Positive impacts from White Rock and South Surrey’s inclusion projects shined at the Inclusion 2024: Everybody Belongs! conference. Held in Nanaimo from May 30 to June 1, this event highlighted the power of inclusive community initiatives.
Showcasing Leadership through the CLIC Storytellers Program
Representatives shared about SFU Surrey’s Envision Financial Community Leaders Igniting Change (CLIC) Storytellers program. This 12-week course empowers Surrey residents with leadership skills. It helps them address challenges in their organizations, communities, and personal lives. The program encourages open collaboration, allowing participants to improve their communication, decision-making, and critical thinking.
Manjeet Ghangass was the first person with an open developmental disability to graduate from CLIC in December 2017. He paved the way for others. Graduates Krista Milne and Jeevan Basran also shared their experiences at the conference. They have joined over 125 Surrey residents who completed the program. Supported by Envision Financial, these graduates receive fair pay and flexible work suited to their accessibility needs. They interview other Storyteller graduates and document the positive impacts on their communities.
Empowering Community Development through UNITI
Members of UNITI‘s Community Development Committee, like Lauren Simpson, Natalie Raven, Stacey Kohler, Jeevan Basra, and Alexa Lehwald, spoke about their leadership roles. These roles were made possible by UNITI’s innovative Community Development Services. Lehwald, who is working towards a Faculty of Arts Certificate through Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Including All Citizens Pathway program, shared her journey of becoming a leader through education.
Kohler, speaking at the conference for the first time, highlighted her work with the Semiahmoo Rotary Club. She was excited to address the audience and talk about Rotary’s importance.
Simpson, a 2024 Surrey Women in Business Award winner, discussed how UNITI’s Community Development Services helped her pursue housing advocacy and public speaking. As a leader in UNITI’s Harmony campaign, Simpson shared her pride in speaking to a large audience. This experience boosted her confidence and that of her peers.
Embracing Disability Inclusion
The annual Inclusion BC Conference is a platform to celebrate, network, and share real stories of disability inclusion. This year’s panels explored topics like Indigenous inclusion. They also discussed how politicians can work with advocacy and community groups to advance the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The conference highlighted ongoing efforts to build truly inclusive communities.
Conclusion
The 2024 Inclusion Conference showcased significant progress in White Rock and South Surrey towards fostering inclusive communities. Through programs like CLIC and UNITI’s Community Development Services, people with developmental disabilities are becoming leaders and advocates. This highlights the transformative power of inclusion.
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