Every neighbourhood in the Lower Mainland is unique, and each faces its own set of challenges. To address these challenges, solutions specific to each neighbourhood need to be developed. Enter United Way My Neighbourhood, My Future (MNMF), a bold new initiative that recognizes the power of a place in shaping the lives of its residents—particularly those between the ages of 0 to 6 and their families. MNMF seeks to give children the best start in life by developing place-based solutions that strengthen the community around each child. The initiative is being piloted in two neighbourhoods: Coquitlam River in Port Coquitlam and now Guildford West in Surrey. Guildford West is in the community engagement phase of the project, with active participation by residents eager to envision its future. A team at Simon Fraser University in Surrey, co-led by two SFU scholars, is carrying out the engagement. They have been collaborating closely with United Way British Columbia (UWLM) and our two key project partners for Guildford West: the City of Surrey and the Ministry of Children and Family Development. “In order to have impact on childhood vulnerability, we know that our investments and collective partnerships need to start in the early years,” says Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “MNMF, as a place-based early years initiative working to improve the lives of young children, moves us closer to creating an Early Years Centre of Excellence. It also leverages shared leadership, data, reporting metrics and citizen engagement.” UWBC has been researching and investing in early childhood for decades. Between 2013 and 2014, we invested $5.6 million into programs and services that specifically benefit children age 0 to 6 in the Lower Mainland.
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