Growing up, my family traveled extensively due to my mother’s work as an educational consultant. Living in places like rural Zimbabwe, I was exposed to diverse ways of life and saw people facing extreme poverty from a young age. These experiences deepened my awareness of my own privilege and sparked a commitment to help those around me, beginning in my home city of Calgary.
This drive led me to pursue a Bachelor of Education, specializing in Early Childhood. My first role was at a private language institution, Global Village, where I worked for several years teaching English and supervising trips for students of all ages from around the world. Through my students, I gained invaluable insights into how visitors perceive our city. I then joined the Calgary Board of Education, teaching Kindergarten through Grade 12 as both a substitute and contract teacher. Throughout my career as a teacher I was most passionate about creating safe spaces for all my students to learn as well as feel comfortable, explore their creativity, share their experiences openly. However, I often witnessed the impacts of poverty on my students, from hunger and frequent absences to harassment, and saw how these stressors affected their development and learning.
Ultimately, I transitioned out of teaching, which led me to an administrative role in the nonprofit sector. I was fortunate to join the Executive Office team at Vibrant Communities Calgary (VCC), where I can combine my empathy and organizational skills in a role that aligns with my personal values. I’m grateful to work with VCC, pursuing a vision of a city where there is Enough for All while supporting young people facing challenges like those I saw among my students.