Hello everyone,
It has been such a blast visiting all of our TNM groups across the province, and definitely the highlight of the work I get to do as the Network Coordinator!
A couple weeks ago I got to visit our TNM group in Stratford with our partner agency Huron Perth Centre. After a busy day with many calls, I was excited to spend my evening with an amazing TNM group. Less than 5 minutes in, we were already laughing and talking about Astrology and our Hogwarts House… #teamhufflepuff
The youth shared with me all the great work they’ve been doing, and let me tell you they’ve been very busy! From building relationships, planning a You Matter mental health event with Avon Maitland District School Board, hosting a Music and Art for Mental Health virtual showcase, creating resources for youth by youth, to youth rebranding their logo for their TNM group name New Horizons! The youth even have created their own TNM group playlist on Spotify which you can check out here!
It was great to hear how interested the youth were in being a part of Disable the Label 2021 this summer as they weren’t able to attend in the past. I got to share how magical DTL really is, and is a space where youth and adult allies can come together and deeply explore mental health advocacy, and express themselves through art! It’s also a great opportunity to build connections, step outside of our comfort zones and make new friends.
One of the highlights of hearing all the great work these incredible leaders have been doing in their community was hearing how two youth met, and became best friends. It just reminded me once again of how incredibly magical our network truly is!
It is so important in the times we are in now to really focus on building relationships since we’ve gone virtual, and are all missing that in person connection. I really appreciated how the group has focused on building long lasting friendships, and bringing a sense of community and belonging.
Thank you to the youth and adult ally for so many laughs, and I can’t wait to see you soon at DTL 2021!
See you all soon on Zoom,
Fizza Abbas, Network Coordinator
