For Chara Gerow, coming to Kingston feels a little like coming full circle. Though she grew up mostly in the Niagara region, her parents met in Kingston, giving the city a place in her story long before she arrived. Now, as the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area's new Community Impact Officer, she is putting down roots in a place she is only beginning to discover.
"It's very community-oriented," she says of Kingston. "I've had the chance to see just how much interest there is in building connections and making communities more resilient. There's lots of events going on, people celebrating life and each other."
Gerow brings a varied background to the role. She holds a degree in political science from the University of Waterloo, with minors in public policy and administration, legal studies, and speech communication. Before joining the Community Foundation, she worked as Connector Program Coordinator with the Valley Regional Enterprise Network in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, helping newcomers find networks and build community in a new place. That work carries personal resonance: her mother came to Canada from abroad for her education, and Gerow grew up watching her navigate the joys and challenges of building a life in a new country.
A common thread runs through her career: not-for-profit work and community development. What drew her to the Community Foundation specifically was the opportunity to see policy and funding translate into real impact. "I love the idea of bringing funding to the community for its betterment," she says, "and being able to understand how programs and policy are actually affecting the people they're supposed to be helping."
She is also no stranger to volunteers. Through her work with County Kids Read in Prince Edward County, a role she continues in a limited capacity alongside her new position, she has seen firsthand what it takes to support people who give their time without compensation. "We couldn't do it without them," she says. "I am constantly amazed at the time and effort that volunteers give."
Only three weeks into her role at the time of this conversation, Gerow had already attended the Stark Family Fund celebration and the Community Impact Celebration. She is, as she readily admits, still getting up to speed. But her enthusiasm for the work is clear.
"What excites me is how much we can affect change at a systemic level," she says, "and getting to work with people who are just as excited about making life better for our community."
