Just a Little Bit Country

Thursday night, Jessie watched the Country Music Association Awards. In the bathroom, as she and I were brushing our teeth getting ready for bed, I noticed that her hair looked a little, well, messy. Or more messy than usual.

Mom: What have you done to your hair?

Jess: This! (running her hand back and forth across the top of her head, messing her hair)

Mom: Why?

Jess: Because I want to be a country music star!

Of course. 

Jessie Flips: About Making a Difference

I’m an artist with Down syndrome and I’m in a professional mixed ability and non-profit contemporary dance company called Propeller Dance and we are Ontario’s only integrated dance company. Propeller dