One Spark Celebrates its Second Birthday!

It's amazing that 2 years have already come and gone. It truly feels like the first 2 years have passed by in a heartbeat, but we are so excited about the things One Spark has achieved in that time and we are even more excited about what we see ahead.  Here are some highlights from our second year:

• On October 2nd, 2014 we held our inaugural One Spark golf tournament at Deer Creek in Ajax.  It was an amazing day that rallied incredible support around One Spark's mission and work.  We are so excited about our 2nd annual happening on September 24th, and we are thrilled to have CCI Studios returning as our Presenting Sponsor.  Come and join us for another fabulous event!  You can register online at http://one-spark.ca/2015-golf-tournament.

• On December 6th, we held our second annual Candle Campaign.  One Spark's social media lit up with pictures of candles shining in windows to honour those lost to violence, give hope to women affected by violence, and bring the issue of violence against women out of the darkness. 

• Most importantly, this year was the year that we began delivering programming to women. Our first participants have completed the program components and are looking ahead to the wonderful opportunities they have ahead of them.  Piloting our programming with the first participants has also given us an invaluable opportunity to evaluate and assess our program delivery and outcomes to enhance our work in ways that will provide the highest levels of support to the women accessing our programs.  We were honoured to have one of the women we work with share her thoughts on the Entrepreneurship Program: "What I would like to say is that for the first time, I have had the greatest experience during this whole endeavor and none of it would be happening without One Spark. I have gained confidence, not only in myself, but as a women with substance that does have something to bring to the table. One Spark has listened to my idea's, even during the current struggles that I continue to have. They give me a direction and keep me on track as this has to be one of the hardest things to accomplish as an abused women, especially with children. The support from all of the experienced board members and all that they have to offer is supreme to say the least."

• In May, One Spark clients had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Women Moving Forward Conference in Toronto.  This incredible conference featured sessions that share knowledge/experiences and provide tools for women to move forward from life challenges. Our clients unanimously agreed that it was a powerful and motivational experience.

• In June, One Spark was honoured to receive the Workplace Group's Community Spirit and Vision Award.  We were so grateful to be recognized by such an amazing organization.

• Our highly committed Board of Directors continues to diligently oversee and ensure effective strategic development of One Spark. We welcomed Lynden Evers and Danielle Rombough to our Board this year: two fantastic individuals that bring a wealth of experience, talent, and passion to our Board.

• We were very excited to announce the development of "Hey Babies", a fabulous new online retailer of previously loved and practically new baby, child and maternity clothing that will be launching over the next year.  Hey Babies has committed to donating a portion of the proceeds from their sales to One Spark's work.  Please let us know if you have baby/children's clothes that you are looking to give away.

• For the past number of months, Board Member Marlo Taylor and Executive Director Corrie Schneider have been training to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 18th.  They are calling it the "2 FOR 2" Marathon, as they are 2 sisters raising money to fund business start-up grants through the One Spark Entrepreneurship Program for two women working towards financial sustainability in order to live violence-free lives.  You can support their marathon quest at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.

• Our support network continues to grow in leaps and bounds.  We are so grateful for those who have provided financial support, in-kind support, and those who rally their networks and community members to be part of the One Spark movement.  We see great things ahead in terms of community engagement!

It has truly been an amazing 2 years and we enter into our 3rd year with visions of growing and expanding the reach of our programs; looking at innovative new ways to deliver our mission; engaging individuals and communities in meaningful ways; and, most importantly, remaining fervently committed to our vision of a world where no woman faces financial barriers to living a life without violence.  Thank you for being there with us as it all continues to happen!

Conquering 16 KM

Today I conquered the 16 km mark in my training for the One Spark marathon. Finishing this run, just shy of the ½ marathon distance, was the first time I truly believed I was going to finish this marathon.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I was exhausted and sore -- and ELATED that it was over. I was also fighting the voice in my head that was gleefully taunting me with the idea that the marathon was doing that 16 km AGAIN plus some. But then, somewhere way at the back of my brain, came the faintest sound of possibility. That it was going to be okay. That I GOT this.

The program I am using to train for the marathon is very big on visualization – when you’re out on a run and aching, imagine what your best run ever looked, felt and even smelled like. When you’re tired or frustrated, imagine what the end of the race will look, feel and smell like. Who will be there? How will you celebrate?

It sounds crazy, but it’s working for me. I can see it all – and am inspired during the darkest of my running moments to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And, step by step, the distance and time pass.

It’s a good lesson – that perhaps what is achievable is only limited by what we allow ourselves to imagine and create in our mind’s eye.

