CASE Member Spotlight
Provincial Networking Group Inc.
(PNGI)
For the French version of this post, please click here. | Pour la version française de cet article, veuillez cliquer ici.
Provincial Networking Group Inc. (PNGI) is a small agency in Northern British Columbia (B.C.) that coaches and empowers people with diverse abilities to live their best lives. Their primary method of coaching is through one-on-one community inclusion services in the communities of Terrace and Kitimat.
Employment as a Pillar of Life
PNGI recently began coaching through the LIFE program that focuses on four pillars: Learning, Inclusion, Friendship, and Employment. PNGI has since put greater emphasis on the importance of employment.
Chris Arnold, their mentor who passed in 2017, started PNGI in 1992. Even at that time, Chris was forward thinking and recognized the importance of employment as a pillar of life that provides purpose, connection, financial well-being, and value. He was instrumental in the creation of many employment strategies still used today. He also recognized the importance of listening to people and that behaviour is communication, leading PNGI to start working with people across northern B.C.
Mission Statement
Empowering People to Excellence
Credit: PNGI.
Empowering People to Be the Victors in Their Stories
PNGI currently supports over 40 people in two communities. Their primary intention is to empower people to be the VICTORS in their own stories. They have 20 Empowerment Coaches who all come with the intention to inspire and empower people every day, focusing on purposeful activities and growth.
What sets PNGI apart:
- They work one-on-one with individuals in the community.
- They teach structured courses to promote growth, including:
- The Brain Game (a 10-week class that helps us understand ourselves better and master our emotions)
- Sign language
- Relationship building
- Music
- We focus on listening
- They use positive psychology to find tools that will inspire people to achieve their goals.
- They’re a small, intimate agency with diverse team members who are all compassionate and kind.
- They host events, for instance a few from the past year included:
- Empowerment Conference– Self Advocates Leading Self Advocates
- Community Empowerment – Turning Pain into Power
- Re-imagining Community Event– Building Community Partnerships
- They empower self advocates to host events through their Hello Adventures Group.
Value Statement
Self Worth: People are happiest when we are in alignment with our true self and purpose.
Relationship: The people we surround ourselves with, our community.
- PNGI holds supportive, diverse and inclusive space that fosters growth. This means a strength-based, whole person approach that embraces everything.
- PNGI holds supportive inclusive space that empowers everyone to be their authentic self without judgment.
Growth: We all have something valuable to offer and we all have something valuable to learn.
- We support each other.
Vision and Voice: We live our best lives when we chart our own path!
Leadership: We lead by going first.
Kindness: Everyone at PNGI commits to kindness.
Owner-operator of PNGI, Kristie Ebeling, worked with Chris Arnold until his unexpected passing in 2017. Kristie was honoured with the trust his family and Chris put in her to carry on his legacy. Since October 2018, Kristie has empowered her team and those around her to embrace community and everyone’s differences, strengths, and skills.
In 2022, PNGI consciously committed to Kindness, and they ask other agencies to join them in this experience. They look forward to more networking with community, businesses, and families to find ways to create more inclusive, kind spaces in community.
Learn more about PNGI on their website.
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