Photos by Ruby Photo Studio

According to Statistics Canada, nearly 50% of people who don’t volunteer have never donated their time “because no one had asked them to, which suggests they might sign up to volunteer if they were approached the right way.” Time might be the biggest barrier to volunteering — read: not enough — but if people were more aware of aligned opportunities to help out, perhaps that wouldn’t be an issue to begin with. There are countless of organizations creating incredible philanthropic programs that appeal to different interests, Lane 6 being one of them.

Created by Canadian Running and supported by Nike, it’s a unique one-on-one  mentorship program for at-risk Toronto youth, aged 7-18. Earlier this year, both organizations put out an open call for potential mentors. It attracted over 40 individuals to the initial training session hosted by Nike’s premier youth coaching training partner, Up2Us Sports, a non-profit organization that uses sports and trained coaches to improve communities and inspire youth to achieve their potential.

It was one of the most inspirational and educational evenings I’ve ever been a part of. In a short couple of hours, we honed our interpersonal and empathic skills in order to learn how to encourage our mentees as effectively and attentively as possible. At the end of the day (and mentorship), we want to ensure the children know they matter and we care.

Already three weeks (for me, one shift) in and it’s amazing to see the impact Lane 6 has had on not only the kids, but the mentors as well.  With a passion for running, supporting youth and philanthropic causes, all the volunteers are just as grateful to be at the Central Tech track Saturday mornings as the kids are.

And what does a typical morning look like? Well, it starts with a mentor meeting that familiarizes everyone with the objective of that day — be it speed, distance or whatever other running goal Canadian Running has set. From there, we wait for the kids to arrive, creating a cheer tunnel to give them an enthusiastic greeting.

Once our leaders Joel Vosburg, Britt Scott and Nike Running Coach Brittany Moran remind the kids what they will be focusing on, the mentors and their mentees pair off to get them changed into their new running shoes. Right after that, they log their own goals into their personal Lane 6 journals before rejoining the group for a proper warmup.

And then it’s on! The first shift I was able to attend, we focused mainly on distance — although my little man Jalen was all about speed. He managed to not only log in the meters, he also did so in record time — giving me a run for my money. He also re-ignited my love of interval training. That was one of the things that stuck out the most to me afterwards, how much he inspired me.

What I also loved witnessing, however, were the moments other mentors and mentees had in between the running portions (or even during). The casual conversations, the high fives and the overall companionship all came together to create a very supportive and motivational atmosphere. During our training, we were told to really pay attention to our kids during the down times. These were the crucial moments that could define their experience and shape them. The moments when they didn’t have anything to concentrate on. The moments when they could feel left out or discouraged or even just plain bored.

Before we knew it, the session was done. There were snacks and water to be had, and a journal log to be finished. We were trained to make sure that at the end of every morning, we make our mentees feel accomplished and excited for the next Saturday. It’s hard not to. Even on my first cold and rainy shift, we were all in high spirits. So with a final cool down and cheer, we said our “see you soons.”

Although it’s only a short 8-week program, I can’t wait to recap the pilot program. I honestly already see the strong connection with community Lane 6 is creating. Canadian Running and Nike put out a call to actin and so many rallied. It will be interesting to see how it grows.

It’s incredible what a person can see and do in three short days. Of course, all it takes is a moment to change a person’s life. That’s exactly how I would describe my recent trip to the Dominican Republic with Air Transat and SOS Children’s Villages Canada: life-changing. Moment after moment, I felt something shift inside me as I saw the good both of these organizations were doing. The three days touring Santo Domingo and the villages felt like so many more as we got a crash course in exactly what SOS was and how Air Transat was supporting its mission. Although there are so many facets to explore, here are the not-so-basic basics:

SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES

Founded in Austria by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949, SOS Children’s Villages has since become the world’s largest orphaned child charity. The original concept was so simple: WWII left many women widowed and children orphaned. Gmeimer brought them together to restitch the family unit and the model ended up spreading like wildfire.

