OPSer Calls Herself a “Chronic Volunteer”Topical Stories (Jan 2007)
Jan. 30, 2007 – Cassandra Williams, an Ontario Public Service (OPS) employee, is a chronic volunteer.
Williams admitted her addiction to volunteering when she spoke at the OPS Spirit campaign launch event recently held in Toronto.
Currently a program and policy analyst with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Primary Health Care Transition Fund Unit, she was bitten with the volunteer bug when she was a young girl growing up in Trinidad.
Her birth country’s successful campaign to steer young people away from drugs, guns and crime inspired her to contribute her own efforts at making a difference in the lives of young people.
A slogan used in Trinidad to combat youth violence – “ The future of youth is in their schoolbags” – has always influenced her interaction with young people.
As a volunteer with youth, her mission is to encourage them to remain connected to their goals and to teach them the benefits of staying focused on school and strategies to cope with difficult times.
With a pediatric nursing background, she loves being with young people and has the ability to quickly develop a rapport with them.
Williams has worked on health promotion activities as far north as Webequie, Ontario where she helped a First Nations community implement youth suicide prevention initiatives. She has also traveled to the exotic wilds of Tanzania, Africa to work with children of the Masai tribe who are afflicted with disease and famine.
In Toronto, Williams works with YOUTHLINK and organization that supports vulnerable youth in making positive choices and meeting its commitment to at-risk and homeless youth. She also serves as Director on YOUTHLINK’s Board.
“Volunteering with youth is intense and emotionally challenging but it is also very satisfying for me. Helping young people discover the goodness within themselves and the beauty of life is the best feeling in the world,” said Williams.
She has also raised thousands of dollars for The Arthritis Society and donates her time as a foster parent with the Toronto Humane Society.
Williams admitted her addiction to volunteering when she spoke at the OPS Spirit campaign launch event recently held in Toronto.
Currently a program and policy analyst with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Primary Health Care Transition Fund Unit, she was bitten with the volunteer bug when she was a young girl growing up in Trinidad.
Her birth country’s successful campaign to steer young people away from drugs, guns and crime inspired her to contribute her own efforts at making a difference in the lives of young people.
A slogan used in Trinidad to combat youth violence – “ The future of youth is in their schoolbags” – has always influenced her interaction with young people.
As a volunteer with youth, her mission is to encourage them to remain connected to their goals and to teach them the benefits of staying focused on school and strategies to cope with difficult times.
With a pediatric nursing background, she loves being with young people and has the ability to quickly develop a rapport with them.
Williams has worked on health promotion activities as far north as Webequie, Ontario where she helped a First Nations community implement youth suicide prevention initiatives. She has also traveled to the exotic wilds of Tanzania, Africa to work with children of the Masai tribe who are afflicted with disease and famine.
In Toronto, Williams works with YOUTHLINK and organization that supports vulnerable youth in making positive choices and meeting its commitment to at-risk and homeless youth. She also serves as Director on YOUTHLINK’s Board.
“Volunteering with youth is intense and emotionally challenging but it is also very satisfying for me. Helping young people discover the goodness within themselves and the beauty of life is the best feeling in the world,” said Williams.
She has also raised thousands of dollars for The Arthritis Society and donates her time as a foster parent with the Toronto Humane Society.
Hi Cassandra:
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to talk to you the other day, and what a terrific speech you gave, it was very inspirational. When I got back to my office I received an email from four people in the Justice Information Sector asking if they could join the MCSCS team for this year. They advised that the speeches had inspired them.
I would love if you could come to our opening of the OPS Spirit: Developing our Youth, Building our Future Campaign at 25 Grosvenor Street. We will be meeting with our Committee on February 15th and probably that is the first thing we will do is set a date for the Ministry's opening. We will be in touch after the meeting. Keep up the good work, you will make a difference in many peoples lives.