Elevate by TVE

September Elevate is officially announced! Elevate: Exploring Circular Fashion featuring the super passionate Jennifer of @lifepreloved is happening on September 8th! We're doing a hybrid event, meaning we have a limited number of in-person tickets available as well as virtual, so you can join us from anywhere! Creating a lifestyle and subsequently a business around fashion sustainability wouldnt be a path most would know how to embark on. For Jennifer McConaghy, the own...er of Life Preloved, the company started as a simple Instagram account to promote thrifting at a time when it was still deemed as taboo. It eventually lead her to the path of entrepreneurship, selling secondhand garments in a new realm of working with local businesses instead of the traditional brick and mortar. The secondhand industry opened a new discovery of the impacts of fashion that is relatively unseen in the developed world. The documentary, The True Cost and volunteering with Fashion Revolution, allowed Jennifer to know she was doing the work she always wanted to do mixing her interest for humanitarianism and social justice with fashion and her passion for sharing stories and connecting community in new ways. In 2019, Jennifer partnered to create The Wardrobe Exchange, an upscale secondhand selling event that had over 1000 guests attend two inaugural events as well as five unique Clothing Swaps that have transformed the community to dispose of and obtain quality clothing in impactful ways. In 2020, Jennifer branded her clothing swaps as Swap Studio, a local event working with forward thinking businesses and brands with circular fashion as the community connector. As a lifetime introvert, sharing the story of clothing has allowed her to speak and lead with quiet confidence and become a person to be inspired from in Edmonton. To learn more and grab your tickets, head to the link in my bio! Proceeds from the event go to @winhouseshelter . . . . #elevatebytve #elevateevents #onlineevents #virtualevents #circularfashion #yegfashion #canadianfashion #eventswithpurpose #yegevents #albertaevents #calgaryevents #yycevents #edmontonevents #canadianfashionevents #thrifting #clothingswaps

Deepening understanding on sexual assault. Today, I had a very informative conversation with a woman who is using technology to revolutionize reporting of sexual assaults. She shared with me some stats that were shocking: Only 5% of sexual assaults are reported (according to Justice Canada) and this is likely a somewhat generous percent, it may in fact be lower. ... Victims cite shame, fear of not being believed, lack of confidence in the justice system, no family support, and embarrassment as main factors as to why they dont report. Although not formally reported, an estimated 83% of sexual assault victims do confide in someone. As that someone you have a strong impact on the victims framing of what happened, confidence to come forward, and their short term and long term mental health. So be careful, mindful, and support them. Get them in touch with the appropriate trained resources to appropriately handle what they are going through. Be a support and listen, but let the experts offer advice and best next steps. . . . . #elevatebytve #deepeningunderstanding #sexualassault #victimsofassault #themoreyouknow

August Elevate is officially announced and I'm doing something a little different this month! The August anniversary of Elevate holds a special place in my heart and to honour that I want to share what this beautiful community is all about with as many people as possible, so for this month it is no cost to attend. I'll be hosting the night, sharing some stories, and providing the opportunity for connection for everyone who joins! We're hosting online this month and I'd love to see people from all over. So, Elevate community, tag someone below who you would love to attend with you and help me spread the word! Head over to the event section on the page to register and I'll see you on August 11th!

Deepening understanding on HUMAN TRAFFICKING. Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Did you know:... People are being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, forced begging, forced marriage, for selling children and as child soldiers, as well as for removal of organs Women make up 49% and girls 23% of all victims of trafficking Sexual exploitation is the most common form of exploitation, globally, followed by forced labour Most victims are trafficked within their countries borders those trafficked abroad are moved to the richest countries (All above information is from un.org) Human trafficking is happening to someone right now, here in Canada! Take time to educate yourself through resources such as @actalberta @nimcally @resetcalgary and un.org . . . . #elevatebytve #humantrafficking #humantraffickingawareness #worlddayagainsttrafficking #themoreyouknow #endhumantrafficking

I want to give a big shout out and huge thank you to Danielle Dugan from Etched In Marketing Etched In Marketing is the marketing and social media sponsor for the Elevate events and this has been such a gift. Danielle is a true professional who has supported me and Elevate pretty much since the beginning. She photographs, she provides live social media, and does it perfectly on brand every time! I highly recommend Danielle and the high quality service and professionalism s...he delivers! Thank you for everything youve done to support me and Elevate

You can help shape the future. This is a loaded statement with a lot of meanings and truth. Im specifically saying it because Id love your input on what youd love to see from future Elevate events. I have three in the works right now, but I want to make sure that Im showing up for you, the Elevate community, how you need me to show up. So tell me below, what topics, what speakers, in person, online, what cities! Share all of your ideas with me below . . . .... #elevatebytve #elevateevents #eventswithpurpose #impactevents #yegimpactevents #purposefulevents #makeadifference #hardconversations #alwayslearning See more

