RBI Summer Edition

Jays Care Foundation is the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue Jays, dedicated to creating inclusive and empowering sport-based programming for children and youth facing barriers across Canada. I have had the privilege of working with the RBI Summer Edition program over the past three years in various leadership roles.

In my first summer, I served as a Site Manager, overseeing daily operations at a camp location serving over 150 children and managing a team of 45 staff. This role involved ensuring the delivery of safe, engaging, and inclusive programming, while also fostering a strong sense of community among both staff and participants.

For the past two summers, I have worked full-time as a Program Specialist, helping to design and implement the overall program structure for camps across the city of Toronto. A major focus of my role was leading the development and execution of a month-long training event for over 400 staff members. These training sessions were designed to equip staff with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high-quality programming with an emphasis on trauma-informed practices, inclusive and accessible environments, youth leadership development, and baseball-based learning.

Through this experience, I’ve gained extensive skills in program design, staff training and mentorship, and inclusive education, all of which continue to inform my practice as an educator.

Jays Care Retreats!

I have participated in three RBI Summer Edition Retreats and one James Bay Girls at Bat (JBGAB) Retreat. The RBI Summer Edition Retreats bring together campers from across all program sites to celebrate community and focus on leadership development, team-building, and camp spirit. The JBGAB Retreat offers self-identifying girls from various Indigenous communities near James Bay the opportunity to gather at Muskoka Woods for a four-day experience centered on leadership, empowerment, and connection. These retreats have allowed me to further her commitment to inclusive programming and youth development in diverse communities.

Challenger Baseball

Challenger Baseball is a national adaptive baseball program led by Jays Care Foundation in partnership with Baseball Canada and Little League Canada. It is designed to provide children, youth, and adults living with physical and/or cognitive disabilities the opportunity to participate in organized baseball in a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment.

As the League Coordinator for the Rockcliffe Challenger Baseball team, I was responsible for organizing weekly games, supporting volunteer "buddies," and ensuring that each session was engaging, accessible, and fun for every participant. My role involved coordinating with families, managing logistics, and fostering a welcoming environment where players could build confidence, develop life skills, and experience the joy of being part of a team.

Challenger Baseball goes far beyond sport, it is about creating a sense of belonging, celebrating individual strengths, and promoting meaningful inclusion through play.

Fun Fact!

I was invited to speak on the "We Play Too" conference in 2024. This conference focused on women in sport. I focused my talk on my journey working with the Jays Care Foundation and working with kids.