizes:

Building RelationshipsEducation

AccessibilityIndividual Determination

The Psychiatric Outreachclinic is based at St. John’s

Kitchen at 97 Victoria St. N.and operates Thursdays from

9am-12pm.

The Housing Desksupports people in need of

housing through the processof finding and establishing

a new home.

Find temporary shelterSearch for an apartmentProblem solve through issues andfrustrations involved in the housingsearchConnect to our 20 Integrated, Sup-portive Housing units

The Housing Desk helps people:

Integrated, Supportive HousingThe Working Centre offers shared

integrated supportive housing to assistthose at risk of homelessness. Peoplecome to us primarily for the concretesupports we provide within thecontext of affordable housing. Ourintegrated formal support servicesoffered within a context of ateaching model helps people moveaway from the problems that can leadto homelessness, and helps them

Downtown Street Outreach

The Housing Desk has helped over 400 individuals find housing this year.

Over the past three years, TheWorking Centre has been part of anextensive community effort to de-velop outreach services in Down-town Kitchener. This work, initiatedby the Kitchener Downtown Busi-ness Association, has resulted in twoDowntown Street Outreach Work-ers supporting over 300 individuals

support individuals in distressbuild trusting relationshipsconnect individuals to services andresources to address major problemshelp people recognize acceptablestandards of civic behaviour in thedowntown

per year by provid-ing immediate cri-sis support in thedowntown, assist-ing the homeless, those with mentalhealth problems, and those with ad-dictions in a way that reduces frus-tration, respects dignity, and attemptsto solve immediate problems.

repond to calls from local businessesto deal with potential issuesprovide services and strategies tai-lored to meet individuals’ uniqueneeds and characteristicssupport individuals with mental ill-ness and addiction issues

Goals of the Outreach program:

Outreach Workers are well integrated within the network of social serviceproviders in the downtown, and with other Working Centre projects

including St. John’s Kitchen, and the programs listed below.

move towards stable housing.Our 20 units provide the homeless

and those at risk of homelessness withsafe housing. This housing is locatedin our buildings on Queen Street andin two houses. One 5 unit home is forwomen. 5 more units are nearing com-pletion at 66 Queen. Our model ofshared housing provides immediateshelter and an opportunity to searchfor work and long-term housing.

Link to community services providing:• legal support• food & clothing• social assistance• furniture & housewares• employment counselling• addiction or mental health supports

By Joe ManciniEveryone in Kitchener and Waterloo

has an opinion about the Kitchenerdowntown. Over the last thirty yearswe have watched shopping malls,entertainment, schools and powercentres establish themselves out of theKitchener core. When established retailbusinesses started leaving, manybuildings were either empty or partiallyused. Building owners chose to let theirbuildings decay rather than face majorrenovation costs that would make theirsecond and third storey spaces rentable.

The cycle of decay seems to havepeaked by the mid 1990’s and only slowlyhave new approaches been developed.You can see these changes in theuniversity campuses, lofts, andcondominiums that are being established.

Kitchener’s Upper Storey RenovationProgram is a creative way to help buildingowners overcome the renovation cost ofrefurbishing an old building. TheWorking Centre’s 66 Queen building hasbeen granted support towards the fiveunits of housing we are building on thesecond floor.

In the summer of 2002, a communitybuilding process called the KitchenerDowntown Community Collaborativestarted taking shape. The initial goalwas to involve different sectors of thedowntown including businesses, socialservices, City of Kitchener staff,neighbourhood associations, churches,and police. The first meeting wasconvened by the KitchenerDowntown Business Association andwas held at the Walper Hotel. Themain concern was to address questionssuch as pan handling and homelessness.This issue tends to result in twodifferent points of view. On one handmany believe that these issues are theresult of a downtown that is no longerprosperous and others believe thatwhen homelessness spills onto the mainstreets the situation for downtownbusinesses will only worsen.

The discussion started by focusingon the fact that the downtown is thehome to many individuals sufferingfrom homelessness, mental illness andalcohol and drug addiction. Oftensocial service agencies provide onlyminimal support for a variety of reasons.Business owners wanted solutions butrealized how complex the issues are. Itwas quickly established that blamingindividuals or social services would notbe productive. As the discussionsdeveloped a new approach took hold.

