Do Local Good

Welcome to Do Local Good, a podcast created by United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and hosted by the team of volunteers on the GenNEXT Cabinet! We feature stories and people from the Edmonton region to inform, inspire, and invite others to join us in building resilient and thriving communities. Each episode features insights from local experts, community leaders, and non-profits working in education, mental health, financial literacy, and more — bringing you closer to the real challenges and solutions that shape our community.

In this episode of United Way’s Do Local Good podcast, hosts Yawa Idi and Rahma Dalmar explore how art therapy is making a meaningful impact on mental health in the Alberta Capital Region. Joined by special guests Derryl-Lynn Braumberger, MCP-AT, CCC, and Laura Torgrimson, MCP-AT, CCC, art therapists from The Family Centre, the conversation highlights the critical need for accessible mental health resources. Together, they discuss how United Way-supported initiatives like All in for Youth foster supportive spaces where creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing. Hear inspiring stories of how art therapy helps build connection, hope, and strength in Edmonton's diverse communities.

Get Involved:

• Learn more about how you can make a difference with GenNEXT: https://www.myunitedway.ca/take-action/join-a-group/gennext/
• Access local resources by calling 211, texting INFO to 211, or chatting online at 211 Alberta: https://ab.211.ca/

Featured Programs and Resources:

• All in for Youth: https://www.myunitedway.ca/allinforyouth/
• The Family Centre: https://www.familycentre.org/
• Tools for School: https://www.myunitedway.ca/tools-for-school/
• Coats for Kids & Families: https://www.myunitedway.ca/how-we-help/basic-needs/coats-for-kids-and-families/

Special Acknowledgments:

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our hosts, Yawa Idi and Rahma Dalmar, for leading this inspiring conversation, and to our guests, Derryl-Lynn Braumberger and Laura Torgrimson, for sharing their expertise and passion for building resilient communities through art therapy.

Special thanks to The Family Centre for their ongoing leadership in providing essential mental health resources in our community. We also acknowledge the incredible teams at All in for Youth schools across the Alberta Capital Region, whose unwavering dedication helps create supportive environments where young people can thrive.

A big thank-you to everyone from United Way and the GenNEXT Cabinet involved in the production of this podcast, including Adam Piercey, Chris Tse, Courtney Riley, Catherine Lee-Hanley, and Daryl Hooke, for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to amplifying stories of resilience and connection.

Lastly, we express our gratitude to our listeners for joining us on this journey to explore how creative solutions like art therapy can help strengthen our community.

Together, we are building resilient, connected, and thriving communities where no one is left behind.

Land Acknowledgment:

This episode was recorded in Edmonton, Alberta, on Treaty Six Territory and the Métis Nation of Alberta North Saskatchewan River Territory. We acknowledge that this land has long served as a meeting place, gathering ground, and travel route for the diverse Indigenous Peoples who have called it home for generations. These include the nêhiyawak (Cree), Blackfoot, Dene, Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Nakota Sioux, Inuit, and Métis. We are deeply grateful for the resources, knowledge, and culture shared by Indigenous communities, as we walk together on the path toward reconciliation. We honour and respect their contributions, which help guide our work to ensure no one in our community is left behind.

In this episode of United Way’s Do Local Good podcast, hosts Natalie Steffl and Rahma Dalmar explore the lasting impact of intergenerational trauma and the pathways to healing with special guest Pamela Spurvey, an Indigenous Wellness Coordinator and facilitator with United Way’s Empower U program. Pamela shares her personal journey of mental health recovery and addiction healing, emphasizing the vital role of cultural connection, financial empowerment, and community support in breaking cycles of trauma.

This conversation sheds light on the challenges families face when working toward reconciliation and recovery, offering a hopeful perspective on how cultural inclusion and community-driven programs likeEmpower U can foster resilience, understanding, and connection.

Get Involved:

• Learn more about how you can make a difference with GenNEXT: https://www.myunitedway.ca/take-action/join-a-group/gennext/
• Access local resources by calling 211, texting INFO to 211, or chatting online at 211 Alberta: https://www.myunitedway.ca/take-action/join-a-group/gennext/

Featured Programs and Resources:

• Empower U: https://www.myunitedway.ca/empoweru/
• Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society: https://bentarrow.ca/
• BGCBigs Edmonton & Area: https://bgcbigs.ca/

Acknowledgments:

We extend our deepest thanks to hosts Natalie Steffl and Rahma Dalmar for leading this meaningful discussion and to Pamela Spurvey for courageously sharing her story and insights. We also thank Brett Eigner for the content support he provided.

