Creating a culture of welcome: Celebrating diversity and serving the informat...
FinalMediaKit
1. DreamsWorthLiving
The Algonquin College PR Students Present...
For LiveWorkPlay
Hosted by Munna Aden, Fatima Jama, Kayley Kennedy,
Haley MacLeod, Nicole Mckenzie, and Rachel McWhinnie
3. 3— —
Key Messages & Talking Points
LiveWorkPlay
1) LiveWorkPlay works with both its members and organizations in the community to
create a space where those of all abilities can flourish.
• LiveWorkPlay is a person-centred organization; therefore they tailor services to
each member’s individual needs and preferences
• LiveWorkPlay helps to teach members of the community to treat those with
intellectual disabilities with dignity and respect
• Some of the services LiveWorkPlay provides for its members include assisting with
access to employers, non-segregated housing, healthcare, and social activities
2) It takes a community to make LiveWorkPlay successful.
• LiveWorkPlay’s three main funding providers are:
• Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS)
• Ontario Trillium Foundation
• Community Foundation of Ottawa
• Organizations help LiveWorkPlay understand and influence policy, including:
• Community Living Ontario
• Canadian Association for Community Living
• People First Ontario & People First Canada
• Some of LiveWorkPlay’s current partners include
• United Way Ottawa
• Rotary Club of West Ottawa
• National Capital Region YMCA-YWCA
• LiveWorkPlay connects with local employers to help employ their members
• LiveWorkPlay’s ultimate goal is for the community to transform into one where the
community as a whole will support those with intellectual disabilities
3) LiveWorkPlay would like to use money raised by the ACPR campaign to increase
their membership capacity.
• They will be able to build on existing infrastructure within the Ottawa community
• Allow them to help more individuals increasing the capacity for future members
• Ability to create more opportunities for current members within the community
• Currently, LiveWorkPlay has a long waiting list of people with intellectual
disabilities in the Ottawa area that would like to become members
4. 4— —
ACPR Charity Campaign
1) The students in the public relations program chose LiveWorkPlay as the recipient
of the 2016 fundraising campaign efforts.
• The ACPR class of 2017 believes in LiveWorkPlay’s mission to create a community
where people of all abilities can thrive
• All of us want to be independent members of our community. For all of us,
independence is a dream worth living
• The students were moved by the story of Melanie, a classmate’s sister, and her
positive experience as a LiveWorkPlay member
2) This year, ACPR students have set a goal of raising $25,000 for LiveWorkPlay.
• The 2016 campaign will be one of ACPR’s longest, running from March 23 – April 18
• We are hoping to attract 1,300 people to attend events over duration of the
campaign
• There will be 13 events including the opening and closing events, all organized by
the students in the public relations program
• There will be a variety of events hosted with different price points, so there will be
something for everyone
• All event information will be available on the campaign website at
www.dreamsworthliving.ca
3) For almost 30 years, ACPR students have been helping local charities.
• ACPR has raised over $300,000 since 1989
• Last year’s campaign for the John Howard Society raised $26,500
• ACPR campaigns have supported a wide range of charities over the years
including CHEO, Harmony House, and Valérie’s Flutter Foundation
• Past charity campaigns have attracted national recognition from The Rick Mercer
Report, CBC, and CTV
Key Messages & Talking Points
5. 5— —
Charity event
1) The “Espresso Yourself” Coffee House will be held on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Café Nostalgica, on the University of Ottawa campus, has generously donated
their space as the venue for this event
• The event will be open mic style, with various poetry and musical acts provided by
local performers
• Performers may sign up in advance by emailing espressoyourselfacpr@gmail.com
2) Our goal is to raise $1,200 for LiveWorkPlay
• Tickets will be $10 at the door, $9 online on Eventbrite, or $8 in advance
• Event attendees can also bid on a silent auction with donated items from various
organizations in the National Capital Region
3) We plan to make Espresso Yourself have atmosphere of inclusion, so that every
one in attendance feels welcome, and open to displaying his or her unique talents.
• During the promotion of our event we will encourage ticket buyers to learn about
LiveWorkPlay and their values
• We will post information about LiveWorkPlay and their values on our social media
sites
• We plan to have a LiveWorkPlay members or volunteer speak at our event
• We will encourage our audience to snap after each performance to show their
support for performers
• Throughout our event we will be educating guests on the importance of
LiveWorkPlay and talking about acceptance in our community
Key Messages & Talking Points
6. Algonquin College Public Relations
1385 Woodroffe Ave. Ottawa ON
Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016
Contact: Rachel McWhinnie
(647) 328-0797
rachel.mcwhinnie@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grab the microphone and ‘Espresso Yourself’ for local charity LiveWorkPlay
Espresso Yourself is open-mic night hosted by a team of public relations students at Al-
gonquin College, as part of the ACPR campaign Dreams Worth Living. It will take place from 6:00
p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Café Nostalgica on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.
