Join your 1-2-3-GO Hosts for their unique 3 Things Event on May 26th at the John Dutton Theatre at 1pm.  The event will offer three different options for participants to make Calgary and even better place!  The catch is… the “Things” are a secret, so you have to check it out to find out. 

Why do you think its important that we continue to make Calgary and even better place to live? What can each of us to make our street, our community, and our city a greater place for all?

Click here to learn more about the event.

So, what’s important to you?  Do you think community is an important element in your daily life? If so, do you have a picture that captures that? Share your thoughts and pictures with us! 

United Way’s BeCause initiative empowers 20 to 40 year olds to work together and be part of creating social change through charitable giving, volunteerism and civic and community engagement.  They have held a range of unique and fun events to help inspire Calgary’s next generation of leaders.  In fact, BeCause has held or taken part in events at each of these local hotspots.

Check them out:

1.     The Downtown Core

It was hard to miss BeCause at Calgary’s biggest private shopping event ever held in November 2011.  With performances from Chantal Kreviazuk, to ETalk’s queen of gossip, Lainey Lui hosting the red carpet, the event was a raging success.  Check these photos out.

2.     Double Zero – Black and Red Bash

BeCause hosted its first ever Black and Red Bash at Double Zero this year.   More than 100 of the city’s young philanthropic leaders came together with some of Calgary’s most influential leaders to help kick off BeCause 2012. Attendees were able to take in some of Calgary’s best pizza, while networking with some of the city’s most notable leaders. Check these photos out from the event.

Check out this video:

3.     Gerry Thomas Gallery – Urban Exposure Project

Each year, BeCause provides aspiring photographers with an opportunity to learn about social issues in our city like none other.  The Urban Exposure Project (UEP) gives participants the opportunity to explore a social issue using their camera as a tool to express what they learn, the people they meet and the stories they hear.  Last year, participants exhibited their collection at the Gerry Thomas Gallery, where friends, family and keen artisans shared in the experience.

4.     The Garage in Eau Claire – Why?Race

Part scavenger hunt, part obstacle course and part foot race, BeCause’s Why?Race is a citywide team challenge that won’t disappoint!  Teams of four race through Calgary’s downtown while taking part in various tasks and challenges that help participants get to know their city better. To wrap up the day, participants celebrated their accomplishments at The Garage in Eau Claire.

Registration for the second annual Why?Race is now open.  Get yours soon because last year’s event sold out!  Stay connected to www.BeCause.ca and sign up your team.

5.     Flames Central – Timeraiser

Timeraiser is a silent auction where you bid time instead of money.  In 2011, Timeraiser was held at the one and only Flames Central.  Attendees were given an opportunity to meet with different agencies and make matches based on their skills.  Once a participant makes their match (or matches), they are eligible to bid in volunteer hours on a piece of artwork.   Once you complete your pledge, you get to bring the artwork home!  It’s a night on the town, with a good cause – tickets for Timeraiser 2012 go on sale in May.

6.    Saltlik – Networking event

BeCause was once again on scene at one of the city’s up and coming local steak houses, during one of many yearly networking events.   Young Calgary leaders and professionals came together for a night of good food, drinks and networking.

Join or to learn more about BeCause.

Do you want to be part of a movement that embraces Calgary’s youthful spirit? Why?

In Blake Spence’s class, no topic is off-limits, especially when a boy has dropped it anonymously into the “question box.” Mr. Spence, 28, co-ordinates the WiseGuyz Program, now on offer to Grade 9 boys in two Calgary high schools. In 14 two-hour sessions offered once a week, the guys talk – yes, talk, without girls in the room – about everything from reproductive anatomy, sexually transmitted infections and birth control to relationships, values and the media.

WiseGuyz, run by the Calgary Sexual Health Centre (which gave Mr. Spence his training), isn’t just sex ed with an update. It’s part of a new wave of initiatives to intervene in a young, male culture that is giving many adults cause for concern. Long-term, the aim is to combat the rates of domestic violence and sexually transmitted infections. Short-term, the goal is to tutor young men in healthy relations with women and non-destructive masculinity.

A U.S. study of 1,430 Grade 7 students published last month found that nearly one in six (15 per cent) reported being physically abused by someone they had dated; one in three (37 per cent) said they had been victimized psychologically or electronically in a romantic context.

Read the rest of the article here.

