Ken Hermann Sr. was born in Stratford, Ontario in 1921. The youngest of 9 children, Ken and his 8 sisters were raised by their mother. Ken left school in grade 10 and took on various odd jobs to support his family before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy. “He didn’t like sharing war stories and felt guilty that he came home alive when so many of his buddies had not come home at all.” recalls Karl Hermann, Ken’s youngest son.

The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration will implement the Helping Arabic Newcomer families with Different Abilities to be Empowered (HAND2E) project, which will support Arabic families that are struggling to access supports and services for their differently-abled children due to cultural and language barriers – all while working with local service providers to develop culturally informed ways to better serve Arabic families.

Hutton House Association for Adults with Disabilities will establish the Cavendish Community Food Hub – a full-scale, accessible urban farm located in Cavendish Park in London’s Kensington Village area on land provided by the City of London. With additional community partners like the Nathan T. Deslippe Memorial Fund developing a model for indoor hydroponic gardens, Greenhouse Academy providing greenhouse and landscaping training, and Beautiful Edibles assisting with programming, the Cavendish Community Food Hub is a joint effort to address food insecurity in London through both agriculture and education.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area will create a new staff position – a Volunteer Coordinator – to address their volunteer intake bottleneck and eliminate the waitlist of children in need of an adult mentor – which is especially important amid the added stressors of the pandemic.

John Howard Society of London and District will continue to address post-incarceration homelessness by providing emergency hotel stays alongside access to supports for reintegration including mental health, addictions, basic-needs, system navigation and finding long-term housing solutions for individuals recently released from custody who are facing homelessness – an under-served and often ignored population.

Yotuni Social Enterprise and Carolinian Canada will partner to create Tsi’thotuhutsya:te (The Creators Land) Community Healing Gardens Project, a social enterprise that will employ Indigenous youth to create gardening kits to be sold to community members – enabling land-based wellness and learning at home with Indigenous food and plants.