Meet the Founder, Stephanie Slen
As the Founder of The People's Voice Article, Stephanie Slen (20) has supported dozens of low-income students in securing $896,000 dollars in scholarships, including full-ride scholarships and bursaries to their dream universities. A special initiative of The People's Voice Article has been documenting the inspiring stories of community pillars and individuals—from overcoming immense hardships to winning prestigious awards and impacting thousands of lives.
Stephanie’s own journey began in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside projects, where she faced significant challenges, poverty while raising her three siblings. She realized “although I couldn’t change my circumstances, I could change others”. She has spent her entire life dedicated to supporting her community and has been nominated for the 2025 YWCA Young Women of Distinction Award for all of Metro Vancouver. Graduating high school she was awarded eight scholarships, including two full-ride scholarships to university, totaling $250,000.
Now, Stephanie is proud to continue this legacy of empowerment. In 2025, she had the privilege of helping secure $896,000—in scholarships for low-income youth. Stephanie believes in the potential of every kid and is committed to creating opportunities for low-income kids to pursue their dreams.
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Stephanie Slen is honored to be the recipient of eight prestigious scholarships. These include being named one of the ten scholars awarded the 2023 Simon Fraser University Uggla Family Full Ride Scholarship, the SHINE Beedie Luminaries Scholarship Award, one of the four recipients of the Canucks Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship Award, and the Vancouver recipient of the BC Superintendents Scholarship Award. Additionally, she has been awarded the Skills for Hope Foundation Scholarship, the Allan Ross Scholarship Award, the Britannia Class of ’77 Scholarship, and the Student Council Scholarship Award. She is currently attending Simon Fraser University on as a Uggla Family Scholar majoring in Political Science, and minoring in Legal Studies in hopes to go to Law School and aspires to become a Lawyer.
Work Experience/ Building Trust
JUNE 2025- PRESENT
JANUARY 2024- PRESENT
SEPTEMBER 2023- PRESENT
AUGUST 2022- PRESENT
JUNE- SEPTEMBER 2023
AUGUST 2020- JUNE 2023
JULY 2022- AUGUST 2023
SEPTEMBER 2021- AUGUST 2023
MAY- AUGUST 2024
JULY 2022- AUGUST 2023
SEPTEMBER 2019- AUGUST 2023
Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society,
Vancouver- Instructor
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Leading hands-on urban agriculture education programs for children ages 4–12 on schoolyard farms. Designed and facilitated engaging lessons on growing food, sustainability, and community building through experiential learning.
PCRS Pathways to Education,
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside- Site Support Worker
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Site support worker supporting running Pathways to Education program during evening tutoring programs in Vancouver Downtown Eastside. Providing food security, safe space, academic tutors and clean up to 100+ youth a week.
The People's Voice Article, Canada- Founder
Founder of Non-Profit, securing an estimated half a million dollars; $488,000 in scholarships for dozens of low-income youth in Vancouver DTES. Developed website, community outreach, create survey forms, organized meetings, article writing stories on pillars in the Metro Vancouver Community.
Nurtured Youth Community, Canada Wide- Co Founder​
Co-Founder of Nurtured Youth Community a non profit supporting youth across Canada facing mental health issues resources including, mental health packages, therapy bursaries, 17+ free workshops I organized led by mental health specialist, professional therapist, CEOs and NGO leaders. CBC Kids wrote an article about being the recipient for the OXY Canada Face of Today grant totalling $5,000 dollars.
Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society, Vancouver- Burnaby & Coquitlam
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Summer Market Assistant for Fresh Roots on sites including Italian Cultural Centre, Joyce Collingwood Neighborhood House & Suwalk Secondary High School. Set up a market stand, sold $10k in organic produce, supported organizing 100+ families receiving “Community Supported Agriculture” (CSA) boxes, supported
10,000+ lbs of produce harvested, 40+ youth mentored in community service and worked on POS System.
The Writers Exchange, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside- Teen Leader
Supported running programs at the Writers Exchange for a thousand kids and highschool students. Responsibilities included, teaching kids literacy activities, child development tasks, verbal and nonverbal kids with diverse needs support. Additionally, I set up a snack table, clean up the program site. Collaborated with various organizations including, Rain or Shine Ice Cream flavors to fundraise money.
Britannia Community Centre Board of Management,
Vancouver— Board Member​
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Elected by Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood as Youth Representative Director on the Britannia Community Centres Board or Management in 2023. Supported the Britannia Renewal Plan, allocating $25,000,000 to new apartments to low-income families, and development projects for Public Pool, Ice Rink, Library and collaborated with City of Vancouver, Vancouver School Board trustees, and Vancouver Parks Board. Acted as 1/12 board members to approve $7,000,000 fiscal budgets for community resources including, public swimming pool, ice rink, teen centre, all child care subsidy programs, senior centre, public library and community events.
Strathcona Interact Club,
Vancouver Downtown Eastside — Sustainability Coordinator
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Hosted hands-on sustainability workshops, facilitated meetings for 10+ members on Sustainability team at Strathcon Interact club. Applied and won $1000 worth of grants to run 20+ events for the community, designed infographics for various initiatives and content videos. Additionally volunteered 300+ hours of community service including wrapping 300+ toys to low-income kids, Breakfast with Santa, 50 mental health packages, 35 highschool resource kits, 60 elderly care packages and participated in City of Vancouver sponsored community garbage clean ups.
UBC Summer Camps,
University of British Columbia Endowment Lands- Instructor
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Oversaw activities for over 7,000 children and youth as part of a team of 100 staff members. Taught educational Introduction to Debate to 50+ kids. Planned and led hundreds of physical activities and field trips, including kayaking, biking trails, dragon boating and waterparks. Additionally administered First Aid protocols and incident reports.
Britannia Secondary School Student Council,
Vancouver Downtown Eastside — President​
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As President at Britannia Secondary School Student council, I led 40+ student events for 600+ highschool students and organized events such as school wide Terry Fox Run, daily announcements, Bruins Basketball tournament half times, Halloween & Christmas spirit weeks. Fundraised $700 for Ukraine Red Cross, organized financial aid for school clubs, oversaw various other administrative and facilitating student-teacher meetings.
Beyond the Plate Club, Vancouver — President​
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Founder and President of Beyond the Plate Club. Led cooking and gardening workshops to teach 100+ kids and 35+ workshops. Only club to manage highschool garden beds. Applied for grants winning $2,000+ in funding and plant donations from Vancouver School Board.
Learn more about Stephanie Slen's professional journey, awards, resume, press and documented volunteer contributions at stephanieslen.com.