Dreams Worth Living is a campaign that the first year public relations students have
launched to raise funds and awareness for LiveWorkPlay. LiveWorkPlay is an Ottawa-based char-
ity founded in 1995, that helps people with intellectual disabilities live, work, and play as valued
citizens.
“Our class believes in LiveWorkPlay’s mission to create a community where people of all
abilities can thrive. All of us want to be independent members of our community, just like Live-
WorkPlay members,” says Rachel McWhinnie, Espresso Yourself team lead. “One of our class-
mates has a sister named Melanie, who came to speak with us about her positive experience as a
LiveWorkPlay member. Her visit got us all on board to support LiveWorkPlay as the charity for our
campaign.”
Espresso Yourself guests will be entertained by local talents in music, poetry, and spoken
word. Guests will also be given a chance to sign up to perform their own talents. “We want to
create inclusive atmosphere where those in attendance feel welcome and comfortable enough
to display their talents,” says McWhinnie. “We will encourage our audience to snap after each
performance to show their support for performers. Throughout our event we will be educating
guests on the importance of LiveWorkPlay and about acceptance in our community.”
Espresso Yourself organizers are aiming to raise $1,200 for LiveWorkPlay. The event will be
raising money through ticket sales, local sponsors, donations, and through a silent auction that
will be hosted during the event.
The Dreams Worth Living campaign will be running from March 23 to April 18. Espresso
Yourself is one of the 11 fundraising events will be hosted during the campaign. Information
about the campaign and all the events being hosted can be found at www.dreamsworthliving.ca.
Espresso Yourself tickets can be bought in advance for $8, on Eventbrite for $9, and at the door
for $10. Ticket sales locations and online sales for Espresso Yourself can be found at www.face-
book.com/EspressoYourselfOttawa.
NEWS RELEASE
-30-
17/03/2016
RM
7. 7— —
BASIC INFORMATION
Espresso Yourself is an open-mic night hosted by Algonquin College public relations stu-
dents as part of the Dreams Worth Living campaign.
• The event will be taking place on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
at Café Nostalgica
• Eight local music, poetry, and spoken word talents are set to perform
• There will be a sign-up list at the event for guests to perform at the open mic
• A silent auction will be taking place during the event, where prizes from local
businesses will be up for auction
HOW TO BUY TICKETS
Tickets for Espresso Yourself are available:
• Online for $9 at espressoyourself.eventbrite.ca
• At our ticket booths being set up at Algonquin College for $8 on March 28, March
29, April 1, and April 8
• At the door of the event, provided that there are still tickets available for sale
• Tickets at the door will be $10
There are a limited number of tickets available, based on the capacity of the venue.
There are a total of 90 tickets available for sale.
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Dreams Worth Living is a campaign hosted by the first year Algonquin College public
relations students. Dreams Worth Living is a campaign in support of the Ottawa-based
charity LiveWorkPlay. LiveWorkPlay helps those with intellectual disabilities live, work,
and play as valued citizens in their community. The Dreams Worth Living campaign will
be running from March 23 to April 18. It will include 11 fundraising events. All of the pro-
ceeds from each event, including Espresso Yourself, will be donated to LiveWorkPlay.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For additional information about Espresso Yourself check out our social media pages:
• www.facebook.com/EspressoYourselfOttawa
• Twitter: @EspressoDWL
• Instagram: @EspressoY
If you are interested in sponsoring Espresso Yourself, please contact Kayley Kennedy at
kenn0417@algonquinlive.com or by phone at (613) 285-0206.
Backgrounder: Espresso Yourself
8. 8— —
Backgrounder: LiveWorkPlay
LiveWorkPlay is an Ottawa-based organization founded in 1995 by Julie Kingstone and
Keenan Wellar that helps people with intellectual disabilities live, work, and play as val-
ued citizens. LiveWorkPlay works with both its members, and others in the community to
create a space where those of all abilities can flourish in a welcoming environment.
COMMUNITY WORK
The LiveWorkPlay approach is to learn about each member’s strengths, interests, and
needs. They use that knowledge as the basis to connect the member to homes, work,
and recreational and social activities within their community.
LiveWorkPlay assists those with intellectual disabilities in:
• Finding suitable homes
• Accessing health care and education
• Obtaining work at minimum wage or better
• Making social connections through sports and recreation, cultural activities, and
political life
LiveWorkPlay helps the Ottawa community by educating people about intellectual dis-
abilities, and how those with them deserve dignity and respect. They also create oppor-
tunities for community members to form friendships with people who have intellectual
disabilities.