The new approach that was fullysupported by the Kitchener DowntownBusiness Association and the City ofKitchener would be to find ways to buildcommunity and develop supports tomake the downtown a betterplace. New projects wouldintegrate individual initiative,mutual co-operation and self-help and develop a spirit ofcommitment to the downtownand its street people.

In September of 2002 asubcommittee of the KitchenerDowntown CommunityCollaborative was formedcalled the Writing Group that

over time developed the research andcommitment to implement theDowntown Street Outreach Workerproject and Job Café. The WritingGroup was made up of the ExecutiveDirector of the Kitchener DowntownBusiness Association, Marty Schrieter;the Safe City Coordinator for the Cityof Kitchener, Julie Dean; the Managerof Kitchener Housing, KarenKwiatkowski; and I myselfrepresenting The Working Centre.

Over the last four years we have con-tinued to oversee the Downtown StreetOutreach Worker position. This projecthas made a significant difference in thedowntown. Over time we have workedwith over 400 individuals recording over1600 contacts per year, supporting themthrough homelessness, addiction andsocial assistance issues. This project hasbeen able to provide concrete supportto downtown businesses to help themdeal with specific issues around home-lessness.

At the same time, The WorkingCentre has expanded its outreach workto compliment the Downtown StreetOutreach Worker. The Job Café wasembraced by the Kitchener DowntownCommunity Collaborative and has op-erated continually since 2002. Duringthis period, Barb Chrysler and LynnRandall at the Region of Waterloohelped to establish the PsychiatricOutreach Project that has slowly estab-lished itself at St. John’s Kitchen. Wewill describe the development of thisproject in more detail in the Februaryissue of Good Work News. The Hous-ing Desk was established at The Work-ing Centre to give us the means of work-ing more closely with the many indi-viduals who use our services. In con-junction with the Housing Desk hasbeen the development of what we callthe Integrated Supportive Housing –the model that makes creative, practi-cal use of over 20 units of housing forthose most in need of support. We aregrateful to the City of Kitchener, On-tario Trillium Foundation and the Re-gion of Waterloo for providing finan-cial support towards these initiatives.

The model of outreach in downtownKitchener has helped to identifyproblems. Groups and indviduals haveworked hard at solutions. There is arecognition of the hard work that isnecessary to walk with people throughthe major issues that they face.

The Kitchener DowntownCommunity Collaborative hasachieved much in almost four years.As the downtown becomes morevibrant this work will continue to beintegral part of the downtown.

Our menu items areOur menu items areOur menu items areOur menu items areOur menu items aremade with local,made with local,made with local,made with local,made with local,

natural, vegetariannatural, vegetariannatural, vegetariannatural, vegetariannatural, vegetarianingredients, and include:ingredients, and include:ingredients, and include:ingredients, and include:ingredients, and include:

Daily Soup SpecialsQuesadillas & Burritos

Pizzas & Assorted SaladsCookies & Desserts

Fair-trade Organic CoffeeSpecialty CoffeesFresh Herbal Teas

Introduction to Computers: This 8-week course provides fun-damental knowledge of computers to students who have had little or no computerexperience. The next series of classes begins January 17th, 2007 at 4:00pm.Self-Directed Training: We offer a wide range of online tutorial courses, withsimulations, exercises, and quizzes. Courses offered include: Microsoft Word, Ex-cel, Access, Outlook, and Powerpoint, Computer Basics, Typing Skills, CompTIAA+ hardware training, CompTIA Network+, and HTML.

For information or to register, call Jess at (519)743-1151 ext. 236.

Page 5 Good Work News December 2006

Waterloo RegionWaterloo RegionWaterloo RegionWaterloo RegionWaterloo RegionASSETS+ ProjectASSETS+ ProjectASSETS+ ProjectASSETS+ ProjectASSETS+ Project

A Service for Self-Employment, Training, and SupportA Service for Self-Employment, Training, and SupportA Service for Self-Employment, Training, and SupportA Service for Self-Employment, Training, and SupportA Service for Self-Employment, Training, and SupportWe have a specific focus on women, New Canadians, those who are

working in low-income jobs, and those living on a limited incomewho are not eligible for other small business supports.