If you’ve ever imagined what could be, or believe in our individual power to change who we are and what we do, then please consider donating to One Spark. With your support, we will be able to help women who have imagined that their lives can and should be free of violence.

Thank you for imaginings – and sharing our vision.

Marlo Taylor

You can support our 2 for 2 Marathon at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.  Thanks in advance for your support!

What I Want to Tell You About One Spark

If you know me, you know that One Spark is a living piece of my heart: I immediately think about our work at One Spark when my eyes open in the morning and it's often the last thing I think about before shutting things down for the night.  Honestly, one of my greatest joys in life is when I see people excited, impassioned, engaged, and committed to our mission.  I'm always trying to think of ways to share and express my love for this organization.

So, for this week's blog, I thought I would give a quick synopsis of the Top Ten Things I Love About One Spark in the hope that it might move someone reading this to help us continue our work by supporting our 2 For 2 Marathon.

Here it goes:

10.  We are in a constant state of innovation.  When the people involved with One Spark are around a table, we are constantly trying to find meaningful solutions to eliminate violence against women and to brainstorm how we can rally communities in new ways to support women impacted by violence.  It is an amazing wellspring of ideas.

9.  We are acting on our ideas.  We started with an Entrepreneurship Program and our Candle Campaign.  We are in the process of bringing more amazing programming to life, including some very cool programming for girls: let's use entrepreneurship as a vehicle for prevention by engaging girls in our mission.

8.  We've been embraced by the most amazing organizations.  CCI Studios and The Workplace Group in particular have been such amazing champions on our behalf in our first 2 years of existence.

7.  We are committed to exceptional standards of accountability.  We match our innovative thinking with our concern for maximizing the use of the donations we receive and meeting and exceeding all standards of accountability required of Canadian charities and federally incorporated non-profits.

6.  We are an ever-growing band of individual supporters: people are constantly asking what they can do to support our work and wanting to engage in such amazing ways.  We believe we have incredible growth potential and will continue to engage the most amazing souls in our work.

5.  We have some exciting fundraising initiatives on the horizon: a social enterprise called Hey Babies; an amazing concert event called Revelree; our golf tournament; and our upcoming marathon are just a few of the great events that will be supporting us in the near-term (drop me a line if you're interested in supporting any of the above!).

4.  We have the most incredible Board of Directors.  I can't say enough about this group.  These spectacular individuals are smart, passionate, committed, trustworthy, and all-around fantastic people.  They are the heart and lifeblood of One Spark's work.

3.  We are serious about our work, but we never forget to laugh.

2.  We are seeing meaningful outcomes.  As one of the women we work with recently wrote, "I have gained confidence, not only in myself, but as a women with substance that does have something to bring to the table. One Spark has listened to my idea's, even during the current struggles that I continue to have. They give me a direction and keep me on track as this has to be one of the hardest things to accomplish as an abused women, especially with children. The support from all of the experienced board members and all that they have to offer is supreme to say the least."

1.  We work with courageous, resilient, incredible women.  We never stop learning from the women we work with and are so excited and hopeful about their next steps.  They are at the heart of One Spark's work and the reason we want to see One Spark continue to grow in leaps and bounds.

If you need more reasons, email me any time at corrie@one-spark.ca.  I could talk your ear off about One Spark's work, where it's going, and what we will continue to achieve.  If you're already feeling my love for this organization, please consider supporting it with a donation to the marathon my sister and I will be running to get two new women set up in their own business to help them move towards a life free of violence.  You can make a donation at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.  Thanks so much for your support!

Peace,

Corrie

The Greatest Cheerleader

Someone told me before I registered for the 2012 Scotiabank Toronto Marathon to be sure that I registered early enough to get my name printed on my race bib.  I didn't really get the significance of that advice until race day when the power of having people cheer me on by name was, at moments, all there was to convince me that I should keep putting one foot in front of the other. 

I don't know how many people line the streets during the waterfront marathon, but, amid everything I heard from the sidewalks that day and the number of people that willed me on by name, there was a voice I heard that seemed to somehow rise above.  It was my dad's.  There was a special strength in hearing my dad cheer me on that day because beyond whatever encouragement he was yelling out to me, I heard a million other things.  

