Hi Ottawa friends! One thing we have been reflecting on, having been learning and regularly evaluating where we are at and what we can do better, is figuring out who and what we are at November Project. How do we define ourselves? As a global community, that ties us to the November project family, as well as at local level.
NPHQ continues to work at this definition, and will continue to evolve. The mission statement is: Human development and community building through empowering group workouts. In the conversation with our global NP leaders, the above is done by doing things like striving to be more inclusive, engaging with our community and engaging in social justice. NP is not a social justice organization and based on where, when and what we do, we are inherently not 100% inclusive.
For us in Ottawa, we are a free fitness community that strives to influence positive change. We do just this by hosting weekly workouts, using fitness as a vehicle to spread positivity, belief, connection, and build community. We are figuring out our identity and this will continue to evolve. We believe we are learning that we can’t be everything for everyone. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t strive to be more and more inclusive. What used to be our “norm” may no longer be, and we all have to be willing to change, if we are going to create that space that allows more inclusion and diversity. We also believe that this will continue to evolve and change. Whatever NP is to you, as community members we adhere to our community agreements as norms that we expect anyone who shows up to agree to abide by and operate under. Here are the Community Agreements : Come as you are, elevate, motivate, support others, respect, grow community, lead together and call In.
We thank those who completed the survey for how to get involved in NP. Follow up to come to gather those individuals. If you missed it, HERE IT IS. We will continue to share this, so if things change, and you are wanting to be more involved, you may reach out to do so.
Today, on November 11th we want to acknowledge and celebrate people of colour, Indigenious peoples and all other Canadians that served in the First and Second World War.
Thank you for sharing your morning, smiles and virtual high-fives with us.
Here’s to bringing soles together,
Lauren and Liz
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Have some cool tunes that you want everyone to hear? Send us your recommendations so we can add them to next week’s playlist.
- Have a read at another city’s blog.
