People4People

An advocacy group serving Guelph and Wellington County

People4People is a self-advocacy group for adults with developmental disabilities in Guelph and Wellington County. We are here to listen, advocate and make change happen so that our communities are inclusive places to live, work and play.

People4People's Mission

People4People is an accessible group of Advocates who believe that everyone has the right to be treated equally in their communities.

Meet the People4People Members

lorrie stevens, p4p guelph, people4people, self-advocate

Lorrie Stevens

P4P Guelph Chapter

Has been a part of P4P Guelph Since 2010. She joined People4People as she wanted to learn more about advocacy. “My favorite part of P4P is getting together to talk and plan as a group”. Lorrie’s future goal is to become more comfortable with presenting Advocacy rights to others. Lorrie enjoys doing crafts and making keychains.

jacquie mcbride, p4p, people4people

Jacquie McBride

P4P Guelph Chapter

Has been a member since 2005. “I wanted a place where I could stand up for my rights and advocate for myself.  I like meeting as a group, seeing my friends and chatting with the advisor”. Jacquie has been working towards her goal to become more comfortable with presenting Advocacy rights to others. Jacquie has presented a workshop on "Reborn Therapy Babies" at the 2022 Speaking out conference Speaking Out Conference. Jacquie has taken on the responsibility of contacting members of her chapter who are not able to access emails.  She crocheting, making homemade cards, and collecting "Reborn Therapy Dolls". Jacquie’s favourite colours are pink and purple.

suzanne thomas, people4people, p4p, community living guelph wellington, self advocate, advocacy, disability advocacy

Suzanne Thomas

P4P Guelph Chapter

Has been a member since 2021. Suzanne tells us “I like P4P, even though I was nervous to join at first. I am learning a lot about what is going on in the world with developmental disabilities. I like to meet in person with the Guelph Chapter”. Since she has joined P4P she has had opportunities to join other advocacy groups. In December of 2022 she presented a “stretch break” for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities event. This event was led by the Staying Connected Network. This is a network of advocates from all over Canada. She is a part of the Accessible Little Library Team with CLGW. She dreams of becoming a member of the Community Living Ontario Council.

judy noonan, people4people, p4p, community living guelph wellington, self advocate, advocacy, disability advocacy

Judy Noonan

P4P Guelph Chapter

Judy has been a member of P4P since 2011. She has been advocating for as long as she can remember. She says “P4P is a group advocates who work collaboratively to support each other. Together we can make visible change, so no one is left behind. As Judy Heumann, known as the mother of the American disability’s rights movement said “The first thing you need is a belief in yourself and a knowledge that you have rights. The next thing you need is a group of friends to fight back with”. Judy Noonan says “That is People4People. This is where we realize we inspire each other, and this is when growth and ideas truly form. With the support of the staff to help us attend and facilitate meetings. It is our vulnerability that inspires us all”.

Judy’s role in P4P has expanded to other advocacy groups. She is a member of Respecting Rights, Secretary of the Council of Community Living Ontario, and a member of the Staying Connected Network. She has spoken at the CLO Conference in Toronto on "Aging in Place". She presented at the 2023 Speaking Out Conference for CLO on Aging in Place, and Respecting Rights on "Creating a Land Acknowledgement".  

My dream is to be a well-known motivational speaker and to help make positive change happen.

cheryl turner, people4people, p4p, community living guelph wellington, self advocate, advocacy, disability advocacy

Cheryl Turner

P4P Guelph Chapter

Cheryl is one of the original members of P4P. She started working with P4P in the early 2000’s. Cheryl presented a workshop at the 2022 Speaking Out Conference Speaking Out Conference  titled "Reborn Therapy Babies". She is currently working on a presentation about real accessibility issues and has also presented workshops on Rights and Responsibilities. Chery is a well spoken and valuable resource to P4P. Cheryl is a mom to her 9 year old cat Gypsy Rose.

talia baskin-kessleman, people4people, p4p, community living guelph wellington, self advocate, advocacy, disability advocacy

Talia Baskin-Kesselman

P4P Guelph Chapter

Talia became a member of P4P in 2023. She says “I like the people. We get to talk about things like how everyone’s week has been. My independence is important to me. I like to speak up for myself. The group is good at speaking up. My goal is to take meeting notes for the P4P Guelph Chapter and learn how to email the notes to other members. My favourite musician is Taylor Swift. I like to Shake off my worries to her song “Shake it off”. Talia enjoys talking with other advocates and likes working with them. Talia has worked with other members in her community to raise funds for Hope House.