…all it takes is a moment to change a person’s life…

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Although times of war inspired the first few villages in Europe, today SOS Children’s Villages addresses many reasons children become orphaned and displaced in a global effort to make a difference. In the Dominican Republic, the number one cause is domestic violence. Granted, SOS stepped in initially due to a natural disaster in 1979.

That being said, the tolerance for violence in this country is terrifying. The root of it seems simple to me: poverty. Yet it isn’t simple at all. Natural disasters and miseducation are a couple examples of factors not in the people’s direct control. These led to a rampage of disciplinary abuse, domestic violence, early marriages, sexual abuse and teen pregnancy — all of which are common causes of orphaned children.

 …the tolerance for violence in this country is terrifying.

There are two sides to the Dominican Republic, the one we see on postcards and the one I saw last month. Although tourism has become an important source of income for the country, it has brought with it other terrible consequences including commercial sexual exploitation of women and children. To see travel companies such as Air Transat acknowledge this truth and step in to help change these chilling circumstances brings hope.

Photo by Carolane Stratis

AIR TRANSAT x SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES

SOS is more than the sum of its villages. The non-profit recognizes that they provide a bandaid to a problem, not a solution — even though these “bandaids” are incredible refuges from the dire reality its trying to address, ones that allow children to be raised in their own countries as well. Yet since one of their most important pillars revolves around the latter, SOS has made it a priority to help re-educate the Dominican Republic people in hopes of keeping the original family together.

With the help of Air Transat, SOS has created and introduced family strengthening programs, which provide support to disadvantaged families with the goal of preventing child abandonment. Working in tangent with local authorities and other charities, these programs offer skills training, small business and micro enterprise initiatives and community development.

The necessity for this nonprofit in general is indisputable.

We had the honour of speaking to a few members of the Barahona and Paraiso communities in Santo Domingo to see how these programs have helped so far. Although it has only been in place for a few months, those we spoke to communicated how fortunate they feel to have such support and how it has changed their perspective on violence in the home. Change might not happen immediately, but the fact that they were more aware of their actions and what it could mean for the future of their families was hopeful. Funding to extend and expand these programs would only benefit the community, that’s clear.

It was also emphatically more eye-opening to witness the environment the children in the villages came from. The necessity for this nonprofit in general is indisputable.

Photo by Carolane Stratis

Photo by Carolane StratisHOW YOU CAN HELP

My initial mission when coming home was to talk about the difference between international volunteerism and charitable tourism. I think it’s important to revisit that post to understand why SOS Children’s Villages stands out from other non-profit organizations. there are right and wrong ways to step into tenuous situations, especially when different cultures are involved and even more especially when children are involved.

To see the work SOS and Air Transat has done sheds light not only on the scary state many parts of the world are in, but also the proper way to make a difference. Nothing’s perfect, but from everything I’ve learned so far, this comes pretty close.

I have enough stuff. And I know for a fact that my friends and family have enough stuff too…based not only on the struggle to find the perfect gift, but also on how many times I wish I just got cold hard cash under the tree instead of the things that in the moment are thoughtful and in the next trashed. That sounds harsh — Nana, if you’re reading this, I promise I did wear that sweater once! — but it’s the truth. Granted, I’m also lucky enough to not need the cash either. Personally, all I want for Christmas is quality time with my loved ones.

Over the last couple years, I’ve become more and more involved within the nonprofit community, culminating in my first humanitarian press trip last month. That coupled with my own efforts at home have finally motivated me to do what I’ve always wanted to do this time of the year — substitute gifts for donations to my charities of choice. And I have a lot of them. Most of us, even if we don’t know it, have causes near and dear to our hearts. I want to share with you a few of mine, which may inspire you to think of yours.

