Leading
a
new
conversation
in
health
and
well-being
Rachel
Thompson
has
taken
an
idea
and
turned
it
into
a
profitable
company
only
three
years
since
her
graduation
with
a
Bachelor
of
Science
in
Health
Studies.
Formed
from
merging
the
names
of
both
her
grandmothers
–
Marilyn
and
Helena
-
Marlena
Books
is
a
social
enterprise
that
provides
meaningful
leisure
and
cognitive
stimulation
in
the
form
of
reading
materials
to
those
with
Alzheimer's,
dementia
or
other
cognitive
disorders.
In
doing
so,
Rachel
has
found
a
way
for
these
individuals
to
maintain
their
well-being
and
their
relationships
with
family
members
and
friends.
Self-described
as
an
“accidental
entrepreneur,”
Rachel
started
her
company
after
winning
the
Big
Ideas
Challenge
hosted
by
St.
Paul’s
GreenHouse
in
2015.
She
joined
GreenHouse
with
the
determination
to
help
make
reading
enjoyable
and
dignified
again
for
individuals
with
dementia.
Her
vision
of
providing
more
support
to
adults
with
cognitive
deficits
motivated
her
to
apply
to
the
Velocity
Garage
and
she
was
accepted.
Like
any
social
entrepreneur,
Rachel
faced
many
obstacles
in
bringing
her
vision
to
life.
Despite
starting
her
business
with
limited
resources,
she
has
built
an
organization
that
has
brought
hundreds
of
books
and
hands-on
programming
to
multiple
long-term
care
facilities
across
Ontario
in
the
short
span
of
under
three
years.
Outside
of
revenue
from
sales,
Rachel
has
raised
over
$120,000
in
cash
and
well
over
$200,000
in
in-kind
contributions
for
Marlena
Books.
She
has
also
won
top
prize
at
the
Schlegel
Village
Innovation
Den,
the
$25,000
Velocity
Fund
Finals
and
top
prize
for
the
Spark
Initiative,
a
national
award
that
supports
young
social
entrepreneurs.
Rachel’s
leadership
is
also
demonstrated
through
her
ability
to
mobilize
a
wide
range
of
community
members
and
advisors
across
Ontario
to
help
her
in
carrying
out
her
vision.
She
continues
to
build
and
attract
a
support
network
to
assist
in
establishing
a
business
model
that
will
be
crucial
to
scaling
the
impact
of
Marlena
Books.
Additionally,
Rachel
offers
art
sessions
to
individuals
with
Alzheimer’s
and
other
forms
of
dementia,
who
then
receive
the
opportunity
to
showcase
their
artwork
in
specialized
Marlena
Books
and
at
art
galleries.
Like
our
Faculty’s
bold
founders,
Rachel
uncovered
an
unmet
need
and
created
a
solution
by
offering
new
ways
of
thinking.
She
is
thereby
leading
new
conversations
“by
chang(ing)
our
mindset
about
people
living
with
Alzheimer’s,
dementia
and
other
cognitive
challenges.”
This
commitment
aligns
with
the
Faculty
of
Applied
Health
Sciences’
focus
today
and
since
its
founding
over
fifty
years
ago:
innovative,
multi-disciplinary
approaches
to
health
and
well-being.
