Art + Yoga = Community Support

Georgina Varveris is part owner of Open Door Yoga studios, which operate on Commercial Drive and Main Street in Vancouver. She recently began what she calls The Bag Project to help artists and those struggling with homelessness in her community.

The Bag Project works like this: Varveris has sourced hemp/cotton bags, appropriate for groceries or other purchases, and produced locally at HT Basics. She commissioned struggling artist Jason Bouchard to provide the artwork for the outside of each bag. The bags are sold by Roger Wilson, a man who lives on the streets around Commercial Drive. (Bags can also be purchased at the Open Door Yoga studio Commercial Drive location.) Profits from the sale of each $13 bag are then divided between Jason and Roger.

Varveris explained to the Vancouver Courier newspaper that she was inspired by Pivot Legal Society (who we wrote about in this blog on Monday) and their work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Pivot’s Hope In Shadows project distributes cameras in the Downtown Eastside community and holds a contest with the resulting photographs. The 12 winning entries are then used to produce a calendar, which community members sell on the streets of Vancouver in the late part of each year. The sellers receive 50% of the sale price of each calendar. In 2008 the calendars sold out.

Each one of us can make a difference in our community. Georgina Varveris and Pivot Legal Society know this intimately.

We leave you today with this quote:

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
- Margaret Mead

peace & namaste,

Zoey – founding hippy at hippy grandma

Zoey Ryan
life, business & leadership coach for women
inspiration * clarity * wisdom * enchantment
www.shaktisage.com
604-323-3700

“Coaching for your heart & soul and the heart & soul of your business”

Are you a heart-centered and “soulful shopper”? Know of a new baby arriving? Keep the heart, soul & hippy love flowing for generations with purchases from Hippy Grandma: an Eco-Boutique selling fair trade, one of a kind, earth friendly treasures.

Through your purchases, you help local artisans, hand-crafting grandmas on a pension, women’s fair trade co-ops and programs designed to support vulnerable mamas & babies. Please share Hippy Grandma widely and wildly with your soul sisters. www.hippygrandma.com