The Cardboard Project

Inspired by Employ to Empower's annual Cardboard Project event, this podcast aims to continue the conversation, by offering a space for peers of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) community to speak on their own behalf, and be active voices in the movement to shift the negative stigma that is portrayed about the community. Each episode will feature one peer from the DTES community who will address the stigma that exists through their own insights, speaking to their lived experiences. For those who are unfamiliar, Vancouver's DTES community is often regarded as one of the poorest postal codes (off-reserves) in Canada, and the headlines often hold a focus on the disproportionately high levels of homelessness, crime, mental illness, sex work, and drug use. What is seen in the media is often one, biased side of the story of the DTES. What is missed: the light, the triumph, the resilience of the members of the community. These episodes will dive into the stories of individuals who live and work in the DTES community, with our hopes for the community to come with an open-mind and to understand the complexities of the individual human experience. To learn more about Employ to Empower visit: employtoempower.com. To learn more about how this all began visit: cardboardproject.com