Christian university students recently released a major report on recent developments and efforts to revitalize Vancouver’s Downtown East Side (DTES).

A team of 32 Trinity Western University (TWU) students interviewed a total of 267 people – residents of Metro Vancouver and the DTES – over  a six–week period. The survey explored what residents, homeless and those who are directly  impacted by the changes have to say.    

The students presented their findings to the city of Vancouver Social Development Department,  Community Services Group, Engineering Department and Chinatown Merchants Association on December 13.    

A city staff member asked the students how they managed to get participants for the survey. One of the team, Laura Klassen, said DTES residents “came up to us, asked what we were doing, and asked if they could  be interviewed and be part of the research.” City staff, she said, “were pretty surprised by that.”    

This is not the first time Dr. Claudia Launhardt’s anthropology class has conducted research with far-reaching  results.

In 2006, the class submitted a proposal to City Hall that gave suggestions for reducing  public disorder in the DTES. They also conducted a survey asking DTES residents how the 2010  Olympics would affect their community, and how the living conditions in their neighbourhood could  be improved. One of the results of the survey was the installation of public toilets and public  showers.    

“We encourage student learning by research, by experience and by engagement in social issues. All of those means are at work in the [2010] report,” said Robert  Burkinshaw, dean of the faculty of humanities and social sciences.    

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This year’s class also spent two nights in a single–room occupancy in the DTES, and blogged about their experiences on impact.twu.ca. One of them, Jennifer Rumley, said:

“During the night I woke up probably about  seven times, at least [because of] traffic noise, people  yelling and sirens stopping . . .  right outside our window. But I was thankful that  I had a clean, dry and warm bed to sleep in, as it snowed that night.”    

Launhardt challenges her students to consider a perspective unlike their own. “My goal, as a  professor of anthropology, is to be a communicator between different societies – a bridge builder, a transformer,” she said.    

The class brings together students across disciplines and academic years to engage in real-world  issues. The type of research they conduct – non-commissioned, and at university level – is not  found elsewhere.

The survey is intended to give a voice to the homeless, and urban residents who aren’t  normally represented in public discourse. As a result, city senior policy makers respect their analysis and ideas.    

“I believe that if true change is to occur in the DTES, people must be willing to invest themselves in long-term commitments, and take the time to build relationships,” said student Angela Richards. “Progress cannot be made until outsiders stepping into the DTES are willing to become learners and come alongside the locals – rather than fixers coming in with an agenda.”

February 2011