This presentation is the first in a newly developed
series called Just One Person, initiated by Dr. Heidi Upton,
Assistant Professor, ICS. This ongoing series features individuals
who, regardless of their career path, have been inspired to make
real, positive change in the world, one person at a
time.
Janet Patry, who comes to us from the Central Park Conservancy,
where she is a manager in the Human Resources Department, created
her own non-profit organization Right2Thrive after
traveling to Kenya on a volunteer vacation. Now in its third year,
the project's mission is to gather resources and establish locally
based programs that empower people in disadvantaged areas to
improve living conditions and develop self-sustaining communities.
Ms. Patry will share with us the story of this adventure,
particularly its most recent developments. Through this, we may
begin to understand, by witnessing it in the flesh, how
it is possible for Just One Person to impact the world for
good.
About Janet Patry
Ms. Patry recalls that she was not a gifted student but, according
to one of her mentors, "her compassion for humanitarian
causes at such a young age is remarkable.” She didn't complete
her bachelor's degree in Business Administration until she was 32
years old because she spent most of her 20s traveling the world
doing volunteer work and trying on a number of different careers.
Janet, better known as JP to her friends, has always enjoyed
working in the non-profit sector but it wasn’t her career path that
led her there. It was three weeks on a volunteer vacation to Kenya
in October 2007 that inspired Right 2 Thrive.
During that time, Janet worked at Neemaland Orphanage helping with
daily chores, cooking, and teaching science and English to the
children. Back then, Neemaland housed just 22 girls. Now in 2011,
they are living in a bigger house and providing food and shelter
for 52 girls and boys ranging in age from 2 to 15.
In her own words: I
had been completely missing the point of my own life. I was always
reaching for something outside myself whether it was a better job,
more money, trophies, certificates, degrees—you name it and I
chased it at one time or another. But the journey is actually
inward and maintaining that connection to something bigger and just
allowing yourself to be the best version of you from one moment to
the next. I think I opened up in a way that let those kids so deep
into my heart that our dreams converged and Right 2 Thrive was
born.
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Date
October 27, 2011
Time
4:30PM - 6:00PM
Location
Little Theater, Queens Campus
More Information
Campus Activities
718-990-5400
This event is co-sponsored by the
Institute for Core Studies, the St. John's Honors Program and
Student Affairs