This project offers:This project offers:This project offers:This project offers:This project offers:Ten Week Business Training and Entrepreneurship Readiness Course:This course will assist you in completing a simple, comprehensive busi-ness plan. Both start-up entrepreneurs and existing business peoplecan benefit from the information and planning this program provides.

Business Technical Assistance: Sessions are provided on specific topicssuch as marketing, product development, bookkeeping, financial state-ments, tax preparation, management, etc.

Business Loans: Assistance with accessing small loans, marketing assist-ance, and other supports for your business.

Mentorships/Networking: Learn from a wide network of existing busi-ness people who can offer mentorships, advice, and observerships asyou develop your own business.

For information or toregister, contact:

wrap@theworkingcentre.orgBob Shantz

(519) 743-1151 x 206Beth Weisberg

(519) 743-1151 x 104

The Waterloo Region ASSETS+Project is a partnership between

The Working Centre and theMennonite Economic Development

Associates (MEDA) -Waterloo Chapter

Technical assistance provided byMEDA International

Full ten week Business TrainingCourse fees based on income.

Start your Start your Start your Start your Start your small small small small small business business business business business withwithwithwithwith the help of thethe help of thethe help of thethe help of thethe help of the

Next program begins mid-January, 2007.Next program begins mid-January, 2007.Next program begins mid-January, 2007.Next program begins mid-January, 2007.Next program begins mid-January, 2007.Classes held once a week on Monday evenings.Classes held once a week on Monday evenings.Classes held once a week on Monday evenings.Classes held once a week on Monday evenings.Classes held once a week on Monday evenings.

Recycle CyclesCommunity Bike Shop

Established 1993Recycle Cycles offers:

Refurbished bicycle salesA shop for repairing your own bike,with volunteer supportVolunteering and skill-buildingopportunities

PublicPublicPublicPublicPublicHours:Hours:Hours:Hours:Hours:

Tuesdays: 11am-4pm Wednesdays: 1pm-4pm Saturdays:10am-2pm

VolunteerVolunteerVolunteerVolunteerVolunteerHours:Hours:Hours:Hours:Hours:

(to help refurbish bicycles) Thursdays: 1pm-4pm Fridays: 11am-2pm

Volunteers needed to helpwith bike repairs!

43 Queen Street South, Second Floor, Downtown Kitchener(519)749-9177 ext.222 ♦♦♦♦♦ recyclecycles@theworkingcentre.org

BarBarBarBarBarterWterWterWterWterWorksorksorksorksorks is a networkof local businesses, individuals,and community groups, where

members exchange labour,goods, and services,

WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CASH!WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CASH!WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CASH!WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CASH!WITHOUT THE NEED FOR CASH!Benefits ofBenefits ofBenefits ofBenefits ofBenefits of Tradin Tradin Tradin Tradin Trading:g:g:g:g:

• Members can purchase goods andservices using less cashless cashless cashless cashless cash

• Assists individuals working to-wards self-employmentself-employmentself-employmentself-employmentself-employment

• Brings people together around thecommon goals of skills ex-skills ex-skills ex-skills ex-skills ex-change and cooperationchange and cooperationchange and cooperationchange and cooperationchange and cooperation

• Reduces individuals’ dependenceon conventional employment

• Keeps resources within the localtrading community, strstrstrstrstrenenenenengthen-gthen-gthen-gthen-gthen-ing the local economying the local economying the local economying the local economying the local economy

• Promotes personal and trustingpersonal and trustingpersonal and trustingpersonal and trustingpersonal and trustingrelationshipsrelationshipsrelationshipsrelationshipsrelationships between members

BarBarBarBarBarterWterWterWterWterWorks Forks Forks Forks Forks Fairairairairairs (held at 43 Queen St. Ss (held at 43 Queen St. Ss (held at 43 Queen St. Ss (held at 43 Queen St. Ss (held at 43 Queen St. S.):.):.):.):.):

HoHoHoHoHow It Ww It Ww It Ww It Ww It Works:orks:orks:orks:orks:• Members price goods and services

with a local currency called“BarterDollars” (B$)