Deepening your understanding on human trafficking and sexual exploitation. In youth, trauma and self esteem are two commonalities seen across all of the youth that various agencies work with in terms of sexual exploitation. These youth, like so many of us, crave belonging, and the perpetrators prey upon this vulnerability. Trauma is so complex and in many situations is generational and further reinforced through systemic racism. So what do we do? Educate ourselves, educate... our children, support the work of agencies who work with affected youth, with agencies who are lobbying for CHANGE! Agencies such as @ihumanyouthsociety , cease.org, @yessorg . Support, educate, and get loud! . . . . #elevatebytve #deepeningunderstanding #youthexploitation #themoreyouknow #eventswithpurpose #passionandpurpose #elevateevents

Deepening understanding on domestic violence. Domestic violence can take many forms including emotional abuse. I want to share with you below a post from my friends @winhouseshelter : "With emotional abuse, the insults, insinuations, criticism, and accusations slowly eat away at the victim's self-esteem until he or she is incapable of judging a situation realistically. He or she may begin to believe that there is something wrong with them or even fear they are losing their ...mind. They have become so beaten down emotionally that they blame themselves for the abuse." ~Beverly Engel If this resonates with you and you want more information on identifying abuse, please follow the link to our website Forms of Abuse https://ecs.page.link/ckEzy or Call our helpline at 780-479-0058 or [email protected] We are here to help and support you! If you, or someone you know, needs help, reach out. Please dont suffer in silence, there are so many people who truly want to help and support. . . . . . #elevatebytve #deepenunderstanding #shinealightondv #emotionalabuse #gaslighting #domesticabuse #emergencyshelter #womensshelter #youarenotwhatyouhavebeentold #domesticviolence #abusesurvivor #narcissisticabuse #ifmywoundswerevisible #psychologicalabuse #whenhomesnotsafe #weareheretohelp #manipulation #humanitarianissue #helpline #edmonton #alberta #yeg #yeggers #breakingthesilence #reachout

Tuesday night was Elevate: Fight with a woman I have so much respect and admiration for, Bean Gill @branzoid Bean is eloquent, she is powerful, she is real, raw, and honest, she has the difficult conversation, she shows up, she advocates, and she FIGHTS! If you dont know her story I encourage you to follow her and check out her unbelievable interview on the Inner Circle podcast with @carriedollconsulting One of the many powerful messages Bean shared on Tuesday was the mot...to of her business @reyuprc where they dont see limitations, they see potential. Imagine if we all approached the world and our lives with that lens? Wow. It struck me so deeply! A special thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually! Your support of the Elevate community and @winhouseshelter means so much! My heartfelt gratitude to Jen and the team @caffiendcoffeeinc for hosting us! If you havent been to Caffiend, go! Support them and indulge in their delicious drinks and unreal food! Until next month Photos by @colettembenoit . . . . #elevatebytve #elevateevents #yegevents #eventswithpurpose #yegelevate #elevateyeg #yycevents #virtualevents #onlineevents #yegimpact #impactevents #yegcommunity @ Caffiend

Elevate: Fight with Bean Gill @branzoid @reyuprc is happening on Tuesday night! Were bringing Elevate to you in two formats, either in person or virtually, so whether youre near of far, or self-isolating, you can still take part in our special evening. Tickets and info are available through the link in our bio! Proceeds from the event are going to @winhouseshelter Cant wait to connect with you!... . . . . #elevatebytve #elevateevents #yegevents #edmontonevents #780events #eventswithpurpose #elevate #elevatefight #yourstory See more

Im sure those closest to me have an endless list of words to describe yours truly, but if they had to narrow it down to just three words, I bet theyd call me loving, giving, and caring. While I guess they may be right (after all, theyve known me for years), I also appreciate the kind words that the Elevate community have used, like calm, safe, and welcoming. I couldnt be more thankful hearing ALL of these kind words! What about you, friend? What three words describe you best?

I want to give you a little peek behind the scenes as to what goes into the planning of an Impact Event! Im currently working on an upcoming Impact Event that will focus on human trafficking and specifically the disproportionate ways in which it affects indigenous women and girls. Before I bring an Impact Event to you I do a lot of work researching, planning, learning, and understanding, I want to make sure that everything I deliver is high quality, respectful, and educati...onal. To prepare for this particular Impact Event I am reading through various reports and recommendations including those that came from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report. It is big, it is heavy, it is shocking, and it is eye opening. I take my role very seriously to ensure I do justice to such serious issues and to bring together the appropriate experts and truth tellers to enable an inclusive and representative panel discussion. Stay tuned for more details to come!

