Below is a list of some ways in which interested community members may contribute their time. Volunteer opportunities are not confined to this list and we are able to accommodate different schedules and time commitments.

Contact friends@thedoorway.ca or 403 269 6658 to set up a time to meet and discuss your volunteer goals.

Mutual Learning:

1. Cultural Interpreters: People who listen to each other learn from each other. THE DOORWAY provides a safe place to facilitate the mutual learning between community and participants.
2. Become part of our learning community: Join our events or start something on your own e.g.) host a book club from our reading list, host a conversation café, help organize and participate in a Doorway learning event, write a book review for our web site, or add something to our blog. www.offthestreet.blogspot.com
3. Help plan and celebrate participant events: Monthly participant suppers, any other ideas...
4. Fundraising support: Organize your own fundraising event, assist with our fundraising events, share information with your friends, host an office fundraising event, help with annual casino; we welcome your ideas.
5. Advocacy: Write a letter to the editor, talk to your friends, neighbours and colleges about young people.
6. Business: Serve as a member of the board of directors, volunteer your business skills to help our organization run smoothly, become a compassionate employer and help participants develop employment skills.

What is a Cultural Interpreter?

• Cultural Interpreters contract with the participants. This is an individual conversation between two cultures (street and non-street) facilitated by THE DOORWAY.
• The individual contract (goal) is a thought process. The Cultural Interpreter accepts these goals and steps as the individual’s thought process. Accepting these goals means we accept the individual without judgment.
• During the contracting process, the Cultural Interpreter does not change the participant’s steps; they listen and give their non-street perspective, providing insight into how a goal could work in mainstream society.

Through the trust and the understanding gained from these contracting conversations, the individual participant will develop their own methods to complete their goals while learning how to participate in the non-street culture. This is the essence of the self-determination and cross-cultural change of contracting.