• Who We Support

• Current Investees
  • Autism Aspergers Friendship Society
  • Calgary Youth Justice
  • Connections Counselling
    • SVP Involvement
    • Capcity to Excel
    • Strengthening Ourselves
    • Sharing Dreams
    • Website
  • EvenStart
• Investee Alumni
• Evaluation and Outcomes
• How to Be Supported
• What We've Done

Sharing thoughts, ideas, dreams and challenges during conversations impacts our actions and leads to change.  Some conversations occurred between our board and staff including at our annual strategic planning sessions, while others took place with SVP Calgary partners or staff and in particular between our SVP lead partner, Houman Mahallati and I. The identified significant change was germinated during those conversations.

Connections needed to communicate more effectively with the greater community. What this would look like and how this would occur formed the basis of many discussions during 2009. We knew key messages needed to be developed, along with how best to market these messages. Ideally this would occur prior to our 20^th Anniversary celebrations in the spring of 2010. The development of a strong Communications and Marketing plan would be essential to define our messaging, including the tone and look.

Late in 2009, Houman introduced us to Appetite. Re-branding was discussed and together a plan for such was developed. With much of the consultation work being provided pro bono by Appetite, Connections was able to leverage SVP funding to secure a small grant through The Calgary Foundation. The funds from both sources enabled us to enter into a contract with Appetite for a nominal fee to re-brand, develop a new logo and re-design new brochures. These funds were also used to produce a new promotional DVD, featuring honest and impactful client testimonies and re-design our website. Although the website was not launched until July 2010, we were delighted to unveil our new logo and promotional DVD at our 20^th Anniversary celebration and fundraising event on May 16^th, 2010.  We were thrilled by the response from guests at the event and others since seeing our new logo, video and website.

There is still work to be done in 2010-2011 on our Communications and Marketing plan. However, we believe that success in this area will continue to have positive effects with our Human Resources and Fund Development goals and as we continue to recruit additional board members.

Back in 2006, as a new Investee and during one of our first conversations, our lead partner Houman had a wish for Connections, which was that Connections would become involved in a research project. After many discussions, gentle nudging of this wish and some false starts, that wish is within reach. In fact, Dr. David McConnell, from University of Alberta and an internationally recognized expert in the field of parents with intellectual disabilities, has asked that as a pre-curser to the launch of a research project across Alberta, Connections pilot the program this fall.   At Dr. McConnell's urging, two of Connections staff will making a presentation to other professionals at the 2010 A Chance to Parent International Conference in Denver, Colorado.

While not directly related to our Communications and Marketing plan, we do see these two opportunities as other means to effectively communicate our work and the issues experienced by parents with intellectual disabilities to the greater community. How exciting is that? Thanks to a wish expressed and gentle nudging by our lead partner, we have gained the confidence to pursue new dreams.