• Members earn or spend B$ by pro-viding or purchasing services to orfrom other members

• Each member has an account indi-cating their B$ balance

• Sell your services to one member,then spend the earned B$ on a serv-ice from another member

• Advertise in the Directory and useit to find out what services are be-ing offered by other members

For morFor morFor morFor morFor more infe infe infe infe infororororormation or to become a membermation or to become a membermation or to become a membermation or to become a membermation or to become a member,,,,, call call call call call(519)749-9177 ext.304(519)749-9177 ext.304(519)749-9177 ext.304(519)749-9177 ext.304(519)749-9177 ext.304

Access to Technology

Computer Training

Computer Recycling

Public Access ComputersThe Working Centre offers 18 Internet-ready, free public access

computers at our 58 Queen Street South location.

Computer Recycling gives computers a second life by refurbishing old systems andproviding people with access to affordable computers. Volunteers can help repairyour computer for a small donation.Public Hours: Wednesdays from 1:00pm to 4:00pmVolunteer Hours: Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 4:00pm.Volunteers are always needed to help repair and refurbish old systems.

For more information, call Charles at (519)749-9177 ext. 225.

43 Queen Street South43 Queen Street South43 Queen Street South43 Queen Street South43 Queen Street SouthDowntown Kitchener

(519)749-9177 x227

Café Hours:Café Hours:Café Hours:Café Hours:Café Hours:Monday:Monday:Monday:Monday:Monday: 8:30am-5:00pmTuesday: Tuesday: Tuesday: Tuesday: Tuesday: 8:30am-9:00pm

Wednesday:Wednesday:Wednesday:Wednesday:Wednesday: 8:30am-8:00pmThursday: Thursday: Thursday: Thursday: Thursday: 8:30am-8:00pm

Friday: Friday: Friday: Friday: Friday: 8:30am-5:00pmSaturday: Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: 10:00am-4:00pm

Music atMusic atMusic atMusic atMusic atThe Commons:The Commons:The Commons:The Commons:The Commons:

Live music:Live music:Live music:Live music:Live music:Every Wednesday evening

Common Songs:Common Songs:Common Songs:Common Songs:Common Songs:Tuesday nights starting at

7:00pm. Registration at 6:30pm.

Unique Gift Shop:Unique Gift Shop:Unique Gift Shop:Unique Gift Shop:Unique Gift Shop:The gift shop offers items made bylocal artisans, including clothing,

jewellery, pottery, pillows,Paperkräf handmade paper

products, handbags, and herbalproducts from Grow Herbal

Are you looking for work?Our Job Search Resource Centre at

58 Queen Street South offers thefollowing services:

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Access to computers forresume preparation, onlinejob search, access to email,researching your occupationand local employersAssistance with preparingresumes and cover lettersHelp preparing for inter-viewsIndividual employment/ca-reer counsellingNewspapers, fax machine,photocopier, & telephones

Exploring ways to makeyour job search moreeffectiveAccess to job leads and em-ployment opportunitiesLinks to local employersSpecialized supports for NewCanadiansWorkshops on job search,interview preparation, port-folio development, research-ing your occupation inCanada, and more.

January 27thBarterWorks Garage Sale

February 24thBarterWorks Market Day

December 2006 Good Work News Page 6

Alternative Work Catalogue

The Lichen FactorThe Quest for Community Development in CanadaJim LotzThe collected wisdom of “a very wise man” describing how communitydevelopment, governments and individuals can work together to createbetter societies. Reviews the history of community development as he hasseen it and explores its potential and limitations using practical experiencecombined with vision.

288 pages WC04 $22.95 softcover

An Inconvenient TruthThe Planetary Emergency of Global Warming andWhat We Can Do About ItAl GoreIn An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore argues that our climate crisis isnot occuring slowly over a long period of time, but rather very quickly,and has become a planetary emergency. He questions why the worldsleaders are not taking actions needed to address our environmental

crisis, and are instead ignoring realities simply because they are 'inconvenient'. Inconvenienttruths, Gore says, do not go away just because they are not seen; their significance grows.

