A youth literacy group in East Van uses flexibility and fun to engage underserved kids

Good morning, 

Nate back with you today. First off, thanks to all of you who sent in your experiences with bikes and biking in the city! We’ll be taking the next week to sort through all your submissions, with the goal of putting together a reader-driven story on the subject in the next couple weeks. 

It’s so noticeable this time of year how many people use bikes and scooters, either their own or shared ones rented from the many street-side stations, to get around the city. As an avid biker (and newly-converted scooter rider), it always warms my heart to see the waves of people filling bike lanes and streets around town. 

Bike valets for special events, like the huge one set up at Folk Fest last weekend, are an added bonus. They bring peace of mind that our rides will be securely waiting for us, in addition to easy parking. 

In today’s issue, we’ve got a profile on a local literacy organization with deep roots in East Van, plus all the events for your summer weekend. Let’s get to it!

— Nate Lewis, Vancity Lookout

As always, you can send your tips, leads, and story ideas to Nate at [email protected].

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Friday: 18 🌡️ 13 | 🌧️

Saturday: 20 🌡️ 13 | 🌤️

Sunday: 22 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️

Monday: 23 🌡️ 15 | ☀️ 

PROFILE

A youth literacy group in East Van uses flexibility and fun to engage underserved kids

There was a gentle hum of activity in the Writers’ Exchange (WE) classroom and offices when I arrived on a hot midsummer day. A few staff members were chatting by the fridge in the kitchen area, while about six to eight students and instructors gathered for one of their literacy programs. 

I had walked in on one of the organization’s summer programs, which has about 170 kids enrolled this summer, WE’s co-founder Jennifer MacLeod told me when we sat down to chat.

The Writers’ Exchange, a charitable organization founded in 2011, runs 15 programs at elementary and high schools in East Vancouver during the school year, plus a high school transition program for Grade 6 and 7 students. Their mission is to support under-resourced kids and youth to build their confidence and excitement around reading and writing.

“Everything we do is kid-inspired and youth-led,” MacLeod said, describing how every literacy session is flexible, with instructors having the leeway to change and adapt activities based on kids’ needs and interests. They also have a youth advocacy committee, MacLeod said, which provides another opportunity for participants to share their opinions and feedback about WE’s programs and offerings.  

All the weekly programs are provided free of charge and typically include snacks or meals and transportation.

The Writers’ Exchange’s second-floor offices sit in the busy 800 block of East Hastings in Strathcona, kitty corner from the RayCam Co-operative Centre. They’ve been in that same building, in two different units, for over a decade, McLeod said.

Everything the organization does is focused on East Van. That’s because Writers’ Exchange’s mission is to run its literacy programs in spaces, like schools and community centres, attended by under-resourced kids and youth. “That’s predominantly East Vancouver… it’s just the layout of the city,” McLeod said, adding they’ve done some programming in South Vancouver, which is another area where there aren’t enough resources.  

“We're there for the long term with every community partner we work with,” McLeod said, adding that, because of that commitment, they put a lot of work into making decisions about expanding their programming to new schools and facilities. 

“When we find a really big partner who aligns with what we're doing, and they really need us, and the kids and the youth in their programs would really benefit from what we do, we try as hard as we can to make that happen,” McLeod said, explaining that much of that decision comes down to funding. 

They operate programs in elementary schools like Queen Alexandra, Thunderbird, χpey̓, and ¿uuqinak'uuh Grandview, among others, and at high schools like Van Tech and Templeton. 

The Writers’ Exchange was inspired by 826 Valencia, a San Francisco-based organization co-founded in 2002 by celebrated American author Dave Eggers. Since then, the 826 model has inspired more than 70 writing organizations around the world working with under-resourced youth. 

WE’s operations cost a bit over $600,000 per year, with nearly 90% of its revenues coming from private grants and individual donors. They also have a good relationship with their landlord, Low Tide Properties, who give them a discount on their rent and put together back-to-school kits for all the kids in the WE programs. 

One whole wall of the office is covered in copies of paperback books that have been published by WE, organized by year and going back a decade. They’re what’s known as chapbooks, filled with students’ stories, cartoons, and artwork. 

At the end of each year, the organization hosts book launch celebrations, where kids can share what they’ve written and created with friends, family, caregivers, and community members.  

“They're so proud of it, because it's a really big deal to be a published author… it’s just such a huge piece of what we do,” MacLeod said. 

As we sit in their shared office, MacLeod and volunteer coordinator Matt Layzell point out a “jenga” calendar full of sticky notes to organize and schedule the 80 to 90 volunteers of varying ages and demographics that work with WE every year. 

