Meet Your New Go-to People!

This month the DDRC welcomes two new members to the Communications and Development team: Kara Garner-Welsh, Volunteer and Development Manager, and Caitlin Brown, Communications and Development Coordinator. 

Kara Garner-Welsh (left) and Caitlin Brown (right).

We caught up with Kara and Caitlin to find out a bit more about their goals and interests, and to hear what they plan to bring to the DDRC.

E-newsletter: Thanks so much for taking the time to meet our  readers! First off, tell us why you chose the DDRC.

Caitlin: What attracted me most to the DDRC from looking at the website was how client based the service appeared to be, I thought that was really nice. I felt like I could really get on board with the mission statement and so it seemed like a good match, and it seemed like a place where you could feel good about the work that you are doing.

Kara: I agree with Caitlin, it is very rare that you get to pick a place to work where you actually feel passionate about the work that you are going to be doing!

E: What are some things that you have learned from your previous roles that you hope to bring to your work here?

Kara: A big focus for me was client interaction so I think I have had a lot of practice interacting with people from all walks of life in my previous roles. And I have also done a lot of event planning.

Caitlin: I have had a lot of experience working with large groups and trying to foster a sense of community in those groups. I think that my experience building and fostering trusting relationships with others will be relevant in my new role.

E: What do you both hope to achieve in your roles at the DDRC?

Kara: I want to bring awareness to the community about the DDRC. Just getting out in the community and introducing people to what we do. Obviously, being in Fund Development, fundraising is definitely key, but I think in order to raise those funds we need to raise awareness about what we stand for. I also think a big thing for me is talking to our current donors because they are the key people who have been supporting this agency for a long time: we need to make sure that we thank them enough.

Caitlin: I think that what Kara is saying applies to a lot of us, and part of that is just living the values of the DDRC and showing the community that what we do is important: that inclusion needs to be a higher priority on people's lists.

E: Both of you started in the fall, and it is almost Halloween! What is your favourite scary movie?

Caitlin: I am not good with scary movies! Can we say the first scary movie that we watched? Mine was Scream 2. I was too young and my Aunt made me watch it!

Kara: Poltergeist was my first scary movie. I had to have the lights on everywhere afterwards.