Stories

In the heart of London, Urban Roots London stands as a beacon of hope, addressing vital issues of food security, well-being, education, and the environment. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality, nutritious food, Urban Roots is pioneering innovative solutions that extend beyond mere sustenance, emphasizing the right to choose food aligned with individual needs and preferences.

Regional HIV/AIDS Connection is using their $67,000, one-year Community Vitality grant to collaborate with grassroots groups and community leaders to support the well-being of London’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, especially people disproportionately impacted by systemic oppression, by creating new joy-centred spaces, opportunities, and resources that provide connection, affirmation, and visibility.

LIFE*SPIN’s “Food Foundations for Self-Reliance” project which aims to increase food security among low-income families by expanding the organization’s successful food-focused programs: Community Food Box and the Pocket-Sized Farm. LIFE*SPIN (Low-Income Family Empowerment Sole-Support Parents Information Network) has been at the forefront of providing programs and resources to enhance the lives of low-income families through education, advocacy, and community building since 1989.

Libraries are traditionally seen as places of education, but as Michael Ciccone, CEO and Chief Librarian at London Public Library (LPL) explains, they are more than that: “London Public Library is deeply embedded, essential infrastructure that provides community gathering space that’s free, accessible, and open to the public". As the health and homelessness crisis in London has worsened in recent years, the downtown Central Library, in particular, has been serving an ever-increasing number of individuals whose needs its staff aren’t equipped or trained to serve.

A Community Vitality grant of $63,000 over three years will help the London InterCommunity Health Centre expand its successful peer-led program for newcomer women by incorporating childcare.

Forest City Gallery (FCG), nestled in the heart of London, has been a vibrant hub for artistic expression since 1973. As the only artist-run centre in London and Middlesex County, FCG stands as a beacon for emerging and mid-career artists seeking support, mentorship, and a platform to showcase their work.

With their $150,000, two-year Community Vitality Grant, Changing Ways is continuing to employ a Community Engagement and Research Coordinator, a position initially established as a pilot project funded by the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund