Dock Member Series: Jodi Mucha of BCHC
Jodi Mucha is the Executive Director of BC Healthy Communities, and a veteran Dock member!
1. Tell us a bit about your organization: how do you make a positive impact in the community?
BCHC is a non-profit organization that has been around since 2005. Our work is based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Healthy Cities approach. We operate at the intersection of planning and public health – a unique vantage point. At the heart of all these disciplines is a fundamental commitment to equity – ensuring that systemic disadvantages don’t get in the way of community members’ aspirations for their lives and the lives of their families.
Our team is made up of planners, public health specialists and community engagement practitioners and we provide tools, resources, facilitated supports and capacity building grants to local and Indigenous governments to develop policies, plans and programs that support healthy communities across the province.
2. We’d also love to know a bit about you! What drove you to get involved in this work?
I was involved in creating the vision for BCHC and got it up and running so it feels like my teenager at this point. My background is in environmental sustainability and international development which involves systems thinking- connecting the dots. I love the work at BCHC as it focuses on the connections between the social determinants of health. Every single day I get to work with passionate staff, board members, community champions and a wide range of partners in both the planning and public health field. I can't imagine doing any other kind of work.
3. What was it about theDock that encouraged you to become a member?
We were growing in size and needed a larger space for our team. TheDock was moving from its original location in Chinatown and was looking for members to join the new larger space on Cormorant St. We saw this as an excellent opportunity to work with other like minded organizations so moved in August 1, 2016 and love it here!
4. Could you describe a challenge you’ve faced that theDock has helped you overcome?
As a small non-profit organization, the model that theDock uses for members really works well for us. We have two enclosed offices that we rent on an annual basis. It provides us with a good foundation to build around and if we need extra desk space/hot desks from time to time we can rent when needed. Meeting rooms are also hard to come by in Victoria (especially large meeting rooms that are affordable) so it's also a bonus to have access to meeting rooms as part of our membership. There are also other things like a photocopier and equipment we would have had to rent or purchase ourselves. The collaborative model is awesome and it's great to socialize with the range of other members who also rent at theDock.
5. What is a piece of advice you would offer to another person or group doing similar work? Feel free to reference the challenge you just mentioned, another you have overcome, or some other advice altogether!
I would suggest visiting theDock and try working from there to see if it could work for you. Everyone is down to earth and friendly (even the dogs and cats). It's affordable, flexible, a welcoming space and a good opportunity to network from both a professional and personal standpoint. One of our practicum students who was from another province made friends with other members and developed long lasting friendships outside of work. It helped her settle in to her new life in Victoria.
6. In your mind, how do you see theDock-of-the-future supporting you and other great organizations as an older and wiser Social Impact Hub?
As we are moving over to the other side of COVID there are more socials at theDock which are really fun. Initiating a regular Beer O'clock and Tea Time again would be great. The salad bar already rocks so keep doing that! Maybe an annual chili cookoff or themes for potlucks (greek, mexican, etc) would be fun.
AND of course, hearing Coin and Eric do karaoke is always welcomed!!
7. One last thing: please share something (it can be either fun or serious) that you’d like people to know about you?
I am related to a famous art nouveau artist from the 1800's, Alphonse Mucha, so that is my claim to fame which is nice because everyone struggles to pronounce my last name
Want to learn more about BC Healthy Communities?
Check out their website.
Interested in becoming a Dock member?
Learn more about our membership options!