well well well…what a familiar feeling!
A year ago, I was settling down for my first of five nights sleeping outside and now I’m prepping for my night out as the guest sleeper tonight. Having had the privilege of Chairing last year’s Edmonton 5 Days campaign, I feel strong ties to this initiative and could not be more excited about being invited back for a night this year to share my insights with the current team.
During our 5 Days last year, my incredible team managed to raise over $24,000 and spoke to countless people about youth homelessness in Edmonton. So thank you again and again and again to all the people that supported us, believed in us and especially those that challenged us – if we were able to change even one person’s perception of youth homelessness in our city, we did something positive. I think I speak for the entire team when I say the generosity and passion we saw that week was unlike anything we’ve ever witnessed before.
This past fall, I set out on the daunting task of passing on the Chair position of a campaign that I had become seriously emotionally attached to. I had legitimate concerns about finding someone who would understand the reach and impact that 5 Days can have on the community. I wanted someone who saw past the dollar value on the website and who’s last thought was how difficult sleeping outside would be; I needed someone who was truly passionate about the cause. Luckily I found that passion in Nicole and Kristiann. Although they didn’t even know each other when I chose them as co-chairs, I saw the perfect coupling of leadership, commitment and motivation between them. Needless to say, they have well surpassed my expectations and I could not be more proud of them and their team. (You girls are UNREAL!!!)
In addition to a focus on growing the U of A campaign, I was lucky enough to talk one of my best friends, a Grant MacEwan business student, into joining us outside last year with the ultimate goal of expanding the Edmonton campaign to a second institution. Brett has taken all that knowledge and experience to create a pretty darn sophisticated campaign across the river. (PROUD!!) And yes, he is sleeping outside again. For the whole week. Major kudos!
Looking back on the whirlwind that was my 5 Days, I was humbled by the outpouring of support from the community. I was enlightened by those with personal stories related to the cause. And I am so incredibly proud that those 5 Days have branched into not one, but two, amazing 5 Days campaigns working together right here in Edmonton. The fact that this city is able to simultaneously sustain two 5 Days campaigns is something we can all be proud of.
Youth homelessness is a pressing issue that deserves every little bit of awareness and funding that we can raise. (Don’t believe me? Check out yess.org to see why we’re such huge supporters.) (Believe me? Check out the U of A’s 5 Days page for campaign details http://5days.ca/region/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=7®ion=alberta&Itemid=55)
A home – After five days on campus, being homeless and having to sleep outside I got to come home to a bed, a hot shower and 4 awesome roommates that I love dearly! But not everyone is so lucky.