Toronto Rehab

In 2009, my dad was in a serious motorcycle accident. To this day, our family is so grateful for the staff at Toronto Rehab for everything they did for him during his months-long stay. I understand — sometimes — when people berate our health system. But it has pulled through for our family time and again. One of my best friends is a doctor and she alone shows me how hard it is to do what they do — from the administrators to the nurses and, of course, the doctors. I know for a fact my dad wouldn’t be where he is now without this incredible institution.

Alzheimer’s Society Canada

My papa passed away from Alzheimer’s, a debilitating disease that I would argue is as hard on loved ones as it is for the patient him- (or her-) self considering the loss of self. It’s also a disease that to this day requires much funding for research.

Skylark Youth

Back in 2016, I ran the Scotiabank Marathon for Skylark Youth. It was the first time in my adulthood that I dedicated a personal goal with a charitable one. I even had the pleasure of meeting with the staff before the run to understand better who they were, what Skylark was and why it was imperative to raise funds for this incredible youth mental health nonprofit. I was especially intrigued by its mental health walk-in clinic, a first (and I believe still only) service available in North America.

Children’s Book Bank

I finally started volunteering regularly a couple months ago. As an avid book lover, I couldn’t think of a better place to help out than the Children’s Book Bank. Essentially a food bank for books, it provides under privileged families with a beautiful and safe space to spend educational time with their children. Best of all, each family member can take a book that they keep for themselves. I always believe that children and education are two of the most important things we could ever focus on.

SOS Children’s Villages

And of course, SOS Children’s villages. I’ll be talking about this organization in more depth soon, so stay tuned! Until then, I hope you followed along my press trip to Dominican Republic to see just why this nonprofit is so important for the world.

Photo by Carolane Stratis

At the beginning of 2017, I had set a few big goals to get myself out of the depressing divorce hole I’d dug for myself in 2016. One of the biggest ones I’d set my heart on since my teens was to volunteer abroad. Before I knew it, I became a walking cliche as I started researching organizations in Africa — not to throw shade on anyone who has or is planning to help out any African country in need. Yet in my research I stumbled upon an article that urged potential volunteers to ask themselves four simple questions before making any moves:

1. Would you volunteer abroad if you had no cameras on you?

2. Does the agency have the same intentions and values that you do?

3. Are you going to do more harm than good?

4. Would you trust yourself enough to do this job in your own country?

These questions gave me immediate pause. I didn’t have to mull over them too long before deciding I wasn’t ready to volunteer in Africa. It’s not that I couldn’t do what they asked. It was because I wanted to volunteer to not only escape my current situation, but to feel like a good person while I was on the run. Basically, my intention was not pure. (Granted, anyone who’s watched the Friends episode of the selfless good deed knows there are pretty much none out there.)

That said, I didn’t strike it from my bucket list. Instead, I vacationed in Kenya and Ethiopia with one of my best friends whose cousin had been living in Africa for three years. I got incredible insight into these particular cultures and it inspired me to want to delve into them more. But before I decided I knew enough to volunteer there, I needed to start volunteering in my own country first. So I did.

And then a few months later I got an amazing opportunity: To shed light on SOS Children’s Villages and the good work Air Transat is doing to help this international nonprofit. I was able to immerse myself as fully as one can in three days in order to share what I heard, saw and felt with you, my readers. I wasn’t volunteering, I was using my skills as a story teller to not only show people what this organization was doing, but also how they can help.

Of course, the flood of messages that came through while I was there all pertained to volunteering — which I can’t blame anyone for. It would’ve been my initial reaction as well. But then I immediately remembered those four questions and I started to ask the staff at SOS more about the difference between international volunteerism and charitable tourism as well as what they look for in volunteers. That’s when I got a big dose of reality: They don’t accept international volunteers.

At least, not really.

SOS Children’s Villages is dedicated to the children they help and the cultures in which they help them. International adoption and volunteerism is met with extreme caution because they often don’t preserve or respect one or the other — sometimes both. This fact isn’t meant to immediately jump to the conclusion of harm. Instead, it’s to shed light on the fact that these children deserve a chance to thrive as best as they can in their home. If that’s not possible, how do we step in to MAKE it possible instead of taking them out.

