Irene Mella

About Irene:

Irene works at Collingwood Neighbourhood House (CNH), a non-profit, social services agency serving the Renfrew-Collingwood area of east Vancouver. As the Office and Communications Coordinator, Irene works in the planning, implementation and maintenance of the office systems and communications services. Knowing that in many parts of the world, including in Canada, folks have unequal access to education, healthcare, and basic services and resources, frequently due to discrimination and ineffective systems, Irene would like to address poverty alleviation, equal opportunities and equitable outcomes and the complexities involved (e.g. gender, intersectionality).

Through the program, Irene hopes to increase her knowledge and training in community economic devlipment as she feels it is time for the next step in her career and life path. As a settler and a first generation immigrant, the struggles of some populations when it comes to unequal access to education, healthcare, and basic services and resources, resonates with Irene. Her belief in a sustainable/bottom up approach to development prompted Irene’s interest in the ways community economic development can lift up communities.