“That's one of the toughest things, is slotting [volunteers] into what programs they can make work for their schedule, making sure everybody it all fits,” MacLeod explained. 

“It’s really amazing how much the volunteers do,” MacLeod said, given that they ask volunteers to make a weekly commitment for a full school term. They do that because they find it takes time for kids and youth to build connections with program leaders, and having a trusting relationship is so important in getting kids to participate. 

Layzell said many of their volunteers are people who return year after year, with some of them having spent as much as 10 years working with Writers’ Exchange. Others participated in the programs as kids and youth, and now volunteer as a way to stay involved.

One of those participants-turned-volunteers is Benny Deng, who began attending Writers’ Exchange programs in grade three. Deng is now graduating from high school and has been volunteering as a program leader for the past two years. 

Over about a decade in the program, Deng said he’s gotten to know a lot of people in the community, and learned networking and other social skills, on top of the literacy skills that are WE’s primary focus. 

Deng mentioned the yearly chapbooks as an exciting project for him, reflecting on how he’s seen them change over the years.

“Early on, they were all super thin, now it’s a thick chapbook. That just tells you how many people are joining Writers’ Exchange,” Deng said. 

As part of their programming, WE collaborates with numerous local businesses to showcase students’ work, creating creative opportunities for the kids and their families to see their ideas out in the world. 

One of those is asking kids to dream up their own flavours of ice cream. For the past several years, WE has partnered with Vancouver ice cream company Rain or Shine to actually produce some of those flavour combinations, which Rain or Shine then sells in its stores. The kids get to try them as well, of course, to make sure they live up to their vision. 

This fall, the Writers’ Exchange is putting on a breakfast fundraiser where they’re challenging adults to work in teams to create an original piece of creative writing, with the help of a WE volunteer, of course. Each team will read their piece to the group, and a winner will be crowned by the experts – a group of youth judges from their programs. 

The event will take place on October 24 in Strathcona. If that sounds fun and you’d like to participate and financially support Writers’ Exchange, you can email [email protected] for more details.

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SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN VAN

Granville Block Party returns August 23 & 24

Downtown Van proudly presents the third annual Granville Block Party, happening Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 from 1-7 PM at the Granville and Robson intersection.

This free, two-day street festival features live music and performances across four stages, kid-friendly activities, and delicious eats from Los Elotes, Mr. Arancino, and Peace Sweetz.

Enjoy cold drinks from Red Truck Beer Company and The Little Margarita Wagon, browse markets and activations from local businesses and take part in fun for all ages—think lawn games, roving performers, and arts & crafts in the Kids Zone.

While you're here, explore local favourites like El Furniture Warehouse, The Pawn Shop, Donnellan's Irish Pub, Good Co, The Rec Room, and more along Granville!

Celebrate summer, support local, and experience Granville like never before!

THE VANCOUVER NUMBER

1,300

The number of drivers charged on eastern Ontario roads for speeding during Canada Road Safety Week. [CTV]

THE AGENDA

⚽ MLS says the Vancouver Whitecaps need their own stadium, ASAP, and talks are underway to build one at the PNE fairgrounds. Notably, some of MLS’s concerns about BC Place relate to the extent to which the team will lose access to the stadium as preparations continue for Vancouver to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read more. [CTV]

🎒 Council voted down a motion calling for a new independent review of the School Liaison Officer program, despite calls from equity advocates for greater scrutiny and transparency. Coun. Peter Meiszner said he voted against the review because the Vancouver School Board already has a review underway. Read more. [City News]

🏠️ Potential Vancouver homebuyers must be away on summer holidays, according to a new report from Re/Max Canada, which found that detached home sales in Greater Vancouver in the first half of 2025 were at their lowest level in 10 years and 39 per cent below the 10-year average. Read more. [BIV]

👮 A Vancouver man was declared a dangerous offender and given an indefinite sentence after pleading guilty to 11 charges related to child pornography, many of which occurred while he was on bail, probation, parole, or subject to restraining orders for previous charges of the same nature. Read more. [Richmond News]

📸 Vancouver Police held a news conference on Thursday to display $2 million worth of drugs and cash seized last week in an apartment in the Downtown Eastside. 19 people were taken into custody, but no charges have been laid. Read more. [CTV]

👂 The BBC has released a new podcast about Vancouver’s mental health crisis, focusing on the accused in the recent Lapu Lapu Day festival attacks. Listen here. [BBC]

WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE

Eastside Arts Festival | MacLean Park and Eastside Arts District | Now until July 27 | Art workshops, live music, beer garden, and more | Tickets various prices

