October 14, 2004
Press release

Attention: media/culture/food editors

Venus is Now a Full-bodied Coffee Blend

On October 15, Venus, a young women's media arts project and i deal coffee, Toronto's hippest coffee roasterie, will launch a brand new blend of coffee: the Venus Blend.

Available now through December 31, 2004, the Venus Blend, a full-bodied, medium-dark mixture of Indonesian, Bolivian, and Ethiopian beans, will be sold in half- and one-pound, hand-printed bags at i deal coffee (84 Nassau Street). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Venus Blend will go to the Venus project.

Venus is exclusively for young women ages 12 –19; and is one of the longest running activities of the Youth Arcade at St. Stephen's Community House in Kensington Market. The young women lead weekly meetings, and discuss topics and issues that impact young women’s lives, such as relationships, culture, violence, sexuality, and body image.

Now in its 11th year, Venus media activities have focused on the production of "Venus", a biennial magazine and the publication of "The Little Black Book for Girls – a Sexuality Handbook". Last year, they partnered with the Canadian Film Centre to launch "Venus on Film" which, produced six short films. This winter, they look forward to participating in "Venus on Stage", where they will learn to write, direct and perform plays about their experiences.

"Venus is an edgy, informative, creative, and fun media project. It provides opportunities for participants to gain skills in the media industry while encouraging them to think critically about the issues that affect themselves and the world" says Bridget Sinclair, Coordinator of the Venus project.

About the cooperative venture with i deal, Joanne Abbensetts, Director of Development for St. Stephen's Community House, remarked: "This is an excellent learning opportunity for youth to work with a community business to develop and market a product, and we are pleased to be working with i deal coffee on this campaign. We are really happy with the Venus Blend and we know people will love it."

St. Stephen's Community House is a unique, community-based, social service agency that has been serving the needs of Kensington Market and surrounding neighbourhoods in downtown Toronto since 1962.

i deal coffee roasts it's beans on-site and specializes in the sale of organic, fairly traded, and small-farm-co-op produced coffees.

For more information on St. Stephen's House, its programs and services, please visit: https://ststephenshouse.com i deal coffee: http://www.idealcoffees.com/pages/about.html

Media contacts: Elaine Banks Communications, Elaine Banks, , email:

Bridget Sinclair, Coordinator, Venus Project, ext. 252, email:

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