ACHIEVEMENTS
• 90 per cent of LiveWorkPlay members live alongside the community, whereas 85
per cent of Ontarians with intellectual disabilities live in segregated housing
• There is a 75 per cent employment rate among LiveWorkPlay members,
compared to the 75 per cent unemployment rate among Ontarians living with
intellectual disabilities
• LiveWorkPlay members have an average of 150 social connections, whereas the
average person living with an intellectual disability has roughly 30 social
connections
COMMUNICATIONS
• LiveWorkPlay is located in Ottawa at Suite 300 of 2197 Riverside Drive
• The LiveWorkPlay main office phone number is (613) 235 - 9550
• LiveWorkPlay is very active on social media, and can be found on Twitter
@LiveWorkPlay, on Facebook at LiveWorkPlayFans, and on YouTube at
LiveWorkPlay.tv
• For more information about LiveWorkPlay, visit their website at
www.liveworkplay.ca
9. 9— —
Backgrounder: ACPR
Algonquin College public relations students, in their first year of the program, run a char-
ity campaign for a local Ottawa charity. This year, the students are launching a campaign
to raise funds and awareness for LiveWorkPlay.
ALGONQUIN COLLEGE PUBLIC RELATIONS HISTORY
Algonquin College public relations students have been running charity campaigns for
27 years. The purpose of each campaign is to raise funds and awareness for the chosen
charity.
• ACPR has raised over $300,000 since 1989
• Last year’s campaign for the John Howard Society raised $26,500
• ACPR campaigns have supported a wide range of charities over the years
including CHEO, Harmony House, and Valérie’s Flutter Foundation
• Past charity campaigns have attracted national recognition from The Rick Mercer
Report, CBC, and CTV
WHAT THE CAMPAIGN LOOKS LIKE
• In their first semester of the program, public relations students pitch charities to
their fellow classmates that they would like to campaign for
• A vote takes place amongst the class to determine the charity client
• Once the charity is chosen, students are separated into groups
• Each group is responsible for hosting an event which ranges from sports
tournaments and bar nights to fancy galas and tea parties
• Proceeds from all the events are donated to the charity on behalf of the whole
campaign
2016 CAMPAIGN
This year’s public relations students chose LiveWorkPlay as the charity for their cam-
paign. It will consist of 13 events, including the opening and closing events.
This year’s campaign is set to be one of the longest that Algonquin College public rela-
tions students have held, running from March 23 to April 18.
The students hope to attract 1,300 people to the events over the length of the campaign.
The monetary goal is to raise $25,000 for LiveWorkPlay.
All event information is available on the campaign website at www.dreamsworthliving.
ca.
10. 10— —
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LiveWorkPlay?
LiveWorkPlay is a charitable organization based in Ottawa. Their mission is to help the
community welcome people with intellectual disabilities to live, work, and play as valued
citizens.
What is the main goal for LiveWorkPlay?
LiveWorkPlay’s main goal is to teach the community to welcome people with intellec-
tual disabilities as valued citizens. They strive to create a community where everyone
belongs. On a personal level, they work one-on-one with people who have intellectual
disabilities to help them achieve independence and live their dreams.
When was LiveWorkPlay established?
LiveWorkPlay was founded in 1995 by Keenan Wellar and Julie Kingstone, under the name
Keen Learning Centre for Youth. In 1997, the organization became a full-time support and
advocacy initiative called the Special Needs Network. In 2000, the organization shifted
their focus to community inclusion through direct supports and services, and changed
their name to LiveWorkPlay.
Where did the name LiveWorkPlay come from?
The name “LiveWorkPlay” came to life in 2001. “Live” roots from helping people with in-
tellectual disabilities decide where they want to live and gain a sense of independence.
“Work” stems from helping these people find out what they want to do, and potentially
find them a job in the workplace. Finally, “play” comes from helping members find local
opportunities so they can participate in their favourite activities and hobbies.
Why is there a need for this organization in Ottawa?
Most people with intellectual disabilities live in segregated housing, and spend their time
in segregated environments. The unemployment rate is about 75 per cent and the vast
majority have annual incomes of less than $15,000 per year, including the income from
their disability pension. LiveWorkPlay delivers direct supports and services to about 100
individuals with intellectual disabilities, and makes efforts to change the Ottawa com-
munity so segregation doesn’t happen in the first place.
11. 11— —
What is the ACPR charity campaign?
The Algonquin College public relations program has raised more than $300,000 for
27 different charities over the past 27 years. This year, the campaign is called ‘Dreams
Worth Living.’
What is the goal of the Dreams Worth Living campaign?
The Algonquin College public relations students will be hosting multiple events, starting
March 23, to raise funds and awareness for LiveWorkPlay. The goal of the ‘Dreams Worth
Living’ campaign is to raise $25,000 for LiveWorkPlay.
What is Espresso Yourself?