I heard the day he bought my sister and I our first running gear (new shoes and matching pink wind pants with pink wind breakers).  He told us that he would support us 1000% if we wanted to be runners, but that we had to make the commitment and do the work.  I heard him on my graduation day, telling me how important it was to have a good education and that, no matter what happened in my life, no one could ever take my education away from me.  I saw his big smile as he watched my sister and I open up our fully-stocked toolboxes on Christmas morning, telling us to never be dependent on someone else when we were perfectly capable of doing things ourselves.  I saw him tear up before walking me down the aisle on my wedding day.  I heard him tell his granddaughters how important an education is and that no matter what happens in their life, no one can take it away from them.

I also heard him championing an end to violence against women. There is something incredibly powerful in hearing the men in your life, and particularly your dad, cheerlead an end to gender-based violence.  It makes me realize what a gift his example of respecting and championing women truly is. It made me realize how blessed I am to have my dad cheering me on.

And so I encourage all dads to never underestimate the gift you are to your daughters and all men to appreciate the impact of your example.  And I leave you with one of the greatest moments I've ever lived...and the voice of the best cheerleader I could ask for.  Thank you dad for believing in all that I have ever wanted to do, and thank you for your belief in the importance of ending violence.  Happy Father's Day!

(Please consider supporting the marathon my sister and I are running - and I know my dad will be cheering for - with a donation supporting One Spark's programs that assist women to achieve financial security in order to be free of violence.  You can make a donation at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.)

Running Isn't Hard (by Marlo Taylor)

I’m not a natural runner. In fact, while I have been blessed with a body more than physically capable of running, over the years I have been lacing up my shoes it’s never really gotten easier – mentally or physically. I do it because I like to feel strong and I love crossing the finish line. But the actual act of running? Not so much.

I am also a compulsive scheduler. If there’s a minute in the day, let’s fill it! My mantra: Relaxing is for the weak! Interestingly, though, I rarely proactively book that time for my runs so am consistently bemoaning the fact that I can’t fit them in. How am I expected to run and do all the other things I tell myself are day-to-day necessities?

I used to think this whole running thing was hard. Doing it, making time for it . . . hard, right? No. Running isn’t hard. At least not in the ways I've been complaining about.

What’s hard is needing to escape an abusive situation, find a safe place for you and possibly your kids, and face an uncertain future. What’s hard is being courageous when your body and heart hurt. What’s hard is truly believing no one – including you – deserves to live with violence.

I’m running because it’s the least I can do to help while other women are doing the truly heavy lifting.

2 for 2 is hoping to raise $4,000. For $4,000 we can help two women tackle what’s really hard. We can help them as they take on the challenge of imaging what comes next for them and their families as independent, hopefully thriving entrepreneurs. We can support their business development as they try to create financial stability.

Tonight, I’ll lace up my shoes (and likely whine while doing it), but I’ll come home to a house that is safe and I will sleep well because there is no threat to either me or my children. Imagine being able to help two more women find their path to that kind of peace of mind.

If you can, please support 2 for 2 at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/.  

True Story: Why We're Running

Since One Spark's inception, I have often said that I wish everyone involved with One Spark could sit at the table with the women entrepreneurs we work with and experience their determination to courageously carve out a new path.  As a means of sharing our partnership with the women we support, I asked one of our clients if she would be willing to write a short description of her experience working with One Spark.  With her permission (and her enthusiasm: she is extremely eager to share her story for any others it may touch and/or benefit), I am sharing her words. 

"What I would like to say is that for the first time, I have had the greatest experience during this whole endeavor and none of it would be happening without One Spark. I have gained confidence, not only in myself, but as a women with substance that does have something to bring to the table. One Spark has listened to my idea's, even during the current struggles that I continue to have. They give me a direction and keep me on track as this has to be one of the hardest things to accomplish as an abused women, especially with children. The support from all of the experienced board members and all that they have to offer is supreme to say the least.

All the support that I have received could not be written in this letter as there is not enough words to explain. What needs to be said though is that even knowing the experience that the board members bring to the table along with Corrie Schneider's knowledge, none of this could happen without funding. As we all know, all the experience, all of the hard work, no matter the idea, can't be done without money or funding in any way.

I hope that you see the benefits in helping this wonderful and well needed Organization and all that it will do for our future as human beings.

Thank you so much."

Please consider supporting the "2 for 2" marathon to raise money for start-up business grants for two women: we're 2 sisters running for 2 women entrepreneurs.  Our goal is $4,000, the cost of 2 One Spark start-up grants for women impacted by violence.  You can make a donation at:

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/2-for-2-marathon-two-sisters-for-two-women/

Thank you for your support!

A One Spark Mother's Day Wish

We truly work with some amazing moms at One Spark.  Here's to these incredible women - and all moms - on Mother's Day.