We’ve Come Together To Be Our Own Solutions

It seems like only a few weeks ago that after a number of conversations amongst members of our communities and with each other that a few of us (family members and friends) came together to attempt to offer solutions to challenges and to mitigate the impact that being marginalized has on individuals who live in a remote, rural or underserved in our province, British Columbia.

So much has come together since then: We’ve founded an organization, created a website, opened an office and developed resources, programming and started a counselling service! All of this would not have been possible without the help of many hands and the generosity of many resources being shared with us. I couldn’t be more proud or more grateful for the work that has been done, nor more excited for what we will do next.

Before this, I did not see myself as someone who would be at the helm of such a needed and important organization such as Marginalized Matter Initiative Society; I am deeply honoured to receive my role as President. My roles and work as a Healing Helper, Professional Artist and Author, and Activist were never done with the intention of taking on or preparing for an administrative leadership role but I now see that they have situated me well, teaching the many required skills that can be transferred over and moved laterally. I am excited and eager to share of myself with you all through this new position at Marginalized Matter Initiative Society.

One of the responsibilities for the President, as determined at one of our founding meetings, was the role of Newsletter Editor. As such, I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself and the organization to you in this first edition of our newsletter. As such, I would like to take a moment to mention the other founding members, Peggy Sheehan and David Corkish: Peggy Sheehan will currently hold the positions of Secretary and Treasurer on the board, she looks forward to utilizing her education in social work, festival and event management, medical aesthetics, work experience in the transportation industry and executive administrative roles; David Corkish brings over 25 years work experience in healthcare, community activism and leadership roles to draw from in his position as Vice-President. I think both Peggy and David are two of the most kind hearted and hard working individuals, who are genuinely passionate about making meaningful connections, changes and offering support to our communities. I couldn’t be more blessed than to work with these two amazing individuals.

Alice Walker, the American Author of the book The Color Purple, wrote that “We are the ones we have been waiting for”. What I think she was intending was to say to us is that we, as communities and individuals, need to take responsibility for helping ourselves (particularly those of us who are members of marginalized communities or have marginalized identities). Walker poses the question, if not us then who? When we met to discuss our vision for the the society, not so long ago, it was with that spirit of us coming together to be our own solutions that inspired us to begin this new enterprise, the Marginalized Matter Initiative Society. With that same spirit, I humbly ask for your support and for you to give if you can, be it your time, money or a resources and subscribe to the MMIS Newsletter to stay updated on our progress and what w’ve accomplished in your community.

With warmest of regards to the communities at large we look forward to working together with,

Spencer Sheehan-Kalina
MMIS President