If the COVID-19 pandemic has put any two words into the spotlight, they would be “unprecedented” and “resilience.”
The Resiliency Collective is putting the emphasis on the second one with a free virtual event on Oct. 19 called Tell Me Something Good: Sharing Stories of Resilience and Hope – stories of resilience in the community meant to inspire and uplift participants and local service providers running from 10 a.m. to noon on Microsoft Teams.
These stories include the account of a local therapist talking about her own experiences during the pandemic, members of a family from Syria sharing their story of moving to Canada, the many ways a grassroots advocate has found members of the community offering mutual support during COVID-19 and a Big Sister's look at her role and relationship with her Little Sister.
The event will also allow participants and service providers to share their perspectives and resources.
The Resiliency Collective is an umbrella group of local service providers – including Therapeutic Family Care Program, Five Counties Children's Centre, WrapAround Northumberland, Rebound Youth Services, and the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board – who organized this event inspired by their belief in the power of sharing stories of hope.
Therapeutic Family Care Program Systems Navigator Krista Mathers said the event comes at a time when when COVID-19 upended many factors that build resilience – structure and routine, intimate and supportive relationships, a powerful source of identity, financial security, basic needs being met, and a sense of belonging, safety and support.
“After two-plus years of a global pandemic, the virtual event will explore examples of resiliency from every corner of our community,” Mathers said.
“Sharing stories, even small ones that occur at certain moments, is inspiring and can have a big impact.”
“We want to show how people have found silver linings, even in what's been a very bleak time over the course of the pandemic,” Five Counties Children's Centre Resource Consultant Cheryl Morris added.
“Storytelling is so powerful, and it can be helpful for building resilience – especially in professionals and service providers who work every day to support local families.”
