About Us
Our Story
The Vancouver Urban Core (Urban Core) is a network of Downtown Eastside (DTES) organizations, non-profits, businesses and individuals who deliver services that provide employment, education, housing or social opportunities. We are committed to supporting a continuum of economic strategies that provide a sustainable livelihood, collaborative community and improved incomes for DTES residents.
Meet the Team
Vancouver Urban Core is composed of an executive committee and general membership.
Executive Committee
The purpose of the Executive is to make decisions based on recommendations put forward by the general membership, and approve organizational development decisions. It meets once per month for 90 minutes, a week in advance of the standing General Meeting.
An election of the Executive members occurs at the Annual General Meeting in November of each year. Due to the impact of COVID-19 the 2020/2021 Annual General Meeting has been postponed until the spring of 2021.
Vancouver Urban Core Executive Members 2020 Co-Chair
Louise Schwarz Kathleen Leahy
Recycling Alternative UBC Learning Exchange
Vancouver Urban Core Executive Membership
Michael Leland
Binners’ Project
Sharon Belli
Carnegie Community Centre
Bonnie McLellan
Downtown Community Court
Johanna Li
EMBERS Eastside Works
Michelle Lackie
Exchange Inner City
Tara Chang-Swanson
Mission Possible
Christine Buchanan
Open Door Group
Lindsay Wu
Union Gospel Mission
Brian Francis
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre
The General Membership
Members of Vancouver Urban Core meet once a month. The general membership is composed of organisations located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.
312 Main
BC Community Response Table
Binner’s Project
Buy Social
Carnegie Community Action Project
Carnegie Community Centre
Clean Start
DTES Literacy Roundtable
DTES Market
DTES Neighbourhood House
Elizabeth Fry Society
Exchange Inner City
EMBERS
First United Church
Hastings Crossing BIA
LEDlab
Lookout Society
Mission Possible
Open Door Group
Pivot Legal
PHS Community Services Society
Potluck Cafe Society
Raincity Housing
Salvation Army
Servant Partners
UBC Learning Exchange
Union Gospel Mission
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community Network
WISH Drop In Centre
Watari