325 pages CC50 $25.95 softcover

The Dream of the EarthThomas BerryWe are returning to our native place after a long absence, meeting onceagain with out kin in the earth community. For too long we have beenaway somewhere, entranced with our industrial world of wires and wheels,concrete and steel, and our unending highways, where we can race backand forth in a continual frenzy. In this groundbreaking book, Berry useshistorical context to address the subjects of culture, consciousness andecology in a series of essays that describe the earth as dynamically fluid

and interconnected.264 pages RL05 $21.00 softcover

Our Ecological FootprintReducing Human Impact on the EarthMathis Wackernagel & William ReesCould everyone on the planet live like North Americans do today? Canwe reduce our resource consumption and still improve our quality of life?This book cuts through the talk about sustainability and introduces a wayto determine humanity’s impact on the Earth. It presents an exciting toolfor measuring and visualizing the resources required to sustain the waywe live.

176 pages SU06 $17.95 softcover

The Long EmergencySurviving the Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First CenturyJames Howard KunstlerJames Howard Kunstler is a witty author whose writing has taken aim atsuburban sprawl – namely the destruction of small communities in favourof endless tracts of housing and strip malls. His small town sensibilitiesmake it obvious to him that auto dependant suburban development based

on cheap oil and natural gas is a losing proposition. His book postulates a Long Emergencyfrom the inevitable oil and gas shortages and the resulting economic dislocation.

324 pages RW06 $17.95 softcover

The Ingenuity GapCan We Solve the Problems of the Future?Thomas Homer-DixonIn this persuasive book, Homer-Dixon looks at whether we as a people cancreate and implement solutions to address the large-scale problems -environment, social, and technological - quickly enough to save us from them.This ingenuity gap is one of the critical probelms we face today, in a worldwhose complexity is exceeding our intellectual grasp. Those ideas that havebeen at the core of western curlture - enending technological and economic

growth - are no longer sufficient to deal with mounting environment and social ills.480 pages GB08 $22.95 softcover

Dark Age AheadJane JacobsA Dark Age is a culture’s dead end; a result of a society gone awry. Jacobsargues that our own culture may soon be facing a dark age as we movefrom an agrarian economy to an increasingly technological one. How dowe make this shift without losing ourselves in the process? Jacobs identifiesseveral key aspects of society that are slowly degrading, and suggests thatto reverse the decay, we must hold on to those key cultural values.

241 pages GB07 $29.95 hardcover

The Rivers North of the FutureThe Testament of Ivan IllichDavid CayleyBased on a series of interviews between Cayley and Illich exploring Illich'sviews of Western civilization as a corruption of the New Testament. Christset love higher than law, as illustrated by the Good Samaritan, but whenlove was made into law an entirely new type of power was produced,institutionalizing, and managing Christian vocation. Illich calls this,"Thecorruption of the best is the worst." Illich's analysis of contemporary society

as a congealed and corrupted version of Christianity draws heavily from historical contexts,and serves as an invitation to believers to revise and renew their understanding of Christianity.

252 pages GB01 $24.95 softcover

Ideas That MatterThe Worlds of Jane JacobsJane JacobsJane Jacobs changed the way cities look – and the way wethink about the economy. This book gives insight to how herideas evolved. Including unpublished letters, essays andspeeches by Jane Jacobs. Reactions, analysis and praise from82 contributors. And 53 photographs – public and private.

213 pages SB12 $24.95softcover

The Upside of DownCatastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of CivilizationThomas Homer-DixonIn this essential book for our times, Thomas Homer-Dixon describes hisunderstanding of the urgent problems that confront our world, and clarifiestheir scope and deep causes. The Upside of Down paints a vivid picture ofthe immense stresses that are simultaneously converging on our societiesand threatening to break our very civilization apart. This vitally importantbook shows how, in the face of ecological and societal breakdown, we can

renew our global civilization, and avoid catastrophe.416 pages GB09 $37.00 hardcover

The Weather MakersHow We are Changing the Climate and What it Meansfor Life on EarthTim FlanneryIn The Weather Makers, Flannery argues that human-caused pollution -in the form of ozone destroying chemicals and greenhouse gases - hasaltered not only global weather patterns but has increased the potentialfor extreme weather events. This books is both an urgent warning and acall to action, describing the history of climate change, how it will develop

over the next century, and what we can do to prevent a global catastrophe. Flannery offersspecific suggestions for action by individuals and lawmakers that can potentially reducegreenhouse gas emissions by 70%!

