Appreciating Diversity

Last blog, I wrote of a recent expedition to Newfoundland. My journey east this summer also took me kayaking and whale watching in Quebec. Dave and I marveled at the magnificent variety of wildlife in the area – including moose, caribou, puffins and bald eagles.

In the quaint French town of Tadoussac, we saw sharks and several species of whale. The area is famous for whale watching because saltwater from the Atlantic mixes with freshwater from the St. Lawrence here, resulting in an endless supply of plankton and other small marine life that comprise a whale’s main diet.

I was awestruck by the wide range of wildlife Dave and I saw in Quebec. It reminded me that diversity is to be admired and held in high esteem, not regarded suspiciously or subjected to discrimination. The same holds true for people. When we respect and value our differences, our communities and neighbourhoods flourish. That’s why United Way supports programs and initiatives that encourage people to accept each other’s differences and work together for the common good.

Thought I'd include a picture of me kayaking, although I'm not sure any picture could do justice to the fabulous scenery we came across.

A ‘Welcome’ Lesson

My husband Dave and I recently had the pleasure of exploring Newfoundland’s southern coast. We traveled by ferry to several outports – small, isolated communities accessible only by boat.

Sadly, outport communities are dwindling in numbers as the cost to maintain education and healthcare in these areas becomes prohibitive for government. Employment, too, is a major concern. To make ends meet, many residents spend a few months of each year working in other regions of Canada where jobs are more plentiful.

We were struck by how welcoming and generous the residents of these unique coastal communities were despite their hardships. The ferry’s arrival was clearly a focal point of their lives. A friendly crowd greeted us at each stop, instilling an immediate sense of belonging. Instead of strangers visiting for the first time, we were treated like returning friends.

I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be if all newcomers to the KW area could feel the way Dave and I did on our journey. United Way supports several programs and initiatives aimed at helping newcomers gain a sense of acceptance and belonging. We also support efforts to reduce barriers such as discrimination and help newcomers find suitable employment.

Here's the Grand Bruit outport. That's my husband, Dave, (right) standing with our guide, Claude, in the second picture.




























The outport below is called La Poile.

Our First Annual Day of Caring - September 15, 2010

I want to send a quick "shout out" (I've always wanted to say that phrase and it seems fitting here, so please indulge me) to CKWR FM 98.5 for having me on air recently to talk about our upcoming Day of Caring on September 15, 2010. Our aim is to connect 21 volunteer teams from local workplaces with 21 community projects that need completing, in honour of our 3-year, $21 million revenue goal. As well, we're encouraging you to get involved by creating your own team, doing something caring in your neighbourhood, and then telling us about your experience. Your ideas and photos may even end up on our new website, Facebook page or Community Heroes blog.

For more information, visit our website or email mlagrotta@uwaykw.org. And don't forget to join us at Waterloo Public Square from 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday September 15th for our Day of Caring kick off.

Of course, the underlying message here is that every day should be a Day of Caring. By working together collectively, we can ensure that this community is a great place to live for everyone. All it takes is teamwork and the desire to be change, make change and see change.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan

Welcome!

Well, this is it. My first foray into the once-foreign world of social media. I knew it was only a matter of time before my team led me down this path. A critical path, I might add, for many reasons.

The significance of social media - and the fact that it is here to stay - really struck home when I witnessed live Twitter feeds being screened beside the keynote speaker at a conference a few months back. It became obvious to me then that social media was not merely a youth phenomenon, and our Facebook presence, while still important, wasn't going to be enough.

So... we've got a great new web site, we're now on Twitter, and along with this new blog of mine we've got a "Community Heroes" blog to keep you up to date on our fundraising efforts and tell you about the great people in our community helping us change community conditions for the better.

There's a parallel here between the changes United Way is making in the virtual world and those we're making in the real one. As our community and its needs evolve, so too are we. We know that what we do, and how we do it, must be a reflection of these changing times. That's why we introduced our new three-year, $21 million fundraising strategy. And that's why we're mobilizing not only funding, but people, ideas and other resources as well, within the five priority areas deemed critical to the success of our community.

More on this later...

Thanks for stopping by,

Jan