Espresso Yourself is a coffee house which will feature local talents in music, poetry, and
spoken word. For the second portion of the night, guests will be able to sign up to per-
form their talents during the open mic. There will be a silent auction taking place during
the event featuring items donated by businesses in the National Capital Region. All pro-
ceeds from the event will be going to LiveWorkPlay as part of the Dreams Worth Living
charity campaign. Throughout the event there will be discussions centred on LiveWork-
Play, and themes of acceptance and respect.
When will the Espresso Yourself event be taking place?
Espresso Yourself will be held April 12 at Café Nostalgica. The event begins at 6:00 p.m.
and will run until 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door, $9 on Eventbrite, and $8 in person
in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
12. 12— —
Rachel
McWhinnie
Rachel McWhinnie is in her fourth year of the University of Ottawa and Al-
gonquin College combined public relations program. She has been on the
Dean’s Honour List at the University of Ottawa for three years. Her writing
has been published in the Ottawa Citizen and Top Crop Magazine. Ra-
chel has done public relations work for organizations such as The Ottawa
Riverkeeper and the Green Party of Ontario. She aspires to work in a posi-
tion where she is able to use her skills as a PR professional to help protect
the environment. Rachel spends her free time playing competitive soccer.
Rachel is the team lead for Espresso Yourself. She is responsible for man-
aging all team members’ roles, and being the point of communication
between her group and the executive committee. She will also be the MC
during the open mic at the Espresso Yourself event.
About the Espresso Yourself Team
Haley MacLeod is an enthusiastic, motivated, and responsible student who
has extensive organizational skills and is very hard working.
Haley is in the Algonquin College public relations program, where she
is obtaining many skill sets needed to be a public relations professional.
She looks forward to working in the sports and entertainment industry in
communications.
Haley is the social media manager for Espresso Yourself. She manages all
of our social media accounts, and has written a social media plan for all
of our online communication leading up to and during the event.
Fatima Jama, 20, is a public relations student at Algonquin College. She
is interested in activism for marginalized groups and is deeply involved in
the feminist movement. Fatima has lead and organized protests against
police brutality and violence against women with her fellow local activ-
ists. She is a strong writer has written a film screenplay that she hopes will
get public recognition. Fatima runs a weekly podcast called TruSay where
she discusses social justice issues, pop culture, and politics. She hopes
to become a communications professional in the human rights field or
women’s empowerment movement when she is finished with her studies.
For her internship next year she wishes to maintain a position with the
Canadian Women’s Foundation. She wishes to further her education at
the University of Ottawa once she graduates from Algonquin.
Haley
MacLeod
Fatima is the Espresso Yourself performance coordinator. She is responsible for organizing
all of the talented performers at the event by managing the feature artists set to perform,
and determining the number of sign-up performers for the open-mic portion of the night.
Fatima
Jama
Team Lead
Social Media
Performance
Coordinator
13. 13— —
About the Espresso Yourself Team
Nicole Mckenzie is in her second semester of the public relations program
at Algonquin College. She has an Honours Certificate from the General
Arts and Science: Media Communications program at Algonquin College
and two years of her Bachelors of Arts in Classical Studies from the Uni-
versity of Guelph.
Nicole is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and
attends their networking events regularly. She just collaborated with the
television broadcasting students at Algonquin College to promote a pub-
lic service announcement for the Ottawa Police Service.
Nicole is the logistics manager and volunteer coordinator for Espresso
Yourself. She is responsible for managing the venue, equipment, and
décor. She is also in charge of getting volunteers for our event, assigning
them roles, and managing them on the day of the event.
Kayley Kennedy is a conscientious public relations student in her third
year of studies, working towards an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Public
Relations from the University of Ottawa and a Diploma of Public Relations
from Algonquin College.
Kayley is the Communications/Marketing Assistant at Algonquin Col-
lege in the Cooperative Education Department. She is currently a class
representative for the public relations program and is also serving on
the Dreams Worth Living executive committee as the Social Media/Web
Manager.
Kayley is the Espresso Yourself sponsorship coordinator and graphic de-
signer. She is responsible for managing all sponsors and facilitating com-
munication between donors, sponsors, and the Espresso Yourself team.
She is also in charge of branding and design elements for the event.
Munna
Aden
Munna Aden is a 19 year old public relations student in her first year at
Algonquin College.
For the past eight years, Munna has been working in partnership with
the international organization Free The Children. She enjoys working
with youth and the general public, and inspiring them to live and lead a
positive life. She also enjoys the busy world of entertainment and social
media.
Munna is the Ticket Sales Manager for Espresso Yourself. She is respon-
sible for selling tickets and tracking all Eventbrite ticket sales.
Kayley
Kennedy
Nicole
Mckenzie
Designer &
Sponsorship
Coordinator
Ticket Sales
Logistics &
Volunteer
Coordinator
