Two Vendors Empowered Through Journalism Training at Langara

Two vendors from Megaphone, a community organization in Vancouver, are set to enhance their storytelling skills through a journalism course at Langara College. Gilles Cyrenne and Jathinder Sandhu have been awarded the Megaphone and Read Mercer Entrance Award, which supports individuals from marginalized backgrounds in receiving essential journalism training. This initiative aims to empower participants to share their own stories and effectively report on their communities.

Since its inception in 2021, the scholarship program has successfully trained several individuals who face barriers due to poverty and other life circumstances. The pilot project began with two participants, Nicolas Crier and Julie Chapman, who attended the Fundamentals of Reporting course. Following its success, the collaboration between Megaphone and Langara College was solidified into an annual scholarship aimed at providing access to education for those in need.

Over the years, the initiative has expanded its reach. In 2022, Yvonne Mark and Mike McNeeley participated, and in 2023, Priscillia Mays Tait and Richard Young were awarded the scholarship. Although Richard postponed his participation until 2024, he will attend alongside fellow recipient Eva Takakenew. The program not only offers financial assistance but also provides comprehensive support, including access to campus resources, personalized instruction, mentorship, and a stipend.

Gilles Cyrenne, one of the scholarship winners this year, shared his journey, highlighting his past experiences in education and writing. After a battle with depression and addiction, he found solace in writing and has been involved with the Thursdays Writing Collective at the Carnegie Community Centre. Cyrenne, who has self-published a book of poetry, expressed his desire to enhance his reporting skills to better portray the vibrant creativity of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) while also addressing issues of poverty and homelessness.

“I want to create a more balanced view of this amazing community and the love and support I have felt here in the last 25 years,” Cyrenne stated. His work has been published in various platforms including Voices of the Street and Megaphone magazine, where he has contributed regularly since joining the peer newsroom.

Jathinder Sandhu, the other recipient, brings her own unique perspective to the journalism course. With a background in communications from Simon Fraser University, she is eager to explore the representation of mental illness in mainstream media. Sandhu has lived experience with mental health challenges and aims to shed light on issues faced by marginalized communities, particularly mentally ill South Asian women.

Reflecting on her journey, Sandhu noted, “I feel I could bring a lot of this experience to the course and learn more about becoming a better journalist and reporter.” Her passion for social justice and advocacy has driven her to write for multiple publications, including Megaphone magazine and the Carnegie Newsletter.

Both Cyrenne and Sandhu are enthusiastic about the opportunity to study at Langara and the potential it holds for their future careers in journalism. Megaphone continues to play a crucial role in fostering the voices of those often overlooked in traditional media, empowering them with the skills needed to tell their own stories.

Through programs like the Megaphone and Read Mercer Entrance Award, individuals can gain the tools necessary to make a significant impact in their communities and beyond. As they embark on this educational journey, both scholarship winners are poised to contribute meaningful narratives that reflect the complexities of their experiences and the realities of their communities.