Together-SSWR is excited to share our series of FREE interactive mental wellness conversations to engage our community and enhance well-being in South Surrey-White Rock. Elizabeth Bannerman, a psychologist on our team, shares, "We aim to foster connections at every Together-SSWR Community Cafe, creating a welcoming space that embraces everyone. We're committed to combating loneliness and fostering inclusion." She highlights that our approach is based on positive psychology, emphasizing strengths and building connections to enhance overall well-being.
This initiative took shape in early 2023 following a community "Re-Imagining Session," where community members generated new ideas for growing mental wellness in innovative ways. The cafe emerged from this session, along with feedback about the strong desire for deeper social connections and decreasing isolation. The cafe is a warm and welcoming way to bring people together and foster a sense of belonging, all while learning new skills.
This year we hope to launch four cafes with a program of twelve monthly topics provided at different times and different public locations. The variety of times and locations were chosen intentionally to provide broad accessibility. Currently, there are two locations, one at Laura’s Coffee Corner (the third Monday of every month, 9:30 am-11 am) and the Semiahmoo Library (the second Thursday of every month, 6:30 pm-8 pm). A third, Saturday cafe launches in March at the White Rock Library, and a fourth is soon to follow.
With the help of 15 dedicated community volunteers (and growing!), we've developed the session content, secured venues, and trained peer leaders to guide each cafe session. Led by experienced local mental health professionals, our upcoming conversation at Semiahmoo Library, "Cultivating Connections," takes place on February 13th. In this session, participants will explore what connection means, the kinds of connections we can make, barriers to connecting with others, and how we can cultivate relationships in our daily lives. We encourage participants to register as the cafes are booking up quickly. The next available session at Laura’s Coffee Corner is March 17th, on “Self Compassion.”
The team is looking for accessible venues within the community that are warm and inviting spaces. Elizabeth Bannerman says, "We want our cafes to reflect community values," praising the commitment to mental wellness that Laura's Coffee Corner has demonstrated. Deshpal Grewal, Registered Clinical Counsellor and team member, adds that the cafes "offer a neutral environment, reducing the stigma of seeking support and making everyone feel welcome."
Together-SSWR is a collective, shared leadership organization that is developing innovative approaches for growing mental wellness in our community. Reflecting on our organization, Deshpal shares that collaborative approaches can have their challenges, but he also observes that our diverse teams sparks thinking outside of the box and coming up with innovative ideas. Our teams currently consist of psychologists, engineers, registered clinical counsellors, nurses, social workers, and people from leadership positions in local non-profit organizations. All bring valued individual perspectives and diverse backgrounds that influence our approach to community involvement.
In order to implement our community-driven vision, Together-SSWR relies on the generosity of our financial sponsors and organizational collaborators: Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, Fraser Health, Sources, Alex House, WRSS Division of Family Practice Physicians, and other local organizations. The Together Cafe series is just one of our community initiatives aimed at promoting well-being. Look for more to come!
Join US:
For more details: Visit the cafe page on this website for upcoming session, and follow us on social media for program updates (Facebook and Instagram @Together-SSWR)
Reserve a spot: info@together-sswr.com.
Support us: Join us in building a stronger, more connected community! If you would like to volunteer with Together, host a cafe, or help sponsor our initiatives, let us know! For more information and inquiries contact our Media, Events, and Operations Facilitator, Pearl Meredith at pearlmeredith@together-sswr.com or Together Board Chair, Jennifer McIvor at jennifermcivor@together-sswr.com.
Thank you to the Cafe Marketing Team for their work on this article, Saira Hayre (lead), Carolyn Lucas, Denise Abrunhosa, and Pearl Meredith.
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