MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP

Mahatma Gandhi said that “the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable.” At Trellis Society, the meaning of these words have a daily impact on our work. Some might see a stressed mother at the grocery store, Trellis sees a parent trying to care for their child despite the profound isolation that poverty creates. Some might see a youth asking for money at a street corner, Trellis sees a young person who has lost the most critical connections with their family, their neighbours and their community. Some might see a Newcomer family living at the fringes of their neighbourhood, Trellis sees a family needing to be woven into community.

Poverty. Food insecurity. Precarious housing. Educational delays. Racism. The list goes on. But where exclusion exists, we work for belonging.

At Trellis, we advocate for inclusion and strive to be a place where all people are welcome. It is the very essence of who we are, and it is the trajectory of every program and initiative we offer. We work so that everyone belongs.

Over the past year, that purpose has guided us to be a consistent presence for people navigating the isolation of a pandemic. We remained open in every way possible to be there for our community in the safest way possible – we closed no programs during the pandemic. That alone is a remarkable feat. We then went on and opened new ones, whether specifically focused on the needs of young people experiencing homelessness, expanding our work to prevent and divert more families from homelessness, or building on the entrepreneurial spirit of young people to affirm their resilience. We got behind Alberta’s re-opening when the pandemic began to slow by engaging with community at Neighbour Day, our Strathmore Pow Wow, Calgary Marathon, Walk for Reconciliation, Calgary Stampede and so much more. All of this to build a sense of belonging.

As you read through this year’s Report to Community, join us at events, follow us on social media or connect with us in person, may you discover Trellis to be made up of people who work for belonging. There is so much to be proud of this past year. Everything in this report is a direct connection to our shared community: our funders, our donors, our staff and volunteers, and most importantly, those who allow us to journey alongside them during their most difficult days and their most rewarding celebrations. We all make up Trellis, we all belong here. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Trellis leadership team, thank you for the role you play in supporting Trellis as we grow towards a world where everyone reaches their full potential.

Growing with you,

As a parallel to our Board of Directors, Trellis is guided by a Council of Knowledge Keepers. Thank you to the Council Members for your unwavering support, leadership and direction as we grow to be a responsive organization on the path of allyship and reconciliation.