With the changes that are afoot in the Stay in School (SIS) programs, it is time to provide club members with updates on two critical fronts.
First, our SIS Program Coordinator, Ellice Wirsta, has left us. We are sad to see her go, but the HR Committee has been hard at work to recruit a replacement. We look forward to announcing soon. In the interim, Ellice is providing “emergency back-up” to SIS Chair Sean Baylis and Youth Director Bob Taylor.
Second, after ten years of visionary and dedicated leadership, Rotary Tom Jackson Stay-in-School founders and Co-chairs Catherine Brownlee and Steve Allen had decided it is time to “pass the torch.” At the same time, we are searching for an outside agency to host RTJSIS.
This is not an abandonment of RCCD’s support for the program nor our commitment to Reconciliation. Instead, changing circumstances emphasize the importance of finding an organization with indigenous leadership that is well-tuned to the needs of today’s urban indigenous youth, and will better be able to recruit indigenous mentors to continue to support students in the program. And recruiting more mentors is foundational to continued growth in student numbers beyond our current 24 students and helping reach a much larger student population.
As we make this transition, we urgently need a Club member or two to step up and help lead the program through this transition. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more, contact Youth Director Bob Taylor.
Final note: The “original” SIS program will continue in its current format, but also requires additional mentors to take on new students. If you have an interest in learning more about this, contact Chair Sean Baylis sean.baylis@rbc.com or attend the upcoming Mentor Training event on March 7.