Deepening understanding on DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. Domestic violence is a very urgent and serious problem. One that should not be considered a womens issue, but a human rights issue. Did you know that every SIX DAYS a woman in Canada is killed by a current or former intimate partner, and ALBERTA has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the country?... Did you know that nearly 2/3 of women entering shelter are at severe or extreme risk of being killed? Did you know abuse can take many forms including physical, emotional, financial, sexual, psychological, verbal, cultural, spiritual, and neglect? (Above info is from acws.ca Alberta Council of Womens Shelters) If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger call 9-1-1. If you need to talk to someone reach out to a resources such as WIN House, Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS), Strathcona Shelter Society Ltd. "A Safe Place". If you read all the way through this give me a below and consider sharing this post with your networks. One way we can combat the issue of #domesticviolence is through awareness, darkness doesnt exist where we shine light.

A little time lapse video of an Elevate Impact Event! A huge thank you to Elevate social media and marketing sponsor @etchedinmark for this video and your ongoing support of our events What Impact Events have you attended? Is there a topic youd love to see? Share below!

The beautiful woman pictured here, @tawshadawn was a light and gift to this world. She was a huge piece of the Elevate family and brought more beauty to this world than I have words to express. Her family was her core, her rock, her centre, her everything. I am a blessed woman to have been witness to how she lived and loved. So today, Elevate family, lets remember Tawsha and all that she shared with us, with love in our hearts and gratitude in our souls. Step outside toda...y, take a deep breath and be grateful for the gift of life. Forever and always remembered and loved

I am a woman blessed with many incredible men in my life that I celebrate today and every day. My Dad, a strong, loving rock for his family and funny as heck! He raised me to be a strong and confident woman and to always believe in myself and my abilities. My Grandad, a man I adored, admired, and cherished and miss every single day. He loved me fiercely, beamed with pride at my accomplishments, and saw greatness in me before I saw it in myself. ... My husband, father to our son, who leads by example every day on how to show up in this world with respect, love, kindness, and values. To the Dads of all sorts out there, thank you for being the source of strength to someone! Have a wonderful Fathers Day!

They say silence is golden. For me, it really depends on what Im working on. There are some tasks I need total silence and others where some background music inspires me! When Im dreaming up events and brainstorming content I love my Amazon Music playlist that I titled For My Walks, even though I listen to it just as much while working. Thats when my ideas really start flowing! How about you? Do you escape or embrace the noise when you work?

Understanding Indigenous History-Makers. Did you know that June is "National Indigenous History Month"? It is about honouring the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. I want to share with you about Indigenous History-Maker, activist and advocate, Thelma Chalifoux. Thelma Chalifoux was the first Indigenous woman and the first Métis person to be appointed to the Canadian Senate. Chalifoux was born in 1929 in Calgary, Alberta. She married at a y...oung age, but at a critical point early in her life, her 4 children were taken away from her in 1958 as part of what is now known as the Sixties Scoop. Chalifoux fought to get her children back and did so by 1965 while working two jobs and finishing high school. In the late 1960s, she went to the Edmonton office of the Métis Association of Alberta to update her membership; staff spotted her drive and talent and offered her a job as a fieldworker. Soon after she was responsible for setting up the association's welfare and land departments. Work took her to Slave Lake, Alberta where she co-founded the Native Friendship Centre and ran the first shelter for women fleeing domestic violence. She served in the Company of Young Canadians, working on Indigenous housing and community development. She also hosted a weekly radio show. In the early 1980s, Chalifoux was part of a Métis delegation in constitutional talks with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, working for recognition of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples as separate and distinct nations. In 1997, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed her to the Senate, where she focused on issues including Métis housing, the environment and relations between pharmaceutical companies and the government. After she retired from the Senate in 2004, she founded the Michif Cultural Institute, now the Michif Cultural Connections, a museum and resource centre dedicated to preserving and promoting Métis culture. She died on September 22, 2017. Source: www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Don't you just love a good book? You know its good when you have sticky notes throughout and more of the book highlighted than not! WEconomy is one of those books for me, I loved it, so much! If you are a social enterprise or looking to do more social good with your business this is an absolute MUST READ! Imagine a world where "purpose and profits weren't at opposite ends of the spectrum", that you wouldn't have to choose one or the other! This book walks you through how to do that and why it is so important. Share below if you've read this book!