So to clarify one important point…SOS does accept international volunteers, but with very strict guidelines. They have to be able to commit to a MINIMUM of six months abroad (preferably a year), already speak the native language and essentially acclimate as quickly as possible so that it’s as more about the children and families involved than it is about themselves settling in and learning about the culture.

Since that’s a lot to ask for, SOS has a very helpful page on their website that direct interested individuals on ways they can help. From sponsoring a child to making one time donations and perhaps even securing a corporate connection, financial assistance is what will go the distance — not just travelling all the way there and disrupting a delicate ecosystem. And imagine the knowledge received through sponsorship. Imagine getting to know a child or village first and then perhaps committing to volunteering afterwards.

There’s helping and then there’s helping properly. The urge to help is always admirable no matter what the true intention is, yet it’s important to understand that if your goal is to do that…how do you do that with as much integrity as you can. Ask yourself those four questions and if you can’t answer them honestly, then find other ways to lend a hand.

The first (and only) time I went to the opera, it was a surprise gift and I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve been a long-time fan of live performances, making it a point to see at least one theatrical show a year. I loved almost everything about my first experience — dressing up, walking into the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, sipping on champagne and finally sitting down in the stunning theatre itself.

That feeling rushed back as I got ready for Operanation, a fundraiser in support of the Canadian Opera Company‘s Ensemble Studio that has a mission of nurturing young individual theatre artists and developing new plays. 100% of the funds raised at this event goes to this program, which is incredible.

With this year’s theme being “A Night of Curiosities,” I knew I was in for a treat. The three floors of the opera house were transformed into a cabinet of curiosities, some doors of which had lock decals signalling special experiences beyond. From a delectable donut tower to a palm reader and even a tiny room to watch an old VHS-taped opera, there were numerous areas to discover and delight in.

Of course, some of the best “curiosities” were the guests themselves. The iconic cultural event brought out everyone’s creatively mysterious personas, which manifested in opulent costumes and more. Of course, how else were we supposed to truly enjoy the enticing elixirs, experimental cuisine and musical hybrids — performed by Juno award-winning artist, Kiesza? Overall, it was an intoxicating night that ended up extending to Soho House. A party that never ends is the best kind.

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Burt’s Bees headquarters in North Carolina. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been a longtime fan of the brand (a love affair that started with its tinted lip balm), so I was definitely excited. Beyond that, I had no expectations. Yet I couldn’t have imagined just how all-encompassing the short trip would be.

There’s so much I can talk about, so I’m going to split this into a three-part series. Since everyone pretty much associates the brand with its beauty products, I wanted to start off this series by going beyond the beeswax. This company does more than create sustainable products, it has pooled much of its efforts to help third world communities and, of course, save the bees.

Above is an amazing video detailing how committed it is to conscientious partnerships. It summarizes how Burt’s Bees looks past numbers to focus on its direct impact on the world better than any sentences I could put together. This thoughtfulness and care trickles into every facet of the internationally recognized company.

Another example of how determined the brand is to change the way businesses can operate is its reclaiming of the American Tobacco campus. Although it only occupies a portion of it, Burt’s Bees has partnered with surrounding businesses to place regulated hive conservations on roofs in order to stall rapid bee population decline. Yet the true gem of this particular endeavor is the observation hive, an installation dreamed up by Leigh-Kathryn Bonner, founder of Bee Downtown, and built by Bill Thering, a Pikeville beekeeper.

Enclosed in glass, it houses an 15,000 Burt’s Bees “employees” as the company endearingly refer to the bees as. Through this particular hive and Bee Downtown, with the support of Burt’s Bees, Bonner’s mission is to spread the word about “colony collapse disorder” and encourage interest in urban beekeeping. This is a cause close to the heart of the brand’s founder, Burt Shavitz.

