The DTES community has an atypical national media profile – usually defined via all things negative, reductionist and stigmatizing. Given our commitment to public education, this awareness has brought us to the act of establishing Honourary Neighbours.
A variation on other organizations’ Honourary Boards, DTES NH Honourary Neighbours are nationally recognized individuals whose own life work, commitment and talents have either directly affected the DTES social fabric or whose social preoccupations mirror ours. They are people who act in concert with us to humanize the complexity of DTES residents, far afield from national media cliches. They lend us their credibility and with it their own audience. They embrace our philosophy, are themselves reformist minded and contribute to our fundraising goals by hosting such events as a DTES NH Fundraising Brunch in their corner of the land. Honourary Neighbours provides people who possess some variation of power and privilege, the opportunity to engage in a non traditonal rapport with a complex community.