356 pages GB11 $34.95 hardcover

HeatHow to Stop the Planet from BurningGeorge MonbiotIn Monbiot’s book Heat, he explains that global warming can in fact bestopped by demonstating how humanity can reduce greenhouse gasemissions by 90% - without losing the comfort and security of our modensociety. While offering practical suggestions, it is made clear that thenecessary changes will require enormous effort on the part of governments,which none seem prepared to take. In exposing the cowardice of politicians

to act, and the destructive greed of corporations, Monbiot wages war on bad ideas and thestatus quo while offering well developed solutions to the problems they create.

277 pages GB10 $29.95 hardcover

Alternative Work Catalogue

be available to the homeless; wherethousands of goods were being pickedup, delivered, sorted, fixed, priced, andsold; and where Job Café workers aresent out on jobs. And all of this wasmade possible by a dedicated group ofstaff and volunteers who all are willingto go the extra mile to complete thetasks at hand.

Meanwhile, within the whole Work-ing Centre project we have witnessedthe growth of new initiatives and projectsthat amplify this spirit of restoration. Overthe last two years we have been involvedin the revitalization of 66 Queen St. S -a further 15,000 square feet of renova-tions. This spring we expanded the JobSearch Resource Ccentre and employ-ment counselling as this area of our workcontinues to grow. Maurita’s Kitchen,our community kitchen located at 66Queen is operational and is filled withvolunteers learning and participating infood preparation. The Queen StreetCommons Café, also new this spring, israpidly becoming an important thirdplace of exchange and conversation indowntown Kitchener. The HousingDesk at 66 Queen compliments our 20units of integrated supportive housing.

continued from page 3

Ecological RestorationThe Downtown Street OutreachWorker and the Job Café are projectsthat continue to support people in im-portant ways.

Thomas Homer-Dixon fears for thelack of resilience in the way oureconomy is structured. We are all de-pendant on an oil shock or an economicimplosion. In such a situation how wouldwe earn a living or care for our commu-nities? The answer is not more effi-ciency, but rather integrated models ofcooperation that reuse and rebuild so-cial supports. The Updside of Downforecasts an end to bigger is better. Thismeans that we can focus on small ini-tiatives that will build community,relearn the importance of simple living,develop respect for the environment,and a love for work that builds humandignity.

1. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down,2006 p147

2. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down,2006 p269

3. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down,2006 p93

4. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down,2006 p135

5. Homer-Dixon, The Upside of Down,2006 p225

6. Lasch, The True and Only Heaven,1991 p368

7. Berry, The Way of Ignorance, 2005 p72

People, Land, and CommunityThe E. F. Schumacher SocietyIn this forward-looking book, experts in the field of ecological economicsconsider the impact of environmental and community degradation.Starting with the ideas set forth by E. F. Schumacher in Small isBeautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, the contributors discusshow current economic systems must adapt to work within the Earth\'slimitations, and suggest ways for citizens to halt further social andenvironmental degradation.

328 pages SB11 $26.50 softcover

Page 7 Good Work News December 2006

• supporting small and home business entrepreneurs;• helping people through job search and career change to find

their most inspiring and rewarding work;• encouraging community and spiritual development.

You can place orders by mail, fax or phone - see the back pageorder form. We try to ship all orders within a day or two dependingon availability. Feel free to call us about special orders.

All proceeds from this Catalogue go to Working Centre projects.○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Alternative Work Catalogue

Live SimplyA Simplicity Circle Study Guide for Waterloo RegionEdited by Fiona HeathA study guide for small groups (6-10) to learn about voluntary simplicityand put it into practice in their own lives. Information to start a circleof your own with organizational and facilitation tips. The guide provides10 sessions, with discussion background information, international andlocal authors, local resources and examples.

