Lauren Ens is a CCAA Torchbearer

Posted: Apr 27, 2023

For more than 10 years, Lauren Ens has supported individuals in her community who feel lost and are searching for new purpose. For her desire and drive to help those most in need, Ens is a 2022-23 recipient of the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship, presented by Hudl.

Ens, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts – Psychology Major at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in her hometown. She is a second-year libero with the Blazers Women’s Volleyball team.

Ens is a member of the One88 Church community, whose focus is to be a place where people feel like they belong, particularly those who are often forgotten in society. Since 2012 she has spent time in downtown Winnipeg through One88, with individuals experiencing homelessness, overcoming addictions, and working through serious mental health issues.

“As I learned about the extensive needs of this community, I wanted to serve with the vision I had for restored purpose and life,” said Ens. “This inspired me to create a group where young adults like myself, who wanted to make a difference, could act on our convictions.”

Ens has volunteered for many years at the One88 weekday drop-in, which provides services for people such as showers, laundry, meals, and hygiene products. However, resources were strained, and she saw the opportunity to increase support. Ens therefore initiated the Young Adults program within One88 with the intent of bringing together new volunteers in the age range of 18-28. She believed this new group would not only benefit the people they were serving but also the volunteers themselves, as they would feel like they were doing something important in their community.

“Lauren operates out of a place of integrity, but it is challenging to call other people out of their self-preoccupation,” said Angela White, Community Life Chaplain with One88 Church. “She showed creativity in finding an area of interest that resonates with young adults that also provides real help to people downtown.”

A primary objective for the Young Adults group was to increase clothing, food and hygiene donations for the Onee88 patrons. Ens began contacting anyone and everyone she had a connection with including individuals at local businesses, her institution, the CMU varsity sports teams, her friend groups, community groups and other churches.

In December 2022, she then issued a challenge on campus for players and fans to bring mitts, toques, scarves, feminine hygiene products, and gently used winter clothing to CMU home games. The response was not only strong within the CMU community, but word spread across the MCAC conference and players from visiting teams began bringing items to support the drive as well.

“As Lauren’s coach, I have had a front row seat to her leadership, community care, and innovation,” said Jayme Menzies, CMU Women's Volleyball Coach. “As Lauren has progressed from a first-year student-athlete to an institutional trailblazer and team captain, I have come to benefit from her wisdom, fortitude, nurturing disposition, and sense of fun.”

In addition to her work with One88, Ens was invited by Menzies to assist with Agoojin Volleyball, a culturally-safe volleyball program for Indigenous female and two-spirit youth from across the province. She has helped host First Nations high school volleyball teams at CMU for skills camps and pizza parties. She has also mentored assistant coaches as they build relationships, venture outside of their comfort zones, confront perceived failures, celebrate successes, and bridge intercultural differences and likenesses.