Sleep Out: Executive Edition is almost upon us! What is Sleep Out: Executive Edition (SO:EE)? SO:EE is one night where executives, business leaders, and CHV board members come together, in solidarity with homeless youth, to raise critical funds that will be used to help vulnerable youth achieve the futures that they deserve.
This year, passionate advocates from the business community joined forces to create the Sleep Out Executive Cabinet. As a unified entity, the Cabinet is leveraging their resources in the hopes of inspiring other community leaders to join the Sleep Out movement.
We would like you to meet some of these inspiring individuals, who will share their stories as to why they have joined Sleep Out.
Meet Peter Lukomskyj
If the name Peter Lukomskyj sounds familiar, that’s because, not only is Peter and advocate of Sleep Out, but he is also on CHV’s board.
Peter first learned of Sleep Out when he was the Regional Director of Lyft in BC. Peter evaluated organizations to support with their Round Up and Donate program. They selected Covenant House “ … because of the immensely positive impact it made on the Vancouver community.” It was during these evaluations that Peter first learned about Sleep Out.
Peter joined Sleep Out because he wanted to better understand the issues around youth homelessness and to help raise awareness. Peter joined the Sleep Out Cabinet because he is unable to sleep out this year and wanted to find someone to take his place.
During a Sleep Out event, Peter had an epiphany. “The epiphany for me was realizing how a few turns of bad luck can quickly change a youth’s life, and how it can happen to anyone. The stories are heart wrenching: families rejecting their children due to misalignment of beliefs, youth who felt like they didn’t have a way out after making some poor choices, and youth who strive to break free from intergenerational trauma.”
Peter believes that Sleep Out is important for many reasons: it raises awareness in the community, participants gain a deeper understanding about youth homelessness, participants become advocates, and “They [participants] also inspire others through their actions. The donors feel a connection to the community.”
“Organizations like Covenant House are important because we have gaps in our social support networks. Business leaders should get involved because creating healthy, thriving communities where all are welcome and supported is everyone’s responsibility.”
When asked if he had anything to say to those who are reading this post, Peter said, “Get involved. Seek to understand. Approach issues with compassion and an open heart.”
Thank you, Peter, for your amazing support and advocacy for Sleep Out!
There is still time for you to participate in Sleep Out! You can donate to a team, an individual, or you can donate to Sleep Out directly.
No matter how you choose to participate, you are showing young people in your community that you care. Thank you.