Blog - Thrive Community Support Circle

What We Do

Posted on January 21, 2025August 18, 2025 by [email protected]

We address food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, and poverty through a range of accessible programs and services designed to empower our diverse community.

Our commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and equity enables us to build a stronger, healthier community where everyone can thrive.

Our purpose is to walk alongside those we serve, providing resources and support to foster well-being, resilience, and self-sufficiency. This includes a food security program with a pantry and meal assistance, free counselling services, wellness and art-based programs, and a licensed child care centre offering respite support.

We focus on skill-building through initiatives like financial empowerment workshops, employment readiness programs, and peer-led initiatives that enhance community belonging.

From Family Challenges to Community Impact, Thrive Executive Director’s Journey to Thrive

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by [email protected]

Through volunteering with Manitoba Families for Effective Autism Treatment, Rhonda connected with other parents navigating new diagnoses. She quickly moved from seeking support to providing it, helping families share knowledge, find encouragement, and access resources.

Rhonda’s journey to Thrive began with her own family.

When her youngest son, Alec, was diagnosed with autism Spectrum Disorder, she became a fierce advocate, navigating medical and systemic barriers to ensure he received the support he needed. This experience sparked her deep commitment to helping other families facing similar challenges.

By advocating for Alec’s inclusion in the Applied Behaviour Analysis program, Rhonda witnessed firsthand how access to the right services can transform a child’s development. Her personal experience underscored the barriers many families face, inspiring her mission to help others navigate them.

Pursuing counselling studies, Rhonda had completed a practicum supporting families experiencing poverty, violence, and instability.

She discovered the resilience and strength in every family she met—an experience that confirmed her passion for community-focused work.

At Thrive, Rhonda channelled her skills and experience into leading programs that provided essential needs, counselling, parent support, and early learning opportunities. Her work has helped families connect, learn, and grow in a safe, judgment-free environment.

From expanding early learning spaces to guiding Thrive through its challenges, Rhonda’s leadership has strengthened services, programs and our committed team, creating lasting opportunities for families in Winnipeg.

Looking back, Rhonda reflects on how her personal journey shaped her professional mission. What began as advocacy for her own child became a lifelong dedication to supporting families, fostering resilience, and building community—values at the heart of Thrive’s purpose.

Rhonda’s work has been recognized beyond Thrive.

In 2024, she was awarded the King Charles Coronation Medal, an honour that acknowledges her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community resilience.

Why Pronouns Matter: Language, Inclusion, and Collaboration at Thrive

Posted on July 25, 2025August 7, 2025 by [email protected]

At Thrive Community Support Circle, we believe using correct pronouns is a key part of inclusive, trauma-informed care.

At Thrive Community Support Circle, we’re always learning and growing in our efforts to be inclusive and trauma-informed. One area that continues to evolve is the way we talk about gender identity — especially when it comes to using correct pronouns.

After attending a powerful workshop on allyship, I came away with some fresh insights that are worth sharing with our community, staff, and supporters.

What Are Pronouns and Why Do They Matter?

Pronouns (like she/her, he/him, they/them) are how we refer to someone in conversation when we’re not using their name. Using a person’s correct pronouns is a basic act of respect and affirmation.

Getting someone’s pronouns wrong (called misgendering) can feel like a small thing, but for the person on the receiving end, it can cause emotional harm, especially when it happens repeatedly. As I heard in the workshop, repeated misgendering is like a paper cut: small at first, but a painful wound when it keeps happening.

“Preferred Pronouns”

The phrase “preferred pronouns” is still used by some, and even one of our staff members who is queer mentioned they don’t mind the term. That’s important context. But in general, the broader recommendation from advocacy groups and 2SLGBTQIA+ leaders is to avoid the word preferred when referring to pronouns.

Why? Because it implies that pronouns are a preference or a choice — when really, they are part of someone’s identity.

So instead of saying:

“My preferred pronouns are she/her…”

We say:

“My pronouns are she/her.”

It may seem like a small shift, but it carries a big message: we respect who you are, not who you prefer to be.

What If You’re Not Sure of Someone’s Pronouns?

If you’re unsure, the most respectful thing to do is ask:

“Hi, my name is Jess. My pronouns are she/her — what are yours?”

This opens the door to a more inclusive conversation and helps prevent misgendering. And if you do make a mistake, offer a quick, kind correction and move on. Over-apologizing can unintentionally put pressure on the other person and make them uncomfortable.

Jokes and Memes: Why Language Still Matters

Another thing that came to mind was how certain “jokes” about pronouns — like memes that say “My preferred pronoun is unicorn” — can feel dismissive or even harmful. These types of jokes may seem harmless, but they can minimize the lived experience of trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people.

Inclusive Language Is a Part of Suicide Prevention

Here’s something that stayed with me from the workshop: using the correct pronouns is suicide prevention. It’s that serious. Studies show that trans and non-binary youth who are respected and affirmed in their identity are significantly less likely to experience depression or suicidal thoughts.

This is one reason Thrive prioritizes trauma-informed care and continues to reflect on our language, policies, and practices.

At Thrive, We Are Committed to Ongoing Learning

Language evolves, and so does our understanding of what it means to be an ally.

We encourage all board members, staff and volunteers to:

Include their pronouns in their email signature
Use gender-neutral terms when unsure (e.g., “folks” instead of “ladies and gentlemen”)
Stay open to feedback and correction
Continue learning alongside the communities we serve

Together, we create safer spaces for everyone — and that’s what real community support looks like.

Written by: Jess Smith (she/her)