Name: Kathryn Callahan: Co-founder of Just 4 Girls at Life Spin
Age: 24
Degree: Social Justice and Peace Studies with a Minor in Criminology at Kings. Currently studying social work at Laurier.
Hometown: London, Ontario
Meet Kathryn Callahan! She’s a Western Alumni who works at Life Spin, an organization that aids low-income families. Kathryn co-founded a program under Life Spin called Just 4 Girls which is targeted towards young women. A devoted humanitarian ever since high school, Kathryn continues to inspire many girls through her program and provides them with amazing opportunities! She’s hardworking, dedicated and puts all her effort into helping others. Read all about her and the Just 4 Girls program below!
How did you end up at Life Spin?
Throughout my life I volunteered a lot at libraries and children’s programs. It helped me discover my passion for volunteering. When I came to university, I was still really unsure on what I wanted to do. My mom even decided to take me to a career counsellor but I still couldn’t decide. All I knew was that the Social Justice and Peace Studies program at Western interested me. Even though it wasn’t a career path, I knew I wanted to do something along those lines. That program gave me a lot of different opportunities. I actually got to Life Spin through the Social Justice course I was taking at King’s. I feel very lucky; my first year out of university I was able to work in a field that I loved.
Tell us a bit about Life Spin and the Just 4 Girls program.
Life Spin is our main organization. It’s an amazing place because they’re open to new ideas and are friendly and accepting to anyone who comes through their door. Our organization helps those who live with low incomes. We have a free store where people can come and take anything they need, we have summer camps for low income children, a Christmas program and a backpack program (to name a few!) When trying to live on a low income, there are many programs can be extremely limiting. We want to develop their skills and connections for those families in order to help them succeed. There’s such a variety of programming; there’s something for everyone. We’re also very big on sustainability. We have solar panels on our roof and our building is made of recycled materials. There used to be an abandoned house beside us, and we made a garden that uses no pesticides and local produce.
The program Just 4 Girls is very fluid and flexible. It’s a group for girls between grades 6-12 and we meet twice a month. For one of the meetings we do something fun and recreational. We’ve done everything from pottery and crafts to rock climbing and learning aikido! Whatever the girls are interested, we organize. The second meeting is dedicated to social enterprise. We’ve had a guest speaker, Sonya Fernandez, come to talk about her business in order to inspire the girls. We also target topics such as healthy eating, building self-esteem, trying new things and feeling good about yourself. The program is free too! We want to eliminate any barrier a girl may face when trying to become a part of this program.
What made you want to create the Just for Girls program?
Something that happens at Life Spin every summer is a summer camp for ages 7-11. One year we were able to do a community wide survey on the needs and interests for the community members. One of the things they expressed was having a girls program for girls over the age of eleven. I had a friend, who cofounded the program with me, and we thought about different things and possibilities we can do with the girls. Fast forward to now and this is the program’s third year! We’ve really built solid relationships with many of the girls in this neighbourhood. I have seen the girls blossom and develop into amazing young women. The program’s purpose is to provide one-on-one support for girls in that period of their life where they’re really trying to figure out what they want to do. We created this program so we can support girls and help them develop a path on how to feel strong, confident and healthy.
What has been the most satisfying moment since you’ve created this program?
I think one of the most exciting moments for me is watching the girls discover their interests. I had one girl who knew how to do aikido and she ended up teaching all of us self-defense! It was incredible to see a twelve-year-old girl take leadership in something she loved and teach an entire group! I love seeing girls take ownership over the program and giving their own ideas. The most satisfying moments are from meeting so many interesting people and connecting with them. I never fail to get surprised by their talents!
Who has had the greatest influence on you? What did you learn from him/her?
My mom has had the biggest influence on me. I’m just so amazed and astounded at her ability to go through life. She’s encountered so many obstacles but never gives up. She’s so positive and supportive of me and provides me with everything I need. She’s a social worker, so her intention and care for others really lead me on this path. She never shielded things from me. She showed me what the world is really like by pointing out inequality and emphasized the importance on helping others.
What’s something most people won’t know about you?
When I was younger I was incredibly shy and quiet! I think it was volunteering that really got me to open up. I’m so glad that high schools require volunteer hours because that allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone. It really forced me to become more outgoing and it realize that things aren’t as scary as I thought.
What was your favourite part of undergrad here at Western/King’s?
I love King’s; it’s such a beautiful, tightknit, friendly community. Western as a whole has a gorgeous campus. I loved the excitement that was built during O-Week. There’s always so much going on: concerts, talks, activities. My favourite part about Western was that it had such a wide range on what you can be involved in as well as the types of people you meet.
What is the most valuable thing you learned during your undergrad?
There are so many things but I think the biggest lesson I learned through school and community work was learning how to use your resources. People underestimate how much people are willing to help you out. If you’re struggling or even have an idea on something: ask around! It’s amazing how generous and wonderful people are.
Do you have any advice you’d like to give to undergraduate students?
I would say that you shouldn’t be afraid to try things. If there’s any opportunity that you’re interested in: say yes! Try something first before you decide not to and give yourself ample time before you decide that it’s not for you. If it’s not right for you, that’s okay! At least you tried and at least you know now that it’s not for you. Don’t ever limit yourself!
How do you find ways to relax and destress?
I really enjoy journaling; it really clears my head. That and taking walks in a forest until I can’t hear any city noises. I also love cooking and baking. My go-to meal is a vegan butter chicken!
FAVOURITES:
Book: Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawken
Movie: Little Miss Sunshine or Dodgeball
Quote: Everything seems impossible until it’s done.
Food: Vegan pizza, mac and cheese, cake. Basically any (vegan) junk food!
Check out Life Spin/Just 4 Girls’ social media:
Just for Girls Facebook
Life Spin Facebook
Life Spin Website