In the Friendship Zone
Self-advocates and community members connect over conversation.
By Meaghen Taylor-Reid, CLBC Facilitator
Community Living Month 2010 was celebrated by CLBC Simon Fraser Region on October 19, at the Shadbolt Centre. Over 25 self-advocates attended our pilot project Friendship Zone Event.
This event was a networking activity for individuals who wanted to make new friends and try new things. Groups were based on location and discussed their likes and things they wanted to try. Common interests like hockey, swimming, hiking, cars, movies, animals, travelling and skateboarding came up. One self-advocate even offered to refer a new found friend to an employer.
For the second half of the evening, community members joined us for some incredible speeches about inclusion and employment. At the end of the evening, our Friendship Zone self-advocates each went home with coffee gift cards, contact information for their new friends and some very lucky folks even won prizes. Our Friendship Zone event was such a success that we’ll make sure to see you all again next year!
