It has been quite a year for Megaphone. Since we renamed the magazine from Street Corner to Megaphone a little over a year ago, we have produced 30 hard-hitting and entertaining issues that have put thousands of dollars into the pockets of the homeless and low-income vendors who sell the magazine on the street and helped raise awareness across the city about poverty and homelessness across the city.
In May, Megaphone won three esteemed journalism awards, which included two international accolades: Editor-in-Chief Sean Condon and photographer Ahmad Kavousian both received awards from the International Network of Street Paper (INSP), while Managing Editor Amy Juschka received the Rafe Mair Award for Excellence in Journalism from the University of British Columbia.
“Megaphone has worked hard over the past year to give marginalized people a chance to speak up about the issues that impact their community,” says Condon. “Whether it’s the Downtown Eastside or the West Side, Megaphone has become a strong voice for the voiceless.”
Megaphone expects to carry the momentum from last year’s successes into the next. On Monday, June 8th, Megaphone officially opens its office at the corner of Hastings and Carrall (9 E. Hastings). Having a street-level space in the heart of the Downtown Eastside will allow us to significantly expand our distribution base and help dozens more homeless and low-income vendors become self-sufficient through the magazine.
To celebrate our one-year anniversary, Megaphone is teaming up with local artists and holding an art auction fundraising event at the Interurban Gallery (1 E. Hastings) on Friday, June 12th. The fundraiser will help raise funds for the magazine so it can continue supporting its vendors and will feature artists from the Downtown Eastside and across Vancouver.
“The fundraiser gives us a chance to celebrate the incredible work that our vendors and volunteers have done over the past year and help keep the magazine going as an effective voice for the community,” says Condon.
Proceeds from the silent auction will be split between Megaphone and the artist. The event will also feature prize draws, music, food and drinks.
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