In fact, a beautiful reminder of his down-to-earth sensibilities and values has recently been reconstructed on the campus. The company disassembled Burt’s modest cabin in Maine, shipped it across states and reassembled it in front of its headquarters. Reconstructed exactly as it last stood, it symbolizes everything Burt’s Bees works towards. I’m honored that I was able to see how he lived, which encouraged me to reflect on my own impact on my surroundings and the world at large.

That’s just a glimpse into the good Burt’s Bees is trying to do. Next up (as teased by my cover photo), I’ll be talking more about what they have cooking in their labs. Stay tuned!

I was living in the beaches when I stumbled upon my first little free library. I hope most of you know what I’m talking about because these adorable book-filled homes do more than decorate Toronto neighbourhoods. As written on its site, they also “build community, spark creativity and inspire readers.” That’s exactly the sentiment behind such celebratory occasions as World Book Day. In a day and age when reading is considered more and more an antiquated luxury, it’s important to encourage this pastime. That’s why I dreamed up The Lit Squad, after all.

This year, Amazon is helping Torontonians get into the literary spirit by creating a large-scale version of these little libraries. Coordinated with 12 other cities around the world, it will take over Boxcar Social Harbourfront, on April 20, 2017, to allow people to not only take a book and leave a book, but also exchange stories and sentiments about why they’re trading what. In spite of what some may believe since reading can be considered a solitary adventure, books bring people together. American actress Viola Davis said in her recent Oscar speech that “we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life,” but that’s not the case at all. Authors do too, in more ways than one.

That said, this upcoming World Book Day experience also shows that socio-economic standing/income should not impact a person’s access to books. Everyone is welcome. There will be a book for all, kids and adults alike. After all, people’s #LoveToRead knows no bounds. I personally can’t wait to create a bookmark explaining what the book I bring meant to me so its next reader essentially gets to enjoy a personal story of my own. I hope to see you there! Mark your calendars: April 20, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m..

I honestly can’t remember the first time I met Catriona Smart. It must’ve been at a Nike Training Club sesh 3 years ago now. Yet though our paths crossed quite a bit over the years, it wasn’t until around this time last year that I plucked up the courage to ask her to grab a coffee with me.

What inspired me to reach out was her blog post, 21 Things I Wish I Knew At 21. It was a beautifully simple yet poignant way to reveal not only a ton of wisdom, but also that she was going through a divorce with the father of her daughter after 14 years together. At this time, I too was struggling with my own marriage and needed perspective, but no one around me could relate exactly to what I was going through. Catriona did and she graciously accepted my cry for help.

I’d always looked up to her, but for her to take time to sit down with me and talk about such personal experiences was faith-affirming. The conversation touched a lot of topics, not only relationships. It was then and there that I was truly inspired. I’ve since looked to her as a model business woman in this industry. To use a platform to do better and greater things is always admirable, especially the way she does it with kindness, charity and a disregard of what could be crippling fear in the face of pursuing your passion.

I might not have asked her to be my official mentor — I would argue I have many mentors for various parts of my life — but I definitely consider her one. It’s important to have a role model to look up to, someone you can talk to for perspective, advice and even counsel. It can be daunting to reach out to someone you admire, but so long as you do it from a genuine place, no one would see it as anything but the deepest compliment.

Share your own mentorship stories

To show Catriona how grateful I am for her help, I surprised my mentor with a delicious heart-shaped pizza from Boston Pizza. This meaningful gift, however, goes beyond its yummy ingredients: $1 of every heart-shaped pizza, as well as Future Prospects dessert, sold on February 14th supports Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects. Additionally, a $2 donation towards a paper heart will give you $5 off your next meal. All donations go directly to the Foundation.

What is the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects program? Created in 2014, it focuses on providing Canadian kids in need with role models in their community through organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kids Help Phone, JDRF, Live Different and other programs that mentor kids to their full potential.

