The Table

Vibrant Abbotsford is composed of staff and volunteers who are dedicated to making their community a more vibrant place for all!

Staff

Cheryl McKeever, Director
Kylee Swadden, Research & Community Liaison

The Vibrant Abbotsford Leadership Table (VALT) is composed of:

Executive

Andrea Senft - School District 34
Sue Federspiel - City of Abbotsford
Kevin Koopmans - Community Futures South Fraser
Wayne Green, Convenor – United Way of the Fraser Valley

VALT members

Denise Thandi - Success by 6
Kathy Doerksen – Abbotsford Community Services
Reuben Koole - City of Abbotsford
Jackie Hultman - Ministry of Housing and Social Development
Sarb Gill - Abbotsford Community Services
Ron Van Wyk – Mennonite Central Committee, BC
Ward Draper – The 5 and 2 Ministries

Did you Know?

Vibrant Abbotsford focuses on areas that will contribute to moving people from poverty, including:

employment and entrepreneurship
housing
education and personal development
financial assets building
social connections
health

Concentration on these areas allows Vibrant Abbotsford to frame activities in a coordinated, targeted way, with the ultimate goal of building a more vibrant Abbotsford!

Vibrant Abbotsford collaborates with existing poverty reduction efforts while also developing new approaches, which include activities that:

shift local attitudes towards poverty and community, including 'us and them' stances
build local understanding of poverty
remove policy and other barriers that keep people in poverty
assist local citizens to build financial, physical, and social assets
improve Abbotsford's economic base
enhance connections between people
help all residents to feel included in Abbotsford life.

As a collaborative group, Vibrant Abbotsford works with a variety of partners, including all levels of government, social and voluntary organizations, faith-based organizations, local businesses, funders, and the people of Abbotsford.