Catching Up With CAT, 15th Year Edition; Noah Viner
Welcome back to the 15th Anniversary Edition of Catching Up With CAT! We're bringing you this special series to reflect, honor, and celebrate our first fifteen years as an organization. We will share reflections on 2023 –- a year of both extraordinary challenges and remarkable growth for CAT, the fifteen years that led us here, and our most dear and heartfelt dreams for the next fifteen years and beyond.
Tia shared her journey last week, beginning as a participant at CAT and ultimately becoming a part of the team. Her inspiring story beautifully underscored a core principle of our mission: the importance of dismantling the barriers that young people of color often face in accessing the therapeutic benefits of blue and green spaces. Leaders like Tia are changing the face of the larger local and national adventure sports communities.
Whether you have been following this series from the beginning or you’re just hopping on board, we are thrilled to have you!
Today’s Catching Up With CAT is brought to you by Noah, another one of our incredible Program Staff. Thank you for journeying with us through 15 years of CAT. If you'd like to join us in making the next 15 years even more impactful, make a gift today and help us enter 2024 stronger than ever.
This Week’s Catch Up
“Ensuring his comfort and safety, we provided the necessary back support, allowing him to experience the water in ways many of us take for granted. Witnessing his sheer joy as he immersed his fingers in the clear water reminded me of the profound impact our work can have.”
In my 21 months with CAT, I've witnessed the organization embark on an incredible journey of growth and transformation. From the expansion of our physical spaces to the evolution of our team dynamics, the changes have been both tangible and profound. What began as a modest full-time staff of four during my internship has blossomed into a dynamic team of seven, each member taking on new roles and responsibilities.
But it’s not only the organization that’s changed. Personally, I've undergone a transformative experience, confronting and conquering challenges I hadn't imagined. As someone who once dreaded new interactions, CAT's programming has pushed me beyond my comfort zone, teaching me to connect with people in ways I never thought possible. I can now hold a conversation within programs with much greater ease than I ever thought possible. CAT is a place where growth is encouraged, and our team continues to create opportunities for participants to evolve and transform.
One moment that encapsulates the heart of our work occurred while working with a young man who has muscular dystrophy. Ensuring his comfort and safety, we provided the necessary back support, allowing him to experience the water in ways many of us take for granted. Witnessing his sheer joy as he immersed his fingers in the clear water reminded me of the profound impact our work can have. Facilitating moments of awe – whether in a conservatory engaging with plants from every corner of the world or in a gym as we help participants scale the climbing walls–is precisely why I do what I do. CAT consistently provides these transformative experiences, fostering connections between people and the world around them.
Supporting CAT means supporting the creation of such impactful moments. It's about more than just physical spaces; it's about creating spaces where personal and collective growth can flourish. These experiences of awe are not just fleeting instances but the essence of what makes life rich and meaningful. CAT has been instrumental in my personal and professional journey, and I've seen firsthand the joy that arises from connecting people with nature. When you support CAT, you are making an investment in ensuring that we can continue to create spaces where Chicago’s youth can participate in awe-inspiring, transformative experiences.
