Dixon Hall means a lot to me. I have personally seen the great work they do supporting seniors who are far too often isolated and marginalized especially those with physical and cognitive challenges. A major reason I am passionate about working with seniors is seeing and being actively involved in their amazing work. Dixon Hall improves the quality of life of seniors through programs that provide them with meaningful opportunities to participate in the community as members. Dixon Hall’s dedicated and supported staff provide meaningful opportunities for seniors to socialize with their peers through their amazing program. Too often seniors are not seen for their strengths and provided with meaningful opportunities to participate and enrich our communities. Yet Dixon Hall has shown that seniors can contribute meaningfully and thrive when staff bring a strength-based approach to programs that enable seniors to engage in the community and share their stories. They demonstrate that effective programing can dramatically improve the quality of life for both the participants and their families and caregivers.

Dixon Hall has not only showed me the impact programs can make to marginalized and isolated seniors but have greatly enriched who I am personally and professionally. Volunteering four years at Dixon Hall has confirmed to me that I am on the right path in wanting to work with seniors especially those who are marginalized. They have been able to provide me the mentorship and development I need to effectively improve the quality of life and advocate for seniors. They have given me meaningful opportunities to facilitate programs and apply my skills and provided me constructive feedback. It is these skills that have provided me a strong basis pursuing my career path and passion. I have also grown immensely as a person at Dixon Hall from the mentorship of staff and from the program participant themselves. Hearing their stores has provided me with great insight and valuable lessons and has shown me that when you provide them with an opportunity to apply their strengths they can shine and that I should always see people for whom they are as a person and for their strengths.Yet too often I have learned we see seniors for their condition; as a worker and person, Dixon Hall has taught me that when given an opportunity to thrive and supported properly they can enrich the community and all our lives. It has made me committed and dedicated to ensuring I can contribute in breaking the cycle of isolation, improving the quality of lives of isolated and marginalized seniors and in focusing on their strengths to meaningfully engage and enrich their communities.

Please join me in supporting the great work that Dixon Hall does for seniors by sponsoring me for the Toronto Challenge.

While I cannot make the run this year, I cannot imagine not supporting the amazing work they do in improving the lives of seniors within Regent Park and surrounding area.