Under my skin

It has been 16 months and 1 week since I last stepped foot on Haitian soil.

It has been 16 months and 1 week since I last held those precious babies that captured my heart so deeply.

It has been 16 months and 1 week since I have been home.

That is 53 weeks of growth for those babies, they are now walking, talking, playing- functioning toddlers who have no memory of our weeks spent on that balcony.

That is 371 nights where someone else kissed them goodnight and laid them in their bed.

That is also 371 days that they have been in my thoughts and my prayers.

I miss them, I miss Haiti and I am actively looking for an opportunity to go back.

Haiti has gotten under my skin, and it now makes up a huge part of who I am, where my heart is…

Beautiful British Colombia

Its 8: 29 am (PST) and I make the call “ Brittnei to Booth’s Team- the doors are now open, good luck!”

Seconds later students and their educators flood the concourse of the Rogers Arena, some decked out in school colours, others carrying signs with their school names or favourite motivational quotes. Our staff is spread out throughout the venue- my team manning booths, others sorting seating, others prepping the production.

And I checked myself- this is why I LOVE my job.

Throughout the day I caught snippets of what was happening in the bowl, I listened as Jacob from Hedley rocked out and shared his heartfelt story of his time in India with FTC, I watched as Mia Farrow had 18,000 youth stand up against injustice, I felt the emotion when a good friend did a silent speech with cue cards asking the youth to stand in silence in solidarity with children around the world who do not have a voice. 18,000 youth streamed out of the venue that afternoon inspired and motivated.

Later that day I sat in a circle with my team- everyone positive, everyone still smiling as our director freed us to go celebrate.

3 long days and our our second We Day of the fall was a success from many angles. WE DID IT!

Later that night I have another moment… I was crammed in a room of a downtown Vancouver restaurant. Shoulder to shoulder with my incredible co workers, We Day talent (Hedley, Down with Webster etc.) and so many Free the Children supporters. I am a part of this.

The next day I sat in a car with some of my best friends winding up along the mountains to Whistler for a weekend of adventures, laughs, relaxation and tacky tourist moments.

They call it “Beautiful British Colombia” for a reason. The mountains were INCREDIBLE and man did it feel good to share some laughs and be a “real person” for a couple days.

I just wanted to share a couple pictures from our adventures. ENJOY!

(look that’s ME!)

And on top of all this amazing-ness I finally got a chance to reunite with one of my favourites- AMANDA. We biked around Stanley Park on a beautiful day!

Such an amazing week in Vancouver- I think I fell in love with the West Coast.

Until next time….

A Whirlwind Fall

Returning from back to back trips, jumping into an incredible customized leadership training with an inspiring group of Toronto’s inner city leaders to long days and even longer nights preparing for the fall of We Days. To say my fall has been busy… is an understatement.

With little sleep and absolutely no work life balance (sorry family and friends!), I look back on the accomplishments of my last couple months and still feel privileged.

Less than 2 weeks ago we (a organization staff by a group of 20+ year olds) pulled of the first of 4 We Days of 2011- a day where 18,000 youth and their educators gather to be inspired. Inspired by social justice hero's, like minded performers in an arena full of equally passionate young people. The goal of the day- to kick off a year of fundraising, advocacy and community service. The students take back what they learn and they ACT. Carrying the movement of WE thinking and WE acting!

As all the staff running the event take on obscure tasks from registration, through to manual labour we are all encouraged to seek out our “We Day Moment”

I took a different role this year, leading up a team of staff who would be responsible for selling all of the socially conscious products Me to We offers. Managing a team, under the pressure and high stress of crunch time- the role had its challenges. Determined to stay true to the power of the event- I snuck in my We Day moment just as Nelly Furtado took the stage.

I am privileged to be a part of THAT.

In just a few days I am off to Vancouver, to replicate what we did in Toronto to another auditorium of 18,000 youth. Although it is a daunting task- where sore feet, minimal sleep and emotional exhaustion is a definite. I know that the power of the event is much greater than my personal struggles. Nevertheless, wish me luck.