As a quadriplegic, I have assistants
with me for nearly all my waking hours. I hired Jesse as a neurology student.
She told me about applying for a Community Development Fund grant through the
Halifax Community Health Board to help run a summer day camp. She was planning
to run it in order to introduce seniors to the arts and convince them that they
could be creative. She encouraged me to apply to sit on the Health Board so I
could pick “worthy applicants” like her.
I did apply to the Health Board, but
then steered clear of selecting grant recipients.
Though I am not directly involved in
deciding who gets funding, the fact that we empower community members to
improve the health of their fellow community members is the thing I’m most
proud of.
Working for the Ecology Action
Centre as the transportation co-ordinator, I was well-versed on how detrimental
the automobile was for both human health and for the health of our planet. Part
of me feels like I should take that knowledge and apply it to the work of the
Health Board, but I’m also well-versed in both municipal and provincial
politics. I feel this is a more unique strength that I can capitalize on to
help move health issues forward with decision-makers, as well as community
advocates.
