his is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today, we hear from Aleisha Bosch, Manager of Marketing and Communications for New Brunswick Association for Community Living in Bathurst.

THE NEW BRUNSWICK ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING LEADS IN THE CREATION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AN INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY TO LIVE A MEANINGFUL, FULFILLING LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY.

For more than 60 years, we’ve supported people with an intellectual or developmental disability of all ages to find a job, a home of their own and connections and relationships in their community, attend college, navigate unexpected challenges, and much more.

We also work to create change directly at the policy level, paving the way for more inclusive communities for future generations. Community is at the heart of our work – it’s in our name! Through our work, we build strong, inclusive communities where everyone is welcomed and accepted, and where everyone is able to get the support they need to live comfortably and happily.

Like everyone else, the pandemic caught us by surprise and forced us to change the way we work. Since our work involves supporting people, many of whom are more vulnerable to the effects of the virus, we had to dial back our in-person support for all but the most urgent of circumstances.

At the same time, the need for support was increasing, so we had to pivot our approach and adapt to the situation. In one particularly busy week, our staff did 369 wellness checks and connected 94 people with essential supports like counselling and crisis navigation. That’s in addition to helping secure food, medication, and transportation as needed.

Over the last year, we’ve learned that we are definitely capable of making a significant difference, even if we aren’t always able to meet in person. Despite the pandemic, we’ve still seen some impressive numbers in our programs that we are very proud of.

So, while the pandemic has made us change our approach, and while we’d love to have things get back to normal, we’ve also learned what we’re really capable of in the face of unexpected challenges. Local businesses and organizations make a difference because the ripple effect of a strong local ecosystem extends beyond just them. A rising tide lifts all boats.