Forty people attended an education and networking event for Willows Drop-in hosted by a team of students from SOCI 4170: Community Engaged Sociology, led by instructor Deb Conners, at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Ottawa on Thursday November 14. Willows uses a harm-reduction model to provide a safe space for women who trade or sell sex to have a meal, pick up some toiletries, clothes or other essentials, get some health services, and connect with others. An unanticipated and welcomed outcome of the event was many new offers of resources for the drop-in from other community services.
Another team of students from SOCI 4170 and team leader Abbey Wright organized a great Family Fun-Raiser event Saturday, November 16, also at Dominion Chalmers, featuring a bouncy castle, crafts, face-painting, and many games and other activities, including a popular pie-in-the-face set-up. The team raised $1500 to help fund the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project's Jail Accountability and Information Line.