The first of two online Vital Conversations with Young Adults happens October 20 and features “lightning talks” by community leaders. Supported by RBC Future Launch, Community Foundation Grey Bruce will be hosting two online interactive Vital Conversations with young adults on October 20 and 22, 2020. These Vital Conversations will check in with people between the ages of 18 and 30 on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, their readiness for a changing work environment, their economic and holistic wellbeing.
The online sessions will be held from 7 to 8:30 pm on October 20 and 22 and will be facilitated by Melri Wright and Mike Wright of Ledge Leadership. The first meeting on Tuesday, October 20 will take a World Café style sharing knowledge and creating possibilities for action built on the notion of group intelligence.
Participants will be inspired by “lightning talks” by local guest speakers including:
· Emily Morrison is the Executive Director of Launch Pad Youth Activity and Technology Centre. Emily is a local strawberry farmer and spent time developing youth entrepreneurial and skills-based learning programs for youth in North Durham Region. Her work in Eastern Ontario developing entrepreneurial programs and youth-led small business initiatives were recognized by the Rural Ontario Institute in their inaugural Youth Engagement Showcase Competition.
· Melanie Rodriguez is the Communications and Network Engagement Manager, Ontario Nonprofit Network. Melanie has spent the last decade working with over 20 nonprofits in North America, Central America, and South America. She has completed training courses from Ivey Business School, Harvard University, the British Council, and the United Nations Association in Canada. She has worked in a variety of roles including evaluating the risk of a 200-million dollar banking portfolio, delivering post-graduate sustainability curriculums, and managing business development as an Executive Director of an international children’s foundation. Melanie is a recent MBA graduate from the Schulich School of Business, previous Head Delegate for Canada at the Youth7 Summit, and current volunteer for local and global nonprofits.
· Ashleigh Weeden is an award-winning rural innovator who splits her time between Ontario’s Bruce and Wellington Counties. A long-time advocate for community engagement, open government, and meaningful applied technological innovation, Ashleigh’s work leading Grey County’s Connected County Initiative directly contributed to the County receiving recognition as one of the Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2017 by the Intelligent Community Forum. Ashleigh is currently completing her PhD in Rural Studies at the University of Guelph.
Over the course of the two sessions, participants will address intriguing questions such as:
· What are the advantages and challenges associated with life and work in Grey Bruce?
· Are you ready for the future of work in a fast-changing world?
· How is your holistic wellness in these challenging times?
· How do you create a supportive network?
The second meeting, on Thursday October 22, presented in collaboration with Georgian College Centre for Changemaking and Social Innovation, will utilize an online design thinking platform that encourages visual collaborative thinking.
Participants can join one meeting or sign up for both. Input from participants will be reflected in future Vital Signs work being prepared by the Foundation.
These conversations are generously sponsored by RBC Future Launch and are mounted with the support of key community partners: Georgian College's Centre for Changemaking and Social Innovation, through their strategic initiative SENCO (Social Enterprise Network of Central Ontario); The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay; and the Nuclear Innovation Institute.
To register for each Vital Conversations visit www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com
source: media release, Community Foundation Grey Bruce
