Community Corner: Please Let Me Introduce My Self

JASON COLERO
Toronto Argonauts Manager, Community Relations

Jason Colero started as a water boy and now, 25 years later, he’s the heart and soul of Argos’ community outreach programs. The friendly and energetic Manager of Community Relations now educates youth through a myriad of programs he leads throughout the GTA.

I’ve been with the Argos longer than a lot of people have been following the club and I have seen both the highs of winning and the lows of struggle.  I joined the club when I was 14 and haven’t looked back since.  Both the team and the community have been my life blood for longer than I can remember.  Over the years, I have been asked by friends and colleagues to put pen to paper regarding the people I have met and the experiences that I have had.

Well, now I will do just that in the way of a new blog on argonauts.ca entitled Community Corner. There, I’ll be talking with players, cheerleaders and reflecting on the Argos’ presence in the community throughout the 2010 off-season and heading into the regular season.

Before I do that however, please let me use this blog as a forum to introduce myself and give you a little background on what it is I do with the Argos as it relates to community programming and fundraising.

Little did I know that in 1985 when I sat beside Dan Ferrone watching him study a script for the children’s aid, it was a foreshadow of my future career with the Argonauts as a Community Relations Manager.

I started with the Argonauts as a water boy helping the team with all of the locker room duties. I gradually moved into a variety of positions spending a majority of my Argo tenure under the guidance of Equipment Manager, Danny Webb.

This year Danny and I celebrated our 25th year with the team. I reflected on where I have come from a 14-year-old boy –  myself a victim of bullying – just wishing to put on a football helmet in a Toronto high school to now being able to share my stories with students across the GTA accompanied by members of the Toronto Argonauts. I have had an opportunity to create, manage and facilitate: Argo Recess, Level the Playing Field, and Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program, all of which are making an impact in the lives of youth and in recent years have received support from the Tim Hortons Store Owners of Toronto.

Many have told me that I should document my life ‘behind-the-scenes’ – particularly with these programs. Often times, people say that the Argonauts make an impact in many lives, but very few have realized how those we come in contact with through all of our community work have, in fact, affected us in many ways.

This is a memoir of the way community work affects myself and others participating in the initiatives of the Toronto Argonauts. Stay linked to Argonauts.ca for my first ‘official’ installment, and, until then I would love to hear from all of you. If I have met you – you can e-mail me at jcolero@argonauts.ca.