Oscar Peterson Centenary Tribute: Triology Plays Peterson | VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC Canada, V6B 3M7 | Saturday, August 16, 7:30 pm | Enjoy an evening of Canadian jazz and film with VIFF's tribute to one of Canada's greatest jazz icons, Oscar Peterson. | Learn more [Sponsored]

Vancouver Ice Cream Festival 2025 | Various locations | Until Aug. 4 | Turn down the heat and explore the many parlours, cafes and restaurants offering your favourite frozen dessert | Find participating vendors

Through A Film Darkly | Anvil Theatre, New Westminster | Now until July 27 | An exploration of identity, belonging, and the lingering shadows of colonialism set in post-independence Ghana | Free

Thai Festival Vancouver | Vancouver Art Gallery | July 26, 11 am | Celebrate Thai culture and cuisine with music, food, dance and art | Free

Vancouver Hot Sauce Fest | 250 W 3rd Ave | Saturday, July 26, 2 pm | Turn up the heat with fellow spice enthusiasts, chefs, DJs, bartenders and more | Free before 6 pm

BACH & MOZART: In Endless Ascent | Various venues, Vancouver | July 26–Aug. 8 | Classical festival blending Bach, Mozart, and modern works | Various prices

Gastown Sunday Set | Water St (Richards to Columbia), Vancouver | Sundays until Aug. 31, 10 am | DJs, art, food, open-air markets every Sunday | Free

Punchbowl 2025 | PNE Fairgrounds, 2901 E Hastings St. Vancouver | July 26, 12 pm & 5 pm | Cocktail and taco fest with DJs, music, 250+ tastings | Tickets $30+

Boom Pro Wrestling | Commodore Ballroom | Jul. 26 | A wrestling show, WWE but for Vancouver. What more could you want? | Tickets $51+

Chillin’ in the Park Music Festival | Dude Chilling Park | July 26, 1 pm-7 pm | Family-friendly event with local music, food and craft beer | Free

Summer Concert Series: Flamenco in the Garden | Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street | July 27, 10 am | Live flamenco music, cocktails, crafts, and workshops | Tickets $22+

Rosé Disco | PNE Fairgrounds, Vancouver | July 28, 1–8 pm | Wine tastings, DJs, food, GA+ access at 1 pm | Tickets $30+

Celebration of Light | Concord Pacific Grandstands, 1700 Beach Ave | Wednesday & Saturday 6:30 pm | The world’s longest-running off-shore fireworks competition continues | Tickets $68

Whiskeyjacks' Wet & Wild Pride Party | 1125 Davie St | Aug. 2, 1 pm | Back for a second splashy year, the 2SLGBTQAI+ Whiskeyjacks Water Polo team is throwing another Pride street party | Tickets from $21

Queers and Beers - Pride Block Party | The Birdhouse, 44 West Fourth Ave | Aug. 3, 1 pm | Queers and Beers is back for its August event, but this time it’s a block party | Tickets from $19

Pleasant Day Festival | Mount Pleasant | Aug. 9, 12 pm | Live music, patios, beer gardens, food trucks | Free

GIVEAWAY

Eat Vancouver’s best Italian food courtesy of the Lookout

Been dreaming of hitting up Savio Volpe, ask for Luigi or just a classic Italian pizza? Then the Lookout is here to help.

We’ve launched a giveaway for two $75 gift cards for your favourite Italian restaurant. Until July 28, every person you refer to the Lookout newsletter enters you for a chance to win. The more people you refer, the better your chances.

Referring someone is easy. Just click this link and share that unique URL with your friends or family, or forward this email to a friend. Every person whom you refer increases your odds of winning.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

One of many shots of Wednesday’s fireworks. I like this one because it captures the beauty of the display and, below, the less-desirable smoke clouds the eruptions leave behind.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A three-year-old completed the Grouse Grind. [CTV]

• This Vancouver pizza place is not well known. But it really should be.

• Outdoor brand Kathmandu is attempting to set a world record for the most people hiking at the same time. Avoid Cyprus Mountain on August 30 if that’s not your jam. [Georgia Straight]

• Oh my god, they were roommates. Except one of them is a great blue heron. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• New signs in Lynn Canyon are warning content creators that it is dangerous to jump off cliffs. [CBC]

• Check out this view from an RCAF Snowbird over Vancouver. [Reddit]

VANCOUVER GUESSER

Well done to the two-thirds of you who knew Maple Grove Pool is in South Van — though those readers were split between neighbourhoods, with half of you thinking it’s in Kerrisdale and the other half in Marpole. Kerrisdale was the correct answer!

In the photo above, a limb of a large tree recently fell, breaking some fencing, which contributes to the general disrepair in the southwest corner of this park. Can you tell me what park it is?