90 pages SL07 $15.00 softcover

A Great Gift for Someone Searching forMeaningful Work

Gift Certificates for the Alternative Work Catalogue are avail-able this holiday season. We will send the certificates to recipi-

ents, after which they can order books through Good WorkNews, Queen Street Commons at 43 Queen St. S., or

www.theworkingcentre.org. The certificates are ideal for:

Small is BeautifulEconomics as if People MatteredE. F. SchumacherSmall is Beautiful is the perfect antidote to the economies ofglobalization. As relevant today as it was when it was first published,it is a landmark set of essays on humanistic economics. This 25thAnniversary edition expands on Schumacher's ideas by adding thecommentaries of contemporary thinkers who have been deeplyinfluenced by his work and thought.

286 pages SB09 $17.95 softcover

Wendell Berry - People, Land,and Fidelity

By M. A. GrubbsIn a commencement address deliv-

ered in June 1989 at the College of theAtlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, Berrygave some advice that to most moderngraduates would sound old fashioned,indeed backward. But the advice hegave was timeless, and his reminderseems apocalyptic in view of the world'scurrent environmental crisis and, asBerry sees it, America's cultural crisis. Ina sense, Berry's deliverance of such acritical message parallels Moses' deliver-ance of the Ten Commandments, forBerry's advice is also a prescription forcultural healing through the impositionof a set of laws. The laws Berry delivers,however, seem to be Nature's laws. Heclosed his address (later published inHarper's as "The Futility of GlobalThinking") with a series of ten com-mands, which, he said, "is simply myhope for us all" (22). These instructionsare at the heart of Berry's personal andliterary world, and collectively they ex-press the thesis informing all of his work,a canon now in excess of thirty books ofessays, fiction, and poetry:1. Beware the justice of Nature.2. Understand that there can be no

successful human economy apartfrom Nature or in defiance of Na-ture.

3. Understand that no amount of edu-cation can overcome the innate limitsof human intelligence and responsi-bility. We are not smart enough orconscious enough or alert enough to

work responsibly on a gigantic scale.4. In making things always bigger

and more centralized, we makethem both more vulnerable inthemselves and more dangerous toeverything else. Learn, therefore,to prefer small-scale elegance andgenerosity to large-scale greed, cru-dity, and glamour.

5. Make a home. Help to make a com-munity. Be loyal to what you havemade.

6. Put the interest of the communityfirst.

7. Love your neighbors--not theneighbors you pick out, but theones you have.

8. Love this miraculous world that wedid not make, that is a gift to us.

9. As far as you are able make yourlives dependent upon your localplace, neighborhood, and house-hold--which thrive by care andgenerosity--and independent ofthe industrial economy, whichthrives by damage.

10. Find work, if you can, that does nodamage. Enjoy your work. Workwell.

Viewed in the context of Berry'scanon, this sequence represents far morethan a neo-romantic or agrarian appealto return to "simplicity." To think of hisadvice in this way is to misinterpret it,for it is more of an oracular warning;either rethink our attitudes toward eachother and the natural world, Berry im-plores, or continue on a path towardnatural-, cultural-, and self-annihilation.

What are People For?Wendell Berry“However destructive may be the policies of the government and the methodsand products of the corporations, the root of the problem is always to be foundin the private life.” In this popular collection, Kentucky farmer, Wendell Berryproposes and hopes, that people can learn again to care for their localcommunities to begin a healing that might spread far and wide.

210 pages WC01 $19.50 softcover

Community and GrowthJean VanierThis book is essential reading for anyone who has ever thought of "commu-nity" as a way of life or a deep communion with others. Vanier writes froma wealth of knowledge and experience gained through real communityinvolvement, sharing in the hard work and day-to-day obstacles faced by thecommunity, as well as the joyous celebtrations and hard-won accomplish-ments. In the end, Vanier conveys the value of community, and shows thereader that without struggle there can be no success.

