There’s power in partnership

By Glen Herbert

There was a social post recently that caught my eye. It’s the image of Simon Bluteau of United Fitness with members of the Threadworks team. Simon had offered a special rate to Threadworks, so they’ve all been going there and working out together. 

How great is that? It’s a small thing maybe, on the face of it, but for me it’s significant of something bigger, of the web of connections between all these various people. One of the reasons that the image struck my eye is because we’ve worked with both Simon and Jessica on programs, both in the past and ongoing, for youth on island. We funded summer camps with United Fitness and the Hub, under Jessica Jaja’s direction, to great effect. We’ve also sponsored Positive Vibes, an annual production by the Hub and hosted at De Reef. We’ve just recently launched a partnership with United Fitness to offer eight months of physical training and mentorship to island youth. 

I think sometimes we don’t see these kinds of connections between people and organizations, but they’re there. Everyone works together, no one operates alone. I recently sat on a board meeting of the CFSVG run by Felicity Harley. I was on the call presenting about the GI projects and initiatives, and there were others presenting on the work of Action Bequia, the STEM initiative at CFSVG, and others who are close to programs that have been managed on island over the years. 

Again, it’s a reminder that we are all connected through the work we do, the people we know, and the influence we can have. And that’s the real power of everything we do. We’re strong because of all the relationships we share, which you can see throughout the island. It’s there at Positive Vibes and along the Belmont Walkway; it’s there in all the children learning at the island schools, and Fritz taking out the junior sailors. 

There will be a lot happening the next month partly because of the season. The youth fitness program will be getting up and running at full steam. We’ll be in the Learning Center, and at the sailing program, providing learning, fun, and mentorship to youth. We’ll be providing hot lunches to students in Port Elizabeth, thanks to the work of Ms. Primus. We’ll be distributing cooking gas and food vouchers. We’re forever proud of our ability to help support the dental clinic in Paget Farm under the direction of Dr. Jack Dee. 

These things help the recipients in ways that may not always be obvious at first. There is food, and lessons, and medical help. But it’s not just that. Every interaction is significant of that web of relationships. Each interaction is a reminder that we’re here, we’re working together, and we’re not alone.