Dock Member Series: The Existence Project
Meera is the Director of Events for the Existence project and an active member of theDock’s community!
The existence Project’s mission is to humanize public discourse, public space, trauma and policy. They envision communities as places where everyone feels at home.
1. How long have you been a Dock member? What attracted you to theDock?
I have been a member of the Dock since the end of October 2021, so relatively new! We're a small non-profit that has not had a central workspace for a little while now. It's been challenging to work cohesively while bouncing around spaces or working fully remotely. When we learned about theDock and the types of people they aim to support, it felt like the perfect collaborative environment with like-minded organizations.
2. Introduce your organization in a few sentences – what do you do, what’s your purpose?
The Existence Project is a non-profit in Victoria that aims to have communities be places where everyone feels at home. We do that by humanizing public space, public discourse, trauma, and policy. Our programming includes multimedia projects elevating the stories of people with lived experience of homelessness, as well as workshops that are educational and discussion based around homelessness and trauma.
3. What is your favourite part about working for your organization?
I love that we aim to do things differently. We listen for the need from those with lived experience, and we care very much about the wellbeing, capacity, and passion of each person on our team and every person we partner with. Our goal is to change the way our community comes together and when I get to see it happen with my own eyes, it's beautiful.
4. How has Covid impacted your organization? Any surprising challenges and wins along the way?
Honestly, Covid fundamentally changed our project. Without being able to do any in person outreach we had to turn to digital storytelling and anti-stigma zoom workshops. It was a challenging shift but it taught us how to reach a wider network and really grow. We've been able to elevate the stories of the unhoused community in entirely new ways.
5. How did you adapt this past year?
This year pushed us to really focus in on where we could have an effect. We ran targeted workshops with community associations to give the general community a better understanding of homelessness with so many more people forced outside when Covid shut down indoor supports. We also launched into a lot more outreach to people that were living in parks to hear their stories and needs.
6. What is your team most excited for in 2022?
Well, we're a bigger team than we were last year and that's really exciting. Our biggest project right out of the gate is the premiere of our documentary called Moving Day! It's been in the works for a whole year and it's been amazing to start sharing it with the community and sparking really important dialogue around homelessness from a new perspective. Moving Day follows the lives of unhoused people living in Beacon Hill Park as the end of 24/7 sheltering approaches. With the rise of Covid-19, shelters closed, jobs were lost, and homelessness in Victoria B.C., swelled. A community formed in the city’s biggest park and as they learn of an ambitious plan to house everyone by March 31, 2021, uncertainty in the park, and in their lives mounts. Folks can learn more about it on the film’s Instagram.
7. What are some bonus fun facts or info about you?
It's funny really, my coworkers always laugh at how random my hobbies are but I find so many things interesting and entertaining! For example, I am pretty terrible at playing video games but I find the industry so interesting! I love watching content around it. I'm also a huge musical theatre fan and get involved in community theatre productions when I can. I'm happy to talk about either of those things anytime.
Want to learn more about The Existence Project?
Check out their website or follow them on Instagram.
Interested in becoming a Dock member?
Learn more about our membership options!