Change and transition are in the air, as we welcome Fall 2024. You know me as chair of PRSN’s Knowledge Exchange Committee and it is my great honour to serve now as PRSN’s Chair of the Board. Like many of you, I am a sponsor, having been involved in sponsorship and settlement support for refugee newcomers for about six years. My commitment quickly deepened and grew to become one of the most rewarding and challenging undertakings of my life. PRSN has offered an opportunity to broaden my impact, supporting sponsors on a larger, systemic level.
My first task is to offer my deepest thanks to Marika Elek and Karen Scott, for their service as Chair and Vice Chair of the PRSN Board for the past two-three years. Together, they have guided the organization from its launch through its formative first years, building a foundation to what has become a vibrant, growing and respected voice of sponsors in Ontario and beyond. My thanks as well to Anna Nguyen for her contribution as Secretary-Treasurer over the past year as she moves on to a demanding job for a start-up company.
Looking ahead, we will build on the Network’s efforts to support sponsors as they navigate the challenges of refugee newcomer settlement. I also look forward to seeing PRSN’s presence continue to grow, as we strengthen partnerships within the refugee sponsorship community. It is my hope we will chart this path together, drawing on the collective input, experience, talent and drive of the Network’s supporters.