SmileSpotlight: Ella O'Neil

Here at Smile, community and connecting people is a strong part of our ethos. We believe that by bringing people together (easier said than done in current circumstances), so much good can be done in the world - happiness can be boosted, kindness shared and positivity encouraged as well as smiles on faces which are quite common too.

The Canvas, located in East London, is a not-for-profit social enterprise created to encourage positive change and galvanise Londoners to connect. With a vegan café, at its core, serving lovingly prepared food, the space also offers opportunities for communities to come together in their ‘community hub’ as well as their ‘creative venue’. The community hub is a free space that is offered to people who want to launch an idea that will improve the lives of others. The creative venue, located in the café’s secret basement, supports local artists and creatives and regularly hosts live performance, workshops, talks, film screenings and more.

Meet Ella - Events Manager for The Canvas who works part-time remotely from her home in Barcelona. We chat to Ella about her role, her hopes for the future of The Canvas as well as her lockdown life in Barcelona.

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Tell us about The Canvas and your role

The Canvas is a not for profit social enterprise in East London, that works to break down isolation and promote a stronger sense of community through running inclusive and accessible events. I have worked there for almost 2 years now, first as the on-site manager and now remotely as the Events Manager from Barcelona.

Tell us one of your favourite success stories as a result of the ‘Community Hub’ or the ‘Creative Venue’.

I’m not sure if it’s a success story but one of the groups I’m really glad we have is the ‘12 Step Fellowship Program’ [a group that supports those who face addiction struggle]. I’ve tried really hard to accommodate them over the time that they’ve been with us as I know it is a group that people really do depend on.

What do you hope for The Canvas in the future?

We are aiming for there to be many more Canvas’ in a number of different locations, obviously primarily around London. I think that’s something really great to aspire for as I think operations like the Canvas are completely invaluable in their local community setting.

What made you personally want to get involved with The Canvas?

At the time I applied for the job at the Canvas, I was very lost myself and had just moved back to London. The focus around community, I found really enticing. But what keeps me engaged with the work there and involved in what we do (even remotely from Barcelona, which I find quite difficult), is the fact that projects like these are new models for society.

In being not for profit, not centred around growth and market exploitation, we have the space to focus on other things like health and wellbeing, creativity, music, art and connection through all of these things. That, I think, is profound and it is exactly what capitalism takes away from us.

I study Ecological Economics [Ella is studying for a masters at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona] and we look a lot at degrowth models. Social enterprises fit really well into this idea, preferencing social capital above financial. I think that is one of the most revolutionary ideas against neoliberalism.

What do positivity, happiness and kindness mean to you?

Positivity, to me, is to be able to maintain perspective. To be able to see that even when things are a bit bleak, to know that there will be times [when] it won’t feel this way and to ride the wave and wait it out. The idea [of positivity] shouldn’t be force[d], you need to sit with your pain or discomfort, accept it and move on when you are ready to do so. I think sometimes the problem with using the word happiness is that it doesn’t allow for this process, as it puts too much emphasis on being positive.

Part of being positive is being negative- you have to be able to feel both to feel one. I like to instead use the word content- I ask myself not if I am happy but if I am content. Because to be content is to be ok with this process, where you ride the ups and downs, you maintain perspective through them and you accept that life isn’t always perfect.

And kindness, well kindness makes the world go round.

What is your #littlesmileoftoday?

My little smile of today was that I told my flat mates we are having a murder mystery dinner party on Friday and they were excited.

What was the last thing that made you laugh?

I opened this questionnaire and made a joke to my flat mates about how I couldn’t fill it out right now because I felt too depressed from quarantine, but then I decided to do it as it might actually cheer me up.

What has been the highlight of your week so far?

As I said I am in Barcelona, which has one of the longest and strictest quarantines in Europe (even more so than the rest of Spain). At the moment, we are only allowed to go out [between] 8pm-11pm for a walk or some exercise. The other evening, I climbed up Montjuic [a prominent hill overlooking the Barcelona harbour], and watched the sun set at the top. That was particularly beautiful and calming.

Who was the last person you called for a video chat?

Probably my Mum, I think I’m talking to her more at the moment than I ever have done in my life!

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Community and being together is often underestimated and I think we can all agree that we are all missing someone at the moment, in the lockdown most of the world currently finds itself in. Connectivity and providing a space of positive change is a key part of what The Canvas strives to achieve. Their ethos can inspire us all to create change for good and join with our community around us (observing social distancing of course) to help support those who may be in need.

Let us know how you are connecting your community and what changes you have made for good in the comments below.