Victoria Pearson was our Youth@ the Table (YATT) Board Member this past year.
Launched in 2019, YATT is Volunteer Alberta’s youth engagement initiative. This program aims to create governance opportunities for young people ages 18 to 30 interested in the nonprofit sector. This is our second year participating.
Over the years, we’ve hosted many post-secondary students and recent grads who come to us from various provincial and federally funded programs. During their time with our organization, they’ve learned and gained skills while working on projects that help engage and shape the broader community. Many have continued to work with interVivos for years to come after the end of their programs.
We chatted with Victoria virtually to find out more about her and what her interVivos experience meant to her.
What does interVivos mean to you?
interVivos represents connection within Edmonton. It is hard to find an ambitious and future-driven community as a young professional, making interVivos unique.
How did your involvement with interVivos help you build your confidence?
As a member of the interVivos board, I participated fully in board governance and exercised my existing leadership skills. The opportunity to join as a YATT representative allowed me to strengthen my confidence in myself because I learned that my skills were valued. In addition, I felt genuinely listened to and appreciated by the interVivos Board Members. Thank you to everyone for this opportunity!
How did being a part of interVivos help you build your professional network?
interVivos helped me build my network by enabling my participation in their mentorship program as a protégé. As a young professional, I do not yet have an established professional network to help me find a mentor. interVivos connected me to a fantastic mentor who still guides me with their confidence and insight into common professional challenges faced by women. I am so excited to continue learning from my mentor and growing my network.
How did volunteering with interVivos support your career goals?
Job searching can be challenging in the best of times, but looking for a job in the middle of a global pandemic made the whole process feel bleak and demoralizing. However, my time with interVivos helped me build my confidence and grow my professional networks. I have been connected with a mentor through the interVivos mentorship program. I have also been associated with the excellent and passionate board members at interVivos, who I look to for guidance and expertise.
Why should post-secondary students and recent grads get involved with interVivos?
I am always encouraging young people to get involved in a cause they believe in. Volunteering is the best way to effect change in your community. interVivos is an excellent organization to get involved with because so many talented people are involved in the organization at all levels. They are passionate about the programming they deliver and are dedicated to improving the professional community in Edmonton. They are also committed to increasing public awareness of important topics like civic engagement and inclusivity. Even though we could only meet virtually this past year, I felt welcomed as soon as I began my time with interVivos.
What is your advice for young people in Edmonton?
My advice for young people in Edmonton is never to forget what you want to improve. There is probably an organization out there working to accomplish just that, and if there isn’t, it’s time it was built! We are not too young or inexperienced to achieve our goals. We just have more time to do so. We have the lived experience, knowledge, and passion for building a more equitable community.
Are you looking for a unique way to volunteer and give back to the community? Get involved with interVivos! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter) or join our mailing list so you don’t miss out on your chance to get connected. You can also email us anytime with your questions.