331 pages GB02 $37.95 softcover

Another Turn of the CrankWendell BerryThis thought-provoking collection of essays concerns the order and harmonyof the earth and its inhabitants. Here Berry focuses on the importance oflocal communities, arguing that "modern national and global economieshave been formed in almost perfect disregard of community and ecologicalinterests." Only local communities can provide the affection, care, andunderstanding essential to maintaining society and the environment. Berrysuggests ways for communities to become more self-sufficient and healthy,

such as by supplying local needs primarily from local sources.109 pages GB04 $19.95 softcover

Sex, Economy, Freedom, & CommunityWendell BerryIn this collection of essays, Wendell Berry continues his work as on ofAmerica’s most relevant social commentators. In this book, Berry addressessome of the most significant challenges facing our society today, outlininghow the modern process of community disintegration is at the heart of thesocial and economic problems we face. Berry argues that as people turnaway from their communities, they conform to a “rootless and placelessmonocoluture of commercial expectations and products,” buying into the

very economic system that is destroying the Earth, our communities, and all they represent.177 pages GB05 $18.00 hardcover

The Way of IgnoranceWendell BerryModern American culture, says Berry, can be characterized by divisiveanger, profound loss, and danger. Berry responds to these elements withhope and intelligence in this series of essays. He poses questions such as:Whose freedom are we considering when we speak of the 'free market'?What is really involved in National Security? What is the price of ownershipwithout affection? He answers them with clear and passionate prose,providing the reader with some of his finest cultural criticism.

180 pages GB03 $21.00 softcover

Citizenship PapersWendell BerryWendell Berry he is one of those faithful, devoted critics envisioned bythe Founding Fathers of America to be the life's blood and very futureof the nation they imagined. Adams, Jefferson, and Madison wouldhave found great clarity in his prose and great hope in his vision. Andtoday's readers will be moved and encouraged by his passion and hisrefusal to surrender in the face of desperate odds. Citizenship Papers,a collection of 19 essays, is a call of alarm to a nation standing on the

brink of global catastrophe.189 pages GB06 $21.00 softcover

Slow is BeautifulNew Visions of Community, Leisure, and Joie de VivreCecile AndrewsSlow is Beautiful explores the notion that the frantic pace of modern lifeis resulting in a major decline in the happiness of the general population.Troubled by destructive lifestyles devoted to money and status, our societyis affected by subtle consumer, corporate, and political forces which arestamping the joy out of our existence. Andrews suggests ways of buildinga more fulfilling life through caring communities, unhurried leisure, the

development of personal connections to others, and the slow-down of life in general.244 pages GB12 $19.95 softcover

To the Readers ofGood Work NewsDear Friends,

We represent vital projects in thedowntown that support over 500 in-dividuals daily. The projects of TheWorking Centre and St. John’sKitchen provide innovative supportsthat create a spirit of neighbours look-ing after each other. These projectsand the ideas behind them continueto grow. Since its foundation in 1982,The Working Centre has supportedgrass-roots, cooperative, self-di-rected, skill-based learning. A schoolwhere people gain competencies inword-processing, resumé writing, jobhunting, computer repair, sewing,cooking, gardening, papermaking,retailing, construction, renovation,bicycle repair, and other skills.

We rely on your contributions tomake this creative work possible. Thiswork of community, from servingmeals, to providing housing, to recy-cling bikes is primarily supported byvolunteers and financial donations.

For your contribution to our workyou will receive our quarterly news-paper, Good Work News that reportson ecology, book reviews, the chang-ing nature of work, and inspiring sto-ries of the time honoured methods ofself reliance. We are asking for yoursupport because our work is so im-portant to the many people who relyon us. We hope that you are able tomake a donation at this time to helpsustain us throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Joe Mancini

Director

December 2006 Good Work News Page 8

Yes I want to support this work in K-W!Enclosed is my donation for

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Please direct my donation to:St. John’s Kitchen The Working Centre Where it is needed most

Please make cheque payable to: The Working Centre, 58 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 1V6

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An Alternative Christmas Gift IdeaEach year we are grateful for donations made in the name of family, friends or associates. If you use this

order form, we will gladly send a Christmas card acknowledging your gift. Please fill out the form carefully. Thecards that we send have been designed by Andy Macpherson.

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St. John’s Kitchen The Working Centre

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To order a Gift Certificate, please write “Gift Certificate” for the Title, and write the value you would like for it to be in the Price box.