Tom Connelly (He/Him) is from the US originally and grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia. He went to a small Liberal Arts university in Pennsylvania and got a BA in English Literature. He’s always been an avid reader and still is! He worked in the service industry for a while after he graduated and then worked in publishing doing marketing.
In 2004 he was able to immigrate to Canada with his now ex-husband whose father was Canadian, though he grew up in the US as well. They lived in Toronto for 12 years where Tom worked at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario doing event planning and eventually became the Manager of Stakeholder Relations. In 2016 they bought a house in Waterloo and moved out of the city.
Tom received a diploma in Community and Social Service Management and is currently doing Fund Development for the Alzheimer Society for Waterloo Wellington.
What led you to volunteer at SPECTRUM?
When I moved to KW in 2016 I was looking for ways to get involved in the community and meet people; especially 2SLGBTQI+ people. I found SPECTRUM online and was asked to join the board.
Why is SPECTRUM important to you?
SPECTRUM is important in keeping our community’s voice heard. Not only in government, but also in the wider community. Representation is important and, especially now, when the political and social climate has swung to the right we need be ever vigilant that rights remain in place.
How does volunteering help you develop a sense of belonging or community?
Having a common cause with other members of SPECTRUM and being involved in helping to direct SPECTRUM’s growth with the other board members gives me a great sense of belonging and esprit de corps. I’m always learning from other community members which makes me feel that I’m expanding my communities and appreciate being welcomed into them.
What’s on your playlist right now?
I’m pretty old school and don’t have a playlist, per se, and like a wide variety of genres. I usually alternate between jazz vocalists, especially Ella Fitzgerald, 80s and classic rock, and classical. So much depends on my mood.
Anything else you wish to add?
Come and volunteer with us!! Find our volunteer application here.