Sean McLelland

P4P Guelph Chapter

Sean is our newest member of P4P in 2023. He has been an advocate in his day-to-day life for better accessibility. Sean participated in a meeting with CLGW’s Medication Committee to offer suggestions to help CLGW continue to improve person centred approaches in medication administration. He is working with the current P4P members to create a presentation on true accessibility.

alicia brown, p4p harriston, self advocacy

Alicia Brown

P4P Harriston Chapter

She has been a member since 2017. “I enjoy being able to advocate for my rights. I also like meeting virtually with Advocate members from all areas. I like scrapbooking and my favorite colour is Purple. I like to listen to the Statler Brothers”.

Alicia is working on her goal to become more confident in Advocating for herself and others. She is a member of the Accessible Little Library Team with CLGW and sets up the team meetings. She hopes to be responsible for the A.L.L. Facebook page. She has taken on more responsibilities such as setting up online meetings for P4P and co-hosting CLGW Movie Nights. She presented in an educational video created by Respecting Rights called “Time For Change” ARCH Disability Law Centre | Respecting Rights.

hayley holst, people4people, p4p, community living guelph wellington, self advocate, advocacy, disability advocacy

Hayley Holst

P4P Harriston Chapter

She has been a member since 2018.

In the last few years Hayley has joined the other P4P members in the Staying Connected Network (2) Staying Connected Network | Facebook. She says she “likes meeting new people and learning about different advocacy topics”.

Hayley hopes to meet more advocates in hear community and help them learn to advocate for their needs.

brian platt, p4p president, people4people, advocacy

Brian Platt

P4P Fergus Chapter

“I have been a member of P4P Fergus since 2009. My biggest goal is to teach advocacy in schools.” In 2022 Brian won an Anne Stafford Light Up the Future Bursary Anne Stafford Bursary | Community Living Ontario award and used the funds to attend a Mastering Public Speaking course at Conestoga College.

He has attended many of the Speaking Out Conferences Speaking Out Conference and presented a workshop at the 2018 conference titled “My Voice-My Choice” in which he worked hard to assist to create. He presented the same workshop to many people in Community Living Guelph Wellington. Brian has attended many meetings with CLGW upper management to advocate for the needs of people. He speaks in an educational video created by Respecting Rights called “Time For Change” ARCH Disability Law Centre | Respecting Rights .

He has lived in his community for years and has met a lot of people. He is part of his local curling club. He coaches with the local soccer association and the local swimming team. His favourite part of People4People is “working with the members to brainstorm and plan future advocacy goals”. He has gained friendships through People4People. Brian enjoys going for coffee at Tim Hortons every morning and his favourite thing to do is Advocate for himself and others. To support his community, he was part of the P4P Fergus Local Food Drive for Fergus Food Bank and helped create a community connection with the Fergus Public Library and the Wellington OPP to bring people an information session about internet safety.

Tom Huxley

P4P Fergus Chapter

He has been a member of P4P Fergus since 2009. Tom has attended many Speaking Out Conference. He presented “My Voice-My Choice” at the 2018 conference and was part of creating the workshop. He worked alongside another chapter member to bring the presentation to people supported by Community Living Guelph Wellington. To support his community, he was part of the P4P Fergus Local Food Drive for Fergus Food Bank and helped create a community connection with the Fergus Public Library and the Wellington OPP to bring people an information session about internet safety. He helped facilitate an event with other P4P Fergus Chapter members at the Wellington County Museum Museum and Archives - Wellington County . He presented slides at the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabilities event hosted by the Staying Connected Network. He is in an educational video created by Respecting Rights  called “Time For Change” ARCH Disability Law Centre | Respecting Rights .

He is part of the Accessible Little Library Team at CLGW. Tom says, “my favourite part of P4P is getting together and chatting. I enjoy board games and working at Canadian Tire”. Tom likes to make people laugh. He brings humour to P4P. He enjoys meeting with his church group, and he was Borne again in 1999. He supports his church by volunteering in annual events.

Asset 1

Read the latest Advocate!

The Advocate

The Advocate is a People4People publication.

It replaced the Communique in 2018, and has since been a cooperative initiative by Advocates from each P4P Chapter.

It features stories, events, recipes and so much more.

 

Thank you to Flow Office Wisdom and Community Living Guelph Wellington for supporting P4P in creating this publication.

Get in touch with People4People!

Fields marked with * are required