ZenHouse Media

<h4>What does your business do to make your community a better place to live?</h4>ZenHouse Media is an Interactive Marketing Agency based in Vancouver. We are a dynamic team of 5 women who place the highest value on strengthening communities through our work. We have two major programs that contribute to the community. Firstly, we offer an in-house mentorship program in graphic, web design, sound and video production for artistically gifted individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, which has resulted in 6 mentorees gaining scholarships for full time education and employment in the new media industry to date. Secondly, we have worked in close partnership with the Granville Island Business and Community Association (GIBCA) since May 2009 on an initiative called Granville Island Works, donating extensive time and resources to ensure the project’s ongoing success. The focus of this grassroots initiative is to celebrate and promote this incredible artistic and local business community by shifting the overall marketing strategy to emphasize the individuals that make up the Island as a whole.We have produced: • two legacy newspapers totaling 150,000 copies distributed through the Georgia Straight newspaper • public events including a pre-Olympic launch party • media events such as Granville Island tours and a media cruise • building and maintaining the community website www.granvilleislandworks.com • designing and promoting Granville Island merchandise • online video archive of community initiatives > check out http://vimeo.com/giworks to view! • Storytelling Contests • Insider’s Tours of Granville Island • creative fundraisers involving the business community <br /><h4>Why have you chosen to take this approach?</h4>ZenHouse Media’s mentorship program gives mentorees the chance to develop marketable skills, build confidence and recognize their talents by interacting in a business setting. Encouraging the young, gifted and motivated individuals in our community to rise up and excel makes our community stronger and stimulates business growth. Likewise, bringing these mentorees into our company has encouraged ZenHouse Media staff to hone team management and human resource skills and create teaching platforms within the workplace. Since ZenHouse Media’s involvement, the GIBCA has become a stronger and more unified advocate for the Granville Island community and the GIBCA has more than tripled its membership. The GIBCA continues to grow, placing value on bringing local business and a younger demographic to the Island. Our community work has had immeasurable benefits to our business. The scope of the project allowed us to demonstrate our creativity and expertise and is a point of pride in our portfolio. Our company has gained an excellent reputation in the local community because of our involvement with Granville Island and we have developed face to face relationships with almost 300 small local businesses there, many of whom have become clients themselves. ZenHouse Media’s focus is balance and harmony in the community, bringing creativity and a forward looking approach to all of our endeavours. By celebrating and encouraging the uniqueness of each individual we work with, we draw out and strengthen the elements that form the foundation of a rich, diverse and healthy community.<br /><h4>What advice would you give other business owners who might be considering this idea?</h4>We believe that extending a helping hand is a direct way of affecting the changes we want to see in our community and in the world and defines a new vision of business practice. Witnessing mentorees excel and helping to build a stronger business community has consistently garnered a successful return. Let your business model reflect the kind of business you want to see in the world; for us it is expansive, visionary and community-minded. This has been our focus and motivation since founding ZenHouse Media and has greatly contributed to the unique and satisfying form of our success. “I had the pleasure of working with Zenhouse Media and witnessing the impact of Granville Island Works within the community. The entire team worked relentlessly designing the new website and newspaper... It was amazing to witness a design firm bring a community together and meet their needs so well. I would recommend them in a heartbeat.” — Karen Johnson Author of "Granville Island"<br />