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Thursday, March 6, 2014
Champion of abused More Women’s Day award winners ‘shocked’ at award win
BARRY BAILEY
GLENN COOK
Special to the St. Albert Leader
St. Albert Leader
Brandi Robinson was completely shocked when she found out she was nominated by the St. Albert Bahai’s for an International Women’s Day award in two different categories: Child Advocate and Unsung Heroine. She had just stepped out of the shower wrapped in a towel, dealing with kid issues when the phone rang and she was informed of her nominations. She promptly began to cry. Believing that people like her just put their head down and do Photo: Barry Bailey what they do because it needs Brandi Robinson says she was ‘shocked’ to learn she had won an to be done and don’t really pay International Women’s Day award from the Baha’is of St. Albert for her attention to who is noticing, work with Little Warriors and the Be Brave Ranch. Robinson does her work as an her, and like so much else that advocate because she just needs to. fell into place for Robinson; she knew she had found her calling. she does, she believes leading Very much a “behind the scenes” Getting involved in advocating for by example for her children person, doing the type of work she the organization’s Be Brave Ranch demonstrates to them they can does puts her in the public eye, a project, she helped out with a make a difference. role she’s had to learn to accept letter-writing campaign, lobbying Understanding the benefits because the “cause” needs the politicians, fundraising and even of doing “the small things” was voice. a YouTube video. Eventually, Little hammered home while she was The “cause” she refers to is Warriors founder Glori Meldrum in South Africa working at a child sexual abuse. Robinson, her asked Robinson to take on a bigger school for handicapped children. mother and grandmother are all role, and she found herself on the Robinson and a co-worker became survivors of this horrific epidemic. steps of the Alberta Legislature aware of a young girl from the Then, when her newly adopted giving a speech. school who was assaulted by a daughter revealed she had been a To date, the taxi driver who believed this act victim as well, it organization would somehow cure his Aids. got to the point has raised The presence of the two Canadian where she asked around $5 women in the school ensured herself: When million and charges were laid and justice is enough, recently was served — an uncommon enough? purchased occurrence in most cases. Robinson had the land and Robinson knew it wasn’t going already been facilities to to change the world, but it did following the fulfill the change that young girl’s world. Little Warriors dream of “I want to tell kids, even adults, organization building the Be it’s OK — they’re not alone, when she read Brave Ranch. you’re loved and believed,” she a letter online Currently, said. “There are people who will from a little Robinson listen to you. It’s not OK to keep it girl talking works hard to inside and let it affect you for the about making help fundraise rest of your life. That’s the same a bad story into money for a allowing the perpetrator keep a good story treatment of your power.” Brandi Robinson by helping the first kids With a committed, dedicated Little Warriors Advocate others, taking to attend the champion like Robinson, the the perspective ranch, opening world is already a safer, better that it makes in June. place for many children. you stronger and never allowing In addition to her work with The selected recipients will it to happen again. The letter Little Warriors and being a receive their awards at the St. prompted her to connect with single mom raising three kids, Albert Baha’i International Little Warriors and she and her Robinson somehow finds time to Women’s Day ceremony, to be held daughter eventually connected run the school lunch program. at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cornerstone with the little girl. Community is important to Hall (6 Taché St.) in St. Albert. That’s when all the puzzle pieces
As we celebrate the achievements of women around the world for International Women’s Day, here are the stories of four other remarkable women who are receiving awards from the Baha’i Community of St. Albert this Saturday:
“I want to tell kids, even adults, it’s OK — they’re not alone, you’re loved and believed,”
KAILEEN CHISHOLM Nominated in the youth category, Kaileen is an exemplary young lady who is doing her best to make a difference in the world through her work with children with special needs. Kaileen works with Infinite Resources, a company that provides support for autistic and challenged children in areas such as developing friendship, following instructions in play and developing confidence in group situations. She became involved at the age of 14, and now leads three different weekly groups for kids from three years of age all the way up to 17. Kaileen hopes to take this passion even further, aiming to go to a post-secondary institution and study to become a child psychologist or play therapist. She also plays the violin and is very artistic. ERYL JONES Eryl is a double nominee in both the education and senior categories. Since she retired from her teaching position in 1997, she hasn’t slowed down one bit, devoting her time to volunteering. Eryl helped form the St. Albert and Area Retired Teachers’ Association (STARTA) in 1998, serving as the pianist and director for the group’s choir since its inception. She also plays piano for events at Sir George Simpson Junior High School and for the St. David’s Welsh Society of Edmonton. She even volunteers at the Welsh pavilion every year at the Servus Heritage Festival in Edmonton. Eryl also volunteers as a math resource teacher at Leo Nickerson Elementary Schools and with the Star Literacy Program, tutoring a woman from Afghanistan for four years in advanced English. She is one of the original members of the committee that started the Little Sprouts education program at the St. Albert Botanic Park, is a member of the International Friendship Force of Edmonton and area, and gives her time at the Arden Theatre and the International Children’s Festival. CORISSA TYMAFICHUK and ANDREA PAYNE Corissa and Andrea were nominated in the human rights category for their efforts to raise awareness in St. Albert about the problem of human trafficking around the world. Last year, the Paul Kane High School students worked tirelessly to put on the first Free2Walk event in St. Albert, raising $5,000 for Not 4 Sale, a non-profit organization that works to eradicate human trafficking. The pair did almost everything to organize the event, from dealing with the City of St. Albert to get the walk approved, to designing banners and posters and spreading the word on social media. They also gave presentations at other local schools, at the University of Alberta and at a mini We Day celebration in Edmonton. Both were also integral member of the social justice groups at their junior high school and have continued that involvement with the Social Justice League at Paul Kane.uphold that practice-what-Ipreach philosophy… it’s who I am. My community grounds me.” The youth and parents of Sturgeon County and the Town of Morinville are indeed fortunate to have a person like Balanko fighting the good fight on their behalf. The selected recipients will receive their awards at the St. Albert Baha’i International Women’s Day ceremony, to be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Hall (6 Taché St.) in St. Albert.