Communications Plan
Power To Be is a not-for-profit organization based in Vancouver and Victoria to make nature accessible for people with disabilities and other barriers. Its corporate social responsibility initiative creates adaptive outdoor experiences, which foster community, imagination, gratitude, diversity, environmentalism, and inclusivity for affected individuals. Power To Be’s mission focuses on building community by removing barriers, which is highlighted by the vision that everybody belongs in nature and nature belongs in everyone (Power To Be). The organization was established in 1998 and after 25 years, Power To Be created a strategic plan for 2023 to 2025 focussing on three delivery streams: Inclusive adventures, wilderness, wellness, and catalyst for good with all three involving taking action for social and environmental change with a focus on personal growth and positive outdoor experiences.
To spread the word about their amazing CSR programs, it is important for Power To Be to engage with stakeholders, such as government agencies, the media, corporate partnerships, and other philanthropic organizations. Making connections with municipal and provincial governments would help with funding and advertising. Reach out to journalists, bloggers or social media. Influencers would also spread awareness about Power To Be’s mission. Similar to government agencies, partnerships with local businesses, and other foundations would enhance their outreach and their engagement. Community advocates and recreational groups would create a bridge between individuals who are passionate about the environment and accessibility and organizations that already spend time in the outdoors. Arguably the most important target audiences include hospitals and healthcare providers, schools, and families. Medical professionals who have access to and knowledge of Power To Be would make sure that the programs reach the people who need them the most, and the same goes for schools. Families, parents or caregivers of individuals with disabilities or going through financial hardship would benefit from the program provided by Power To Be.
To promote the initiative further, social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok could be used to share content such as success stories, day in the life program, Vlogs, and testimonials of alumni to the programs. Utilizing hashtags and running targeted social media ads would increase visibility as well. Creating a position or hiring a communications liaison to develop partnerships with schools and hospitals and engage with different target audiences would help maintain strong relationships. Power To Be also organizes conferences and summits, which contain accessibility information to bring together stakeholders and affected individuals to discuss these programs. Additional outreach tactics could include websites, email newsletters, and community and fundraising events, all of which promote visibility and outreach to those who need it these methods could be evaluated by monitoring likes comments shares, and hashtag usage. It would also be valuable to track registration and program engagement from participants, including collecting feedback about what works and what doesn’t to better the programs. Using these tactics, Power To Be can expand its reach, enhance community engagement and continue to do good work to break barriers and improve natural accessibility.
Press Release
Have a Go Day; Join Us at Power To Be
Get out into nature in a fun, safe, and inclusive way
Power To Be, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to creating accessible experiences for individuals with disabilities or financial difficulties, is thrilled to announce its upcoming Have a Go Day in Victoria on April 5, 2025. This experience offers a variety of activities such as hiking for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in nature in a fun and inclusive way. This event will take place at Prospect Lake and is free for Power To Be participants and the greater community.
Power To Be was established in 1998, with a dream to create accessible, safe, and fun experiences for users, and their families who struggle with cognitive, physical, mental or financial barriers. Over the past 27 years, Power To Be has touched the lives of many wonderful individuals and given thousands of people an opportunity to experience nature in a way they otherwise would not have been able to do. Power To Be’s dedication to empowering individuals with disabilities is showcased in its many initiatives over the years, having facilitated 428 programs with 2494 participants. These programs include all activities like kayaking, yoga, rock, climbing, and camping and have been supported by iconic Canadian personalities like Sarah McLachlan. Power To Be impact is felt throughout British Columbia and creates inclusive adventures for all.
Co-CEO Dana Hutchings, who has been working with Power To Be since 2016, spoke recently about how important these have-a-go days are to move towards creating inclusive outdoor spaces and make nature a safe and fun place for everyone, regardless of their situation. “Nature belongs to everybody, and should be a place of connection and healing,” she says, “ regardless of ability or spending.” have go days are a great way to get comfortable with our team, and learn about the other programs they offer in the organization. One of Power To Be’s program leads, Em McFarland Oliemans, spoke about their experience, connecting people to nature. Em‘s background in psychology and sociology, as well as therapeutic recreation, makes them an incredible example of the kinds of wonderful people involved with Power To Be. Em states that they’ve always admired Power To Be and how they’ve championed accessibility in outdoor recreation in a way unlike any other organization in BC.
Power To Be would like to invite you, your friends, your family, and anyone you can think of who would like to spend some time in nature to this wonderful event. Come on down to Prospect Lake, we can’t wait to see you.
Millie del Villano
T00712955@mytru.ca
Blog Post
I first learned about power when I was 15. I had just started dating my partner, and he had lost his leg to a very rare genetic condition which involved the bone and muscle tissue in his leg eating itself. This had occurred when he was only three months old, and he was very lucky to have survived. When he first told me about power to be, I was surprised, as I had no idea that that was something that needed to be offered. It had never occurred to me that nature could be something challenging to access. So, one day, my partner, his mom brother, and I headed out to a Power To Be event. I was apprehensive and nervous and had no idea what to expect. I was 15, still trying to find my place, also struggling with health issues and didn’t really know how to talk to people yet. When I arrived, I was greeted with immense warmth.
My partner had been involved with Power to Be for almost a decade, so he felt comfortable, had friends there, and introduced me to his program lead. Through my time at the event, I opened up about what I was struggling with to this program lead, and he listened and offered advice and resources, and quickly became somebody that I knew I could depend on. After I received my diagnosis for my health issues, my partner, and I decided to end our relationship, but remain friends, and I still accompany him to power to be events to this day and I’m still connected to that program lead five years later. This is a testament to how important power to be’s programs are. They are amazing for mental health and create diverse experiences that you would never otherwise have. I’ve talked to so many different people from so many different backgrounds and learned so much through them. I’ve been to concerts, summits, and conferences and met some of my closest friends.
One of the ways I realized the community impact Power To Be had was when I had a friend who was struggling with mental health, and I sat her down one day and told her that I was worried about her. I told her she was a very important person in my life and I didn’t want to lose her to a mental illness. She told me she had no idea how she was gonna get through this or what to do. I asked her to come to one of these events with me and she was hesitant but decided she didn’t have much to lose. I’m very grateful to say that my friend is still with me and thrived through programs with the power to be she now volunteers and works in outreach for this organization. For anybody curious or thinking about getting involved with Power To Be, I say do it. Take the step and see what is out there for you. Power To be such a lovely organization that has impacted my life so positively, and impacted the lives of so many of my loved ones. I would recommend to everybody to get out into nature and to unplug, and if that may be a struggle for you perhaps power to be as the way to go. I cannot wait to get home this summer and join my friends in these wonderful programs. I hope to see you there.