The Canvas for Change

In this engaging conversation, Ruth Rogers speaks with Sarah Weiler, a creative entrepreneur who has built a diverse portfolio career over the past decade. Ruth invites Sarah to discuss her journey from starting Power of Uke to creating a community home, a 'Creative ResidentSEA' in Brighton. The conversation explores the importance of following one's passion, the process of turning ideas into reality, and the significance of community in fostering creativity and well-being. Sarah shares her insights on navigating change, the power of visualisation, and her aspirations for the future, emphasising the need for spaces where individuals can connect and thrive.Chapters05:44From Idea to Reality: Power of Uke07:40Creating Safe Spaces for Creativity09:57The Journey to a New Home12:24Establishing a Creative Residency15:33The Importance of Community and Connection18:23Future Aspirations and Professional Goals20:26Advice for Aspiring Community Builders22:57The Role of Cafes in Community Building22:57Final Thoughts and ReflectionsFollow Sarah on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahweilermusicSarah's Substack, 'Carousel': https://sarahweiler.substack.com/Sarah's website: https://sarahweiler.com/'A Decade in Drawings': https://sarah-weiler.medium.com/from-high-school-teacher-to-glasto-dj-comedian-and-uke-trepreneur-my-decade-in-drawings-220a6e82342

Trigger warning: mentions of suicide at 25 mins.This warm chat between Ruth Rogers and Karen Stenning, a social impact events organiser who works in sustainable and ethical fields such as female investment, social enterprise and the environment.What links these two business women is The Canvas, a cafe and community space run by Ruth Rogers between 2014-2022. Karen's events business, Absolute Alchemy, developed at The Canvas and memories of her first event, The Summer of Change, are among many memories shared between the two friends.Chapters00:00Introduction to The Canvas and Its Impact02:33The Birth of Absolute Alchemy04:51The Summer of Change Festival07:28Challenges in the Impact Space08:57The Importance of Live Events10:21Diversity in Themes and Topics12:22Female Investment Journey and Mentorship13:56The Role of Community in Impact15:48Reflections on Personal Experiences16:28Conclusion and Future Aspirations

Ruth Rogers and Louise Holstein discuss the inception and evolution of Mike's Table, a unique supper club that combines paying guests with invited guests from local charities. Louise shares her personal journey of creating this initiative as a legacy for her late husband, Mike, emphasising the healing power of communal dining. The chat covers the challenges and successes of the two-night concept, the impact of paying it forward, and the future aspirations for expanding the initiative beyond London, highlighting the importance of community engagement and the shared humanity that emerges from breaking down social barriers through food.Chapters00:00Ruth Rogers' Introduction of Louise Holstein and Mike's Table02:49The Start of Mike's Table03:32The Concept of Mike's Table08:04Two Nights of Dining12:44Reaction of Guests to Paying It Forward14:24Regular Guests and Paying Customers15:23Direct Impact and Financial Aspect17:03The Clever Business Plan of Mike's Table19:08Keeping Things Simple: The Growth of Mike's Table22:57The Unchanging Concept of Mike's Table26:22From Pop-Up to Social Enterprise: The Expansion of Mike's Table28:20The Future Plans of Mike's Table: Introducing Our Table

In this conversation, The Canvas founder Ruth Rogers speaks with Dani Castelucci about her transformative journey creating AlterEd, a business school for immigrants and refugees.Dani shares her emotional connection to The Canvas, the challenges faced by her students, and the impact of the pandemic on their programmes when The Canvas was forced to close.She discusses the importance of community support and the need for cafes to adopt a community-centric approach.Dani's story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of giving back.Dani's book recommendation: Inés de la Alma Mia by Allende IsabelChapters00:00Introduction to The Canvas and Its Impact01:37Dani's Transformative Journey with The Canvas04:24The Birth of AlterEd: Empowering Immigrants and Refugees09:02Challenges Faced by AlterEd and Personal Impact11:58The Inspiration Behind AlterEd17:58The Vision for Canvas Academy22:03Memorable Moments from AlterEd26:32The Future of Community-Centric Cafes