May 25th is International Missing Children's Day. International Missing Childrens Day is an awareness event where the aims of the day are to place a spotlight on the issue of child abduction, educate parents on safeguarding measures to protect their children and also honour those who have never been found and celebrate those who have. Missing Childrens Day began as an observance in the USA in 1983. The date was chosen following the disappearance of 6-year-old Etan Patz... on 25th May 1979 from New York City. International Missing Childrens Day which observes the same date was launched a number of years later in 2001 and is now observed all over the world. Did you know that in Canada in 2019 over 40,000 children were reported missing? Of those, 93% of the cases were "removed" within one week of the disappearance date, thank goodness, but that still leaves 7% of our young ones missing. 7% means over 2,800 children are still being searched for. Did you know that we have the Missing Children Society of Canada? The Missing Children Society of Canada (MCSC) is a key resource for police, acting as their voice in the community by distributing important information to phones, tablets and computers of the public through its innovative technology, helping with investigations and also working to support the families in crisis. MCSC also collaborates with business partners who bring their unique skills and assets into the search for missing children. You can also find them online at www.mcsc.ca So today we remember, we celebrate returns, and we pray to find those who are still missing. See more

On May 7th we hosted Elevate: Understanding Human Trafficking, a powerful discussion about human trafficking in our country. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended, your support of the event allowed us to give a $500 donation to ACT Alberta, a non-profit in our province that provides resources and support to survivors of human trafficking, as well as training throughout Alberta, they really are incredible. A special thank you to our exceptional panelists Jessica Brandon, Cpl. Kim Bradfield, and Detective Paul Rubner, I can't thank you enough for your wisdom, the work you do day in and day out, and your passion in this fight. Together we can make an impact on the fight to end human trafficking!

Do you know what today is? It's National Boys and Girls Club Day, I'll be honest, I don't know if this extends to Canada, but regardless I want to share about this important non-profit and the impact it has in our communities I want to share a story with you, when I was in grade 12 I volunteered with The Boys and Girls Club in Vernon, it started as a 12-hour commitment that was part of the ambassador program I was doing, but it extended well beyond that time commitment beca...use I fell in love with the role, the program, and the kids. The program was one specifically for kids that had a lot of trouble socializing, making friends, and fitting in. The purpose was to give them a place they belong and give them the tools to interact with others on a social level. Perhaps these kids spoke to my heart because like them I'd experienced getting bullied, not fitting in, and not knowing where I belonged in the social world of school. It filled my heart, my few hours every week with these kiddos. They were funny, compassionate, kind, straight-forward, and bottom line wanted to be seen, heard, and accepted. My experience with The Boys and Girls Club gave me the opportunity to see first hand the power this organization has in building strong communities and showing up for the kids who need it most. From mentoring to after-school programs to different clubs and activities, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada offers programming "to increase kids' confidence and self-esteem, improve their grades in school, help them have positive interactions with peers and adults, and keep them out of trouble." I encourage you to head online to learn more about the Boys and Girls Club in your area, they are across our country! If what they do resonates with you, consider volunteering your time to have a positive impact on the youth in our communities! Thank you Boys and Girls Clubs and Big Brothers Big Sisters for the remarkable work that you do for our youth and families! You truly are building stronger communities every day!

For anyone new to Elevate, I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself! My name is Jocelyn Davison and I am the founder of Elevate and The Virtual Effect, an event planning company based out of Edmonton that curates connection and impact through meaningful events. I started Elevate just over two years ago initially as a way to create community, support other entrepreneurs and give back to a cause close to my heart, domestic violence. Since then Elevate has grown an...d evolved and in addition to providing a way for people to connect it is also a platform and vehicle to raise awareness on so many important human rights issues. So a few facts about me: 1. I live in Edmonton with my husband, son, and two yorkie pups! 2. My values and foundation all stem from connection, community, and philanthropy. 3. I am a BC girl born and raised, but Edmonton has been home now for almost 20 years! 4. I love deep and connected conversation, it inspires me to learn from others and to understand what lights them up. If youre looking to connect, please DM me, Id love to talk! 5. I love to have music playing in the background, all the time! When I have the right music playing it is a source of inspiration for all the thoughts and ideas swirling in my head! Share something with me below, Id love to get to know more about you. What is a cause you are passionate about? See more

Welcome to Elevate! I really am so happy to have you here. Elevate was started in February 2018 and has been appearing on the The Virtual Effect feed since its inception. The reason for that? Elevate is presented by The Virtual Effect and its founder, me, Jocelyn Davison. ! I decided it was time for Elevate to have its own space in social media so that I can really focus on what Elevate stands for and produce content that is relevant to that mission. So what is Elevate...? Elevate is a community, a family, a safe space to connect, a place to Elevate yourself, Elevate one another, and Elevate the community around you. We provide two types of events to our community. Monthly connections in which we have a speaker on an Elevate topic, we come together to learn, to share, and to connect. We also collect donations for our community partner WIN House. The second type of event is Impact Events, which happen multiple times throughout the year and these events take a topic that needs awareness brought to it and we come together in a safe space to learn, to educate ourselves, and connect with others. The events are open to everyone, all ages and all genders. Proceeds from the monthly events go to @winhouseshelter and proceeds from the Impact Events go to a local non-profit that is working in the field of the topic we are learning about. I encourage you to follow this page, invite your friends, engage, connect, and grow, together, as a community. Through Elevate I promise to provide you with the education, information, opportunities for connection, for growth, and ways to be involved in making a difference. See more