Eva’s Initiatives: Eva’s Phoenix and Phoenix Print Shop
By Lindsay Kane, CEDTAP volunteer

Some people are born to follow; others are born to initiate. After reading this article, I dare you to guess which one Eva Smith is.

Eva Smith was a community outreach worker and counsellor. Originally founded by Eva Smith as the North York Emergency Home for Youth in 1989, the organization was renamed as Eva’s Initiatives in honour of her initiative, determination, and persistence. Eva’s Initiatives is a non-profit incorporated charitable organization, which administers three youth shelter facilities in Toronto. Its innovative services help solve problems related to youth homelessness.

Eva’s Initiatives comprises three sites: Eva’s Place, Eva’s Satellite, and Eva’s Phoenix. At Eva’s Initiatives, the mission is to work “collaboratively with homeless and at-risk youth to actualize their potential to lead productive, self-sufficient and healthy lives by providing safe shelter and a range of services.” At both Eva’s Place and Eva’s Satellite, housing facilities are offered, as are programs that help youth find housing, and develop skills that allow them to become self-sufficient individuals.

Eva’s Phoenix is an award-winning housing and training facility composed of ten townhouse units within the superstructure of a renovated fire hall. Up to fifty young people ages 16 to 24 can reside here for up to one year. The staff team supports them in acquiring the skills and training necessary to be self-sufficient. In addition, external applicants ages 16 to 29, participate in its employment programs, which are geared to concrete career opportunities. In addition, the youth participate in mentorship programs, where they build strong support networks outside the social service system. Along with a variety of other employment programs supported by over 50 employers, Eva’s Phoenix is also home to an on-site commercial print shop, the Phoenix Print Shop, which opened in 2002.

The Canadian print industry has challenging and well-paid careers available, and has a growing lack of both trained staff and training facilities. Thankfully, the creation of Phoenix Print Shop addresses both problems. Initially, youth participate in 3-weeks of pre-employment life skills sessions. Once hired in the Print Shop they participate in 20-weeks of on-the-job graphic arts training, where they learn about desktop publishing, offset lithography, finishing, etc. Participants complete offsite co-op placements with other print companies, and receive support to connect to a career-oriented position in the graphic communications industry. Once leaving Eva’s Phoenix and the Phoenix Print Shop, participants then receive follow-up support for a minimum of two years, in hopes that they will maintain housing and employment.

The Phoenix Print Shop has flourished in part due to generous support from a range of organizations, such as Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the City of Toronto, the United Way’s Toronto Enterprise Fund, RBC Foundation, Scotia Capital Global Trading and Heidelberg Canada. In 2003, the Community Economic Development Technical Assistance Program (CEDTAP) also became an official supporter, by providing technical assistance. CEDTAP contributed $5000 to help update the Shop’s computer software and hardware. The Macintosh updates included three G4s, as well as Quark XPress, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Office. This equipment was able to increase the efficiency of the Shop’s operations, and broaden the range of acceptable customer files. CEDTAP’s technical assistance has provided a foundation by which the graduates have been able to develop stronger resumes and connect their experience with workplaces.

In order to promote these positive outcomes, goals are constantly being set at the Phoenix Print Shop. The enterprise’s double bottom line is social and financial. First, each year it intends to connect ten homeless and at-risk youth, between the ages of 16 to 29, with a career in the Graphic Communication Industry. Second, it strives to be 100% business-cost self-sufficient by the end of 2006. Self-sufficiency is the name of the game, and hopefully more initiatives will continue to address this aim in the GTA.

If you wish to know more about Eva’s Phoenix and the Phoenix Print Shop, please contact:

Andrew Macdonald
Manager of Social Enterprise
416-364-4716 ext. 262
andrewmac@evasphoenix.ca
www.evasinitiatives.com

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