A quartet of Village Media team members are your hosts of the Good News space on Soo SPACES.
SPACES is Village Media’s hyper-local social network that connects your community. It's designed to bring like-minded neighbours together around shared interests, foster real-world relationships and strengthen the city we call home. Whether it's photography, baking, gardening, youth sports, arts and culture, running a successful business, etc., SPACES is a great, free platform to share all things local.
SEE: SPACES is live! Welcome to Sault Ste. Marie’s very own social network
Jasmyn Rowley, Zaafina Naqvi, Elise Nelson, and Katie Wright are the hosts of the Good news space on Soo SPACES. Nelson has also taken on a hosting role for the Vintage clothing and housewares space. So, it’s safe to say these Village Media team members are invested in SPACES, and their community.
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“I have had the privilege of working with the Village Media Cares team since its inception,” explained Rowley. “Over the years, I have led the development and execution of numerous impactful programs across the communities we serve. Among these initiatives, I am especially proud of my contributions to the creation and continued growth of the Random Acts of Kindness program, which has created a ripple of kindness and positivity in 14 communities (and growing!) over the past 12 years.”
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She added, “I hope to use the SPACES Good News platform to share uplifting stories and shine a light on the people, organizations and initiatives making a positive impact in our community. By highlighting good news and worthwhile causes, we can celebrate everyday kindness and support those who are working hard to make a difference.”
Naqvi, who joined the Village Media team in 2020 and the Cares team in 2024, agreed. “It’s so rewarding to share other people's stories and give them a voice. You can tell how grateful they are that our team is helping to spread the word about all of the good things they are doing. With SPACES, I hope to help our local organizations and volunteers continue with their missions.”
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Wright, a relative newcomer to Sault Ste. Marie (she was born and raised in the U.K. and only moved to the Soo in 2022), mused on how important community is to newcomers. “As a newcomer, building a sense of community was really important to me. I found my community through shared interests like rock climbing, yoga, and connecting with other people who were also new to the area.”
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She added, “That experience made me really appreciate how important it is to feel connected, especially when you're starting fresh. If SPACES had existed back then, I think it would have made that transition so much easier — helping me discover events, meet like-minded people and feel at home faster. Now, I’m proud to be an active part of the local outdoor community and I’m passionate about helping others find their own sense of belonging here, too.”
All of the Good news team members contribute actively to the Good news space on a regular basis. Nelson recently shared a heartwarming SooToday story about a mom who was running with her kids in a triple stroller to raise money for local mental health initiatives.
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Wright shared another inspiring story about a cancer survivor, now student, supporting Relay for Life at St. Mary’s College.
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Naqvi shared a story about a local choir who is hosting a benefit concert for St. Vincent Place, a local charity.
On the Vintage clothing and housewares space, Nelson shared a favourite vintage baseball tee recently.
All four hosts of the Good news space are excited about the potential of SPACES, feeling it is a safe place to share local information and meet neighbours.
Wright spoke for the entire team of hosts when she said, “SPACES offers something truly unique in the social media landscape — it bridges the gap between the digital and physical world by showing users what’s happening around them based on their interests. Ultimately, our goal is to help SPACES users feel more connected to where they live — not just digitally, but in meaningful, tangible ways.”