CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Oct. 10, 2013) -

WHAT		Over 15 homeless serving sector agencies gather together to draw attention to the need for affordable housing in our city. The hour and a half event will showcase talent from the Youth Sector as well as provide an opportunity for participants to vote on their favourite planter box decorated by one of 9 different agencies participating in the first annual, Planting Seeds of Change hosted by The Alex. Participants will be invited to sign a giant, "Affordable Housing is the Key" card and be provided with Homelessness sucks because…. lollipops from members of the youth sector as well as information on how they can make a difference to ending homelessness in our city by supporting affordable housing initiatives.
WHO		Mayor Naheed Nenshi
		Dr. John Rook, President & CEO, CHF
		Kim O'Brien, Exec. Dir, Horizon Housing and CACHH Affordable Housing Working Group Chair
		Sue Fortune, Sue Fortune, Director The Alex Pathways to Housing
		Walter Twiddy, CEO, Neighbourlink and CACHH Chair
		Guest Judges -- Planting Seeds of Change
		Gord Gillies - Anchor, Global TV
		Kent Hehr - MLA, Calgary Buffalo
		Alvin Law - Motivational speaker and author
		Ken Lima-Coelho - YMCA Community Builder, Heebee-jeebee
		Jari Love - Local fitness guru and founder of Get-Ripped
		Bob Steele - Afternoon show host XL-103
WHERE/WHEN
		Olympic Plaza, 228 8 Ave SE, Calgary
		11:30am - 1pm (Mayor Naheed Nenshi to speak at 11:35 - 11:45 am)
ABOUT		Face it Calgary is an initiative by over 30 homeless serving agencies in Calgary, all working together to change the face of homelessness in our city.

AGENDA

Thursday, October 10

Photo/Video Opportunities:

11:15 - 11:25 Launch of Planting Seeds of Change - Dr. John Rook, President & CEO, CHF

11:35 - 11:45 Mayor Naheed Nenshi Proclaims Homeless Awareness Week

12:00 - 12:30 Judging of the Alex's Planting the Seeds of Change planter box contest Beautiful and expressive artwork by people who have experience providing the hope and support needed to beat homelessness

11:30 - 1:00 Homelessness Sucks! Calgary's Youth who have experienced homelessness tell it like it is with individual messages attached to suckers (lollipops)

	Homelessness sucks because…
			You don't have a home or food
			It's hard to save $
			You don't got family around
			It can be really cold
			You can't trust anybody
			People assume we're not working hard enough to get a home
			It's a dog eat dog world when you're homeless and you age fast

12:15 - 12:30 Speakers

• Kim O'Brien Exec. Dir. of Horizon Housing & Chair of CACHH Affordable Housing Working Group -Importance of Affordable Housing - what we can all do

• Sue Fortune, Director, The Alex & Housing Advocate - Challenge to locate Housing yet difference in people's lives when they get housing.

• Walter Twiddy CEO of Neighbourlink and CACHH Chair - Importance of collaboration working together and ending homelessness in Calgary. It's all about that one individual that we help.

Planting the Seeds of Change:

It began with a client vision - a vision to create something that would grow, provide and bring hope to their neighbours. It came through an understanding that sometimes awareness blooms through the simplest of gifts - the gift of planting and nurturing a life. That's the moment a group of formerly homeless men and women from The Alex Pathways to Housing program formed a group and decided to build special planter boxes that would grow and blossom change throughout Calgary.

With the planters completed the task of moving them into the community and sharing their beauty and message of hope became paramount - so the group went back to brainstorming and decided to share their creation with partner organizations as an expression of healing and a beacon of change.

Nine organizations were invited to decorate a planter using their creativity and vision to create a unique piece of art worthy of display throughout the city. Within hours all nine planters were spoken for and the wheels of creativity and collaboration began turning. The result is ...

Planting the Seeds of Change Art Display and Charitable Auction.

Participating Agencies

• Aventa

• The Calgary Drop In and Rehab Centre

• Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS)

• Jesus Loves You Society

• Servants Anonymous Society

• Wood's Homes

• YWCA - Mary Dover House

• YWCA - Community Based Supportive Housing

• The Alex - Pathways to Housing

On-line auction begins at 2:00pm, October 10th, 2013 with Elevate Auctions - here is the link.

http://t.co/sCrLQopOcD