Catching Up With CAT, 15th Year Edition; Zorbari Nwidor
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.
Today's reflection is brought to you by Zorbari Nwidor, CAT's amazing Associate Executive Director. Read her reflection below and explore reflections from previous weeks.
This Week’s Catch Up
I can’t believe it’s already been 13 years since I got involved with Chicago Adventure Therapy. When I started as a participant, I did not think I would be where I am today. I am not surprised though because when I saw my friends from Girl World kayaking at Montrose Beach, I made a promise to myself that I would be right there with them next summer.
CAT has changed tremendously in the time I’ve been around. From the eyes of a participant, in the early years of the organization, I didn’t even know it was so recently established. Despite being relatively young, it was a super organized and intentional organization with a group of people that provided me with a lot of amazing, unique first time experiences in my new found space of comfort: nature.
Fast forward two years later. I transitioned from a participant to an intern. As a part of a small team made up of a couple seasonal staff members and interns, I had a chance to witness and contribute to the behind the scenes work that brought to life the programs that had been life-changing to me just a few years ago. At this point, our meetings still took place at Andreas' kitchen table–where we would gather to plan and execute programs–and we would drive a little Nissan full of gear to Wisconsin for camping trips.
Fast forward two more years. I became a part-time staff member and the organization had grown tremendously. CAT expanded their program offerings and established opportunities for participants to have sustained access to the adventure sports with a community of like minded people ready to learn, teach and grow together. At this point, CAT’s team began to be more representative of the community it was serving with a diverse staff that included former participants.
Today, I am proud to be among the 8 full time staff and vast network of volunteers, donors and adventure community members and alums whom I credit for making this organization run. CAT is more than an organization to me. It is a family. Everyone effortlessly connects with each other and cultivates a space where it is okay to be yourself; a space where everyone is met where they are at and not judged by their past or present; a place where graduations, births, new homes, new jobs, and more are celebrated; and a place where struggles are acknowledged and help is available if desired.
I am grateful to everyone, including you, for helping us make it to fifteen years of CAT. I know that as we continue to grow, stories like mine will multiply. Please join us in ensuring that we enter our next fifteen years stronger than ever.