Do you know about 211?  If not, you are among many Calgarians who are missing out on one of Calgary’s best kept secrets.  211 is a three-digit telephone number that connects callers to a full range of community, social and government services information.

If you’ve got a question, call 211 and get answers!  211 is:

• Free
• Confidential
• Multilingual – available in more than 150 languages
• Available 24 hours a day

How can we help Calgarians become more aware about 211?  Have you called 211? Share your experience with us!

Nirvan changed Caine’s life by bringing people together to play at Caine’s arcade.  Impacting someone’s life doesn’t have to be that big; it can be as easy as holding the door for someone. Were you inspired by this story? How can each of us make a difference in someone’s life?

A lesson on ending poverty

Photo by: Kate Chidley

Just before the Alberta election last week, I was involved with Women Rising Up, a conference about ending poverty in Calgary. A small dogged committee worked on this conference for nearly a year under the leadership of Mary Sheridan, a member of Parkdale United Church. The United Way, the

YWCA, the Women’s Centre, Women Together Ending Poverty and the Child Well-being Initiative were involved.

We all know charity is important. We also know it’s not enough. It doesn’t get at the systemic reasons for poverty, and it’s often humiliating for recipients. We planned a conference where participants would be a mix of people who had and had not experienced poverty. Any woman could come — there would be no entry fee, and bus tickets, meals and childcare would be free. It would be beautiful, with flowers, art, live music and theatre. We invited only women because women often speak more openly about sensitive issues away from men.

 On the opening Friday night, Blackfoot elder Audrey Weasel Traveller blessed our gathering and spoke about women’s power. We learned from Lorna Crowshoe, the Aboriginal issues strategist for the City of Calgary, about poverty issues in the local Aboriginal community.

Read the full article

http://ucobserver.org/pogue_blog/2012/05/ending_poverty/

Read this Globe and Mail story and share your thoughts.  Is there more we can be doing to raise awareness on the dangers of drugs and alcohol addiction?

CBC’s Scott Oake shares story of his son’s fatal addiction

Known to millions as the host of Hockey Night in Canada, Scott Oake has been keeping something quiet for more than a year now: the loss of his eldest son  Bruce to a fatal spiral of addiction.

Thirteen months ago, Bruce died in Calgary of an accidental drug overdose at the age of 25. After a brief leave to grieve, the CBC sportscaster returned to the    broadcast booth to complete the 2011 playoffs and 2011-12 regular season. But the pain remains.

“That’s the one thing we learned,” Scott says, recounting the tragedy from the living room of his Winnipeg home, accompanied by wife Anne and their youngest  son Darcy. “That addiction knows no socioeconomic boundaries. We’re just an average family.”

Read the rest on the Globe and Mail site

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/cbcs-scott-oake-shares-story-of-his-sons-fatal-addiction/article2418565/page2/

1. He fled Turkey when he was just 16 years old.
2. He learned English watching everyone’s favourite comedy show – Friends.
3. He has met some of the world’s most prestigious delegates.
4. He represented Canada as a youth delegate at the 17^th World Council of YMCAs in Hong Kong.
5. He was the recipient of Immigrant Services Calgary Youth of Distinction Award.
6. He volunteered at the Western Canada Leadership Conference.
7. He worked with Calgary YMCA’s Achievement Program (YMAP) as a Coordinator, helping youth who, like him, are new to this great city.
8. He is a mentor to other youth in the city.
9. He fled his home country because he did not want to go serve in the army, a service that is mandatory – refusal meant jail.
10. He had to start his whole life over again, without his parents.
11. He is ambitious and determined.
12. He volunteered with Kids Help Phone.
13. He learned English in just three months.
14. He attended Ernest Manning High School.
15. He volunteered at the Global Youth Summit.
16. He is an incredible young man
17. In 2010, he became a proud Canadian citizen.
18. He says his life changed because of YMCA, a agency supported by United Way of Calgary and Area.

“I remember getting off the plane and walking in the airport – even air felt different.” – Koray Demirbag

Read his full story here.

What was the most admirable thing you learned about Koray? What was one of the most shocking things you learned about Koray? How can we help other youth like Koray succeed?

It’s Mother Goose Day!  Mother Goose stories are classics, there’s no doubt about it! The stories are simple and children love to hear them. Since May 1st is Mother Goose day, we want to know how important you think it is read to children. What’s your favorite story to read to your kids? What was your favorite story when you were a child?