ImprintCHANGE.Team
Hey Everyone! my name is La Moi and as you have read, i am the creative and fundraising director of this organization. i was born in JA and moved to Canada in ‘89. moving here started a whirlwind of hardship for me from being sexually molested, to having to learn how to deal with a speech impediment. i realized early on that i am very creative and great at thinking outside of the box, as a spoken word artist, writer, singer, songwriter, actress (among other things) my mind is plagued with ideas and my heart is burdened with sharing my experiences so that others can feel safe sharing theirs with the ultimate goal being change. change in the way we think, the way we react to others, the way we love and the way we love ourselves. my hearts beat is to help others so they do not have to go through what i went through. bless and love.
Hey! I’m Vanessa. I decided to take on this group with Kat because as a youth I grew up in the social services system where there were an abundant amount of stereotypes, discrimination, and a lack of social programs in the areas where these homes were located. I lived in group homes & foster homes for sixyears, in rural areas where there were no social outlets. The majority of the kids in the households, myself included, were labelled as “troubled”, and due to these self fufilling prophecies, decided to cause problems in society because there were no social programs, nowhere to meet more people, nowhere to connect, and nowhere to escape the stigma of being a “troubled youth”. I knew that I had a lot of potential, and a lot of skills but I had nowhere to utilize them, and no one would care because in their eyes I was “bad.” All I wanted was a place to feel accepted . Music for me was a form of release, and I had nowhere to showcase it, or anything else to do with my time so I began to hang out with the wrong crowds, and get myself into bigger problems and take part in stealing, initiating fights, drinking excessively and smoking an abundant amount of weed. My grades dropped and I found myself dropping in and out of high school. That portion of my life is now over, I’m thankful to say and I’ve certainly moved on to bigger & better things & have accomplished a lot over the last few years.
I believe everyone in society “tries” and just wants to be accepted, wants to show the world what they have to offer , and those who don’t have this opportunity are almost forced into other means of expression. Within this organization, I hope to assist youth in maximizing their potential , to showcase their talents and skills - even if now theyre hidden, and to make them feel as if they are appreciated and they can make a change for the better that may save their lives.
Hellooo my name is annie! Heres my story. I saw some rough things going on in my neighborhood at a young age due to where I lived. After my parents split up my mom took my sister and i to a better area to grow up and try to get away from the rough patches. As ive grown up ive learned that there are no areas without rough patches. This was the year i had realized that because I went to my friends funeral. Living in a little city you hear of these things happening everywhere else other than your own area. I have met a lot of friends throughout my childhood who have had it rougher than me and I see the pain that they go through. All i want is to make like easier for kids who have it rough. If i can say that ive helped at least one person, and put a smile on their face my job is done.
It takes alot to step up and make a group like this so biggg thanks to Kathleen A. Clement:)
Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.
Leon J. Suenes
Hey guys, Thanks for the welcoming comment to the group. Im glad to be apart of something that will change our community. Kat, keeps msging me telling me to introduce myself and give ya’ll a back ground story. So here it goes, My name is Jess i grew up in a gang related area all my life. i was subject to horrible situations of drugs, violence and murders. Over the last 6, 7 years ive had to bury more than two dozen friends due to those circumstance. As well as i growing up in area where they had community centre for kids to join and get them off the street were closed down because they werent enough funding to help support them, and forcing the kids back on the street. My goal for joining this organization is to give these kids something i didnt have growing up. a place to be themselves and do their things and make something of themselves. i have a past im not proud of but im standing, well sitting here today trying to make a difference.
you gotta take life one step at time.
