Emma’s Story of Empowerment

I was experiencing depression, anxiety, a hard time socializing, and also having a difficult time finding employment. My case manager suggested WES at the Saint John Learning Exchange, but when I attended my intake, Power Up was suggested as a starting point.

Power Up was in the middle of doing what they called a “revamp,” and I was invited to join as someone on the waitlist. While hearing about all of the curriculum, I realized that this really was a program that I needed. The beginning of the program was hard because it really does push you out of your comfort zone, but after a few weeks, you are more comfortable, and you realize that everyone has similar stories to yours, and you make connections.

The activities we did were great as they forced you to communicate, you learned more about yourself, and you learned to collaborate and work as a team. The program also pushed you to explore the community. One of my favourite spaces was the Imperial Theatre. I didn’t know anything about it, and it was amazing. I also enjoyed the Saint John Arts Centre, the New Brunswick Black History Museum, and even the cafe conversation day. It was challenging to go out in public, but we did it together, and I learned about places I didn’t even know existed before Power Up.

The space felt safe and private, and my abilities grew as a result of Power Up. I was even able to start taking the bus with no anxiety by the end of the program. The incentives and snacks provided were also a big support, as there were days when I didn’t have access to any other food, and I was able to fill my belly while in class. I have nothing but good things to say about Power Up. Each morning, we practiced mindfulness where we stated on a scale of 1 to 10 ( 1 being our lowest and 10 being at our best) where we were that morning, and I would often show up around a three and leave at least a seven.