Listening and learning
On March 21, members of the CLBC Board of Directors gathered with 4 Self-Advocates to learn about some of the important self-advocate leadership going on across BC.
David Johnston is an active self-advocate from Dawson Creek who is passionate about helping people with disabilities to have a voice. He talked about his involvement as a member of his local CLBC Community Council, as well as the work he does as a provincial board member of BC People First where he is busy planning for the upcoming BCPF conference in May. David went to college to be a chef and he currently writes blog posts for the BC Self Advocacy Foundation’s website at http://www.bcsaf.org/.
(left to right) David Johnston, Brandy Knight, Shelley Decoste, CLBC Self-Advocate Advisor Jessica Humphrey, and David Carter emphasize the importance of sharing stories of leadership.
The second presenter, Brandy Knight, lives with roommates David and Donna, and their dog, Molly, in a home share in Victoria. She talked about her work as a member of Self Advocates for a Brighter Future and her job as a housekeeper for a number of clients in Victoria. Brandy also sits on the Becon Green Committee and is an active member of the Women’s Club. She shared stories about her love of fitness, meditation, hanging out with friends, and her excitement about an upcoming road trip to California which she has planned.
David Carter lives with Brandy, Donna and Molly in Victoria, where he is also a member of Self Advocates for a Brighter Future. David talked about his job at Starbucks and his role as a member of the Green Committee and Men’s Club. He enjoys movies, computers, floor hockey and collecting military and police memorabilia and comics.
Shelley Decoste is a self-advocate leader and inspirational speaker from Kelowna. Shelley presented information about the province-wide Diversability Campaign which she is leading with the goal to make “diversability” word of the year in 2013. Shelley is also a mother and wife and was recently appointed to her municipal Accessibility Committee. Shelley just finished her term with the BCACL Caucus and is currently employed as the Self Advocate Liaison for the Kelowna District Society for Community Living.
“This gathering was an opportunity for CLBC Board members to be in conversation with and learn from those they serve. It was so lovely to hear Board members remark on how new doors of understanding had opened for them after this meeting,” says Jessica Humphrey, CLBC Self-Advocate Advisor, who helped to coordinate the meeting. “We learn so much just by taking the time to sit together and share stories about the things that matter most to us.”