Special thanks to all Empower U facilitators, Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, BGCBigs Edmonton & Area, and all other partners working alongside us to build resilient, connected communities.

A big thank-you to everyone from United Way and the GenNEXT Cabinet involved in the production of this podcast, including Adam Piercey, Chris Tse, Courtney Riley, Catherine Lee-Hanley, and Daryl Hooke, for their creativity, hard work, and commitment to amplifying stories of resilience and connection.

Lastly, we express our gratitude to our listeners for joining us on this journey to explore the role of culture and community in trauma recovery.

Together, we are building resilient, connected, and thriving communities where no one is left behind.

Land Acknowledgment:

This episode was recorded in Edmonton, Alberta, on Treaty Six Territory and the Métis Nation of Alberta North Saskatchewan River Territory. We acknowledge that this land has long served as a meeting place, gathering ground, and travel route for the diverse Indigenous Peoples who have called it home for generations. These include the nêhiyawak (Cree), Blackfoot, Dene, Anishinaabe (Saulteaux), Nakota Sioux, Inuit, and Métis. We are deeply grateful for the resources, knowledge, and culture shared by Indigenous communities, as we walk together on the path toward reconciliation. We honour and respect their contributions, which help guide our work to ensure no one in our community is left behind.

The growing and complex needs of Albertans are being supported in part by an interconnected network called 211. We examine the beginnings and evolution of the 211 network, what it does, and how it is impacting local communities. This episode, we are joined by Stephanie Wright, the 211 Alberta manager, and Danae Dobko, a community resource specialist for 211. Together, we dive into the ins and outs of how 211 works to find Albertans help in increasingly trying times.

Support: United Way of the Alberta Capital Region

Connect: 211 Alberta

Learn: https://alberta.cmha.ca/mental-illness-in-canada/

Learn: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75f0002m/75f0002m2023004-eng.htm

Get Involved: https://www.volunteerconnector.org/edmonton/volunteeralberta

Access 211 support today:

You can reach 211 anytime 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

• Over the phone: Dial 2-1-1
• Text INFO to 211
• Live chat

You can also reach 211 24/7 using one of these toll-free numbers:

• 1-888-482-4696 (Edmonton & Northern Alberta)
• 1-855-266-1605 (Calgary, Central & Southern Alberta)

The GenNEXT podcast team is Alex Bedard, Adam Tymko, Annie Weishaar, Brett Eigner, David Odumade, Sydney Reid, Fever Worede, and Samantha Baxter. GenNEXT is a volunteer committee of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can be a part of the plan to end poverty, visit MyUnitedWay.ca.

An effective and accessible public school system is a vital component of any prosperous society. Alberta has a world-class education system, but your success as a student is about more than just what’s in the curriculum. Social factors like mental health, cultural barriers, and poverty play a pivotal role as well. This episode, we’re trying a thought experiment. We speak with EPSB’s Kris Simpson, E4C’s Kelly Bickford, and BGCBIGS’ Tracy Simon to learn how the All In For Youth program holistically supports students. And we’ll also show you how these supports work together in context at the Peace Out Poverty Academy for Successful Youngsters (though the cool kids call it POP Academy).

Timecodes

Intro to POP Academy – 2:14

Interview with Kris Simpson – 5:42

Nutrition Support Programs – 16:50

Interview with Kelly Bickford – 19:10

Afterschool Programs – 30:55

Interview with Tracy Simon – 32:37

Conclusion – 44:55

Links

Connect: Spruce Avenue Instagram

Connect: e4c Instagram

Connect: e4c Make Tax Time Pay

Connect: BGCBIGS Instagram

Donate: All In For Youth

Donate: Tools for School

Learn: e4c School Nutrition Program

Volunteer: BGCBIGS Mentorship Program

The GenNEXT podcast team is Tokunbo Adegbuyi, Jordan Barrett, Renée Chan, Andrew Mason, David Odumade, Rebecca Price, and Noreen Remtulla. GenNEXT is a volunteer committee of United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. If you’d like to learn more or find out how you can be a part of the plan to end poverty, visit MyUnitedWay.ca.