jay hamilton, founder & executive director

Why did you start redseven?
We started redseven because we wanted to empower young adults to change the world. We found there was a missing link between young adults desire to give and the opportunity to do so. redseven was created to bridge this gap by providing an opportunity for youth to affect measurable change regardless of the size of their contribution. We believe you don’t need to have a lot of time or money to change the world and we take personal responsibility for helping solve our world’s greatest challenges. We believe that education is the catalyst to solving these challenges. We will not rest until every child has access to an education giving them the opportunity to live their dreams. We’ve got a lifetime to do this. I hope you will join us.
 
When you’re not volunteering with redseven, what do you do with your time?
I am the Founder and Director of Student Life at EDGE Academy. EDGE Academy offers international summer programs for high school students to gain credit. EDGE Academy was founded to offer intellectually curious students a fresh, new approach to academic learning, coupled with a significantly different way of travelling. Rather than reading about something in a textbook while sitting in a classroom, students participate in programs that blend the curriculum with the itinerary, bringing the academic material to life. Check out EDGE Academy online to learn more – www.edgeacademy.ca.
 
What do you do for the redseven team?
I’m the Executive Director. One of the most important things I spend my time doing is building a team of top talent. I make sure we have the right people on the bus to succeed and grow. I ensure our team has a united, clear and focused vision for redseven and that we are all marching to the same beat. I encourage collaboration and creativity in everything we do, as I believe these are the things that make up the anatomy of a successful organization.
 
Who is your favourite teacher and why?
I’ve been fortunate to have many exceptional teachers, coaches and mentors in my life. A couple that really set the foundation for my life are Brian Lee, Carol Pollock, Mary Heisz and Denis Shackel. All went beyond the classroom or the court to teach me countless life lessons. The three most important values they all instilled in me are respect, discipline and hard work. I learned that with discipline and hard work there is nothing in life you can’t achieve.

What’s your favourite youtube video?

Changing Education Paradigms