Founder of The Canvas cafe and community hub Ruth Rogers speaks to Vicky Johnson, co-founder of the Museum of Happiness, and together they explore the transformative power of community spaces, particularly focusing on the Museum of Happiness and its impact on mental health and well-being.Hear the origins of the Museum of Happiness, the importance of creating safe spaces for individuals to connect and grow, and the innovative 'pay it forward' model that fosters generosity and kindness.The conversation also delves into the challenges faced in sustaining such initiatives, the personal journeys of healing and growth, and the future of Museum of Happiness as Vicky expands its reach globally.Museum of Happiness website: https://www.museumofhappiness.org/Follow Museum of Happiness on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumhappiness/Chapters00:00The Canvas: A Space for Humanity02:03The Museum of Happiness: Origins and Impact05:24Transforming Spaces: The Power of Community09:34Pay It Forward: A New Model for Support12:54Sustaining the Vision: Balancing Passion and Practicality15:51Memorable Moments: The Heart of the Museum20:52The Ripple Effect: Community and Mental Health24:50Challenges and Breakdowns: The Reality of Change32:45Healing and Growth: Finding New Paths36:45The Future of Museum of Happiness: Expanding Horizons

In this heartfelt conversation, Ruth Rogers and Deepanshi Gulati explore the profound impact of community spaces like The Canvas, where Deepanshi founded her non-profit organisation, Rain On Me. They discuss the importance of peer support, the journey of creating safe spaces for mental health, and the growth of community initiatives. Deepanshi shares her personal experiences and the evolution of Rain On Me, emphasising the need for accessible support groups and the power of human connection.Chapters00:00Introduction to the Canvas and Its Impact03:28Deepanshi's Journey and the Birth of Rain On Me06:13Understanding Peer Support09:51Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability13:46The Growth of Rain On Me19:47Memorable Moments at the Canvas22:28The Vision for Community Cafes24:39Future Plans and Recognition

In this conversation, founder of community cafe The Canvas Ruth Rogers interviews Shirin Shah, co-founder of South Asian Sisters Speak (SASS) and the Brown Girls Book Club. Shirin shares her journey from being a corporate solicitor to transitioning into the impact space, highlighting the importance of creating community spaces for South Asian women. Shirin shares with Ruth the origins of SASS, the success of the Brown Girls Book Club, and the challenges of building a grassroots initiative.Brown Girls Book Club launched and grew at Ruth's tiny cafe with a huge heart, and Ruth asks how she might connect and unite more existing cafes across the country to host more people-powered positive projects.Follow SASS on Instagram: www.instagram.com/weare_sassShirin's book recommendation: Erotic Stories for Punjabi WomenChapters01:42The Birth of South Asian Sisters Speak03:31The Early Days of the Brown Girls Book Club07:29Developing Community Through Shared Experiences11:22Navigating Challenges and Building a Brand14:09The Importance of Space for Ideas14:51New Chapter16:54Reflections on the Journey and Growth19:50The Future of Community Spaces in Cafes22:57Current Status and Future Plans for the Book Club

In this first ever episode of The Canvas for Change, Ruth Rogers interviews Juliette Burton, a comedian and mental health advocate, about her experiences at The Canvas, a community space that Ruth owned and ran in East London from 2014-2022.Juliette shares stories about the creation of her comedy show, Happy Hour, which created a rare, supportive environment for performers and audiences alike. Hear Juliette's reflections on the impact of her work, including her involvement in the Beach-body Ready campaign, and memorable moments from her shows.This chat also explores the importance of community spaces in fostering creativity and connection, as Ruth explores how this podcast might inspire other cafes to adopt the community activities hers did; wouldn't it be wonderful if we could connect and amplify more cafe spaces that can hold this humanity?Follow Juliette Burton on Instagram: instagram.com/juliette_burtonwww.julietteburton.com00:00Introduction to The Canvas and its Impact01:19Exploring the Next Steps for The Canvas02:10Interview with Juliette Burton: From Comedy Show to Community Space08:45Running a Regular Comedy Show: Behind the Scenes20:22Creating Vital Community Assets: The Power of Cafes23:47Conclusion and Future Plans