Photos by Yasin Osman

I’ve been meaning to write up a little something about that big something I did last week, but I think that big something took so much out of me that I ended up spending majority of this week in bed with a brutal cold. It’s interesting, how the body reacts when the mind is detoxing. The mental side of health often manifests in very physical ways, a lot of which we discussed on the Dais x State of Mind panel on Bell Let’s Talk Day.

For those of you who couldn’t attend, you can catch the full discussion on Dais’ Facebook page:

But I want to take a moment to talk about walls — literal and figurative.

We started the day of the panel at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Joined by Craig Currah, CAMH Recreation Therapist, we walked over to the western edge of the facility where there stood a long wall. Now this wall didn’t look like anything special to the average passersby, but its historical significance is undeniable — once you learn about it.

This wall was built just two years after CAMH (back then an Asylum) was opened in 1850. It was largely constructed (and reconstructed) using in-patient labor. Deemed dangerous to the public, they were essentially tasked to build their own “prison.”

I can’t even imagine what these “inmates” had to endure nearly two centuries ago. But over the decades, the wall was periodically demolished and replaced by (wait for the oxymoron) more open confinement with the remaining structure preserved as a symbol of heritage.

But what’s left of the wall is a symbol of so much more. It represents not only the walls in our physical space, but also our mental. It represents the breaking down of stereotype and stigma. It represents the strength of the in-patients and the community CAMH has built now. The wall has been reclaimed over the years to symbolize a positive movement and the more we embrace it and what it stands for, the more we support each other with love, acceptance and understanding.

It’s a constant reminder that we can’t shut each other out; that we have to open up our hearts and minds. The Sad Collective will continue the conversation started last week, last year, last century, with the knowledge that change does happen.

I recently visited Oolagen (now Skylark) a mental health non-profit focused on children, youth and families. I didn’t know what to expect. To be completely transparent, visiting its walk-in clinic in The Village this past Tuesday was part of a job. But after an hour-long conversation with a few of its organizers — a conversation I didn’t want to end — I had the urge to donate all the money I was making to promote the Scotiabank Charity Challenge to Team Oolagen.

Yet I realized I had something even more valuable to contribute: My voice. (Don’t worry, I still donated…did you?)

I learned so many things in my short meeting with Oolagen/Skylark but one fact that stood out the most is how underfunded the mental health industry is. Why is it so underfunded? Many reasons. A lot has to do with how complex mental health issues and diseases are to research as well as the lack of voices championing the need for more funding. Yet that is changing. The world is becoming more comfortable wearing its heart on its sleeve thanks to normalizing agents like Kid Cudi, Bell Let’s Talk and, of course, The Sad Collective.

There are champions of cancer, alzheimer’s and heart disease, but when it comes to mental health, the silence is deafening. Shame, fear and confusion often accompany any revelations of mental health issues. It’s this stigma that has stirred a few to action, including Scott Mescudi.

Its been difficult for me to find the words to what Im about to share with you because I feel ashamed.

Thank you, Scott, for your bravery. In the face of depression and suicidal urges, in the midst of emotional turmoil, sharing your struggle with the world instead of dealing with it privately — which would’ve been understandable, to say the least — is exactly what people going through similar situations need to see, hear and read.

One of the biggest struggles of depression and other manifestations of mental health issues is feeling alone. It might be an internal struggle but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. It’s easy to push away those who love you and want to help. It’s easy to blame yourself for not being okay. It’s easy to find respite in toxic ways.

It’s not easy to seek help. But it can be. It should be.

Oolagen/Skylark shared a crazy stat with me: 60% of youth only need one therapeutic conversation to be set back on a positive path. Only one. It was this study-proven stat that allowed it to open What’s Up, a walk-in clinic program that’s free to anyone who wants or needs to use it. For the other 40%, it serves as a gateway to more intensive mental health services.  This is one of many amazing services the non-profit shared with me. I’ll be talking about more what they do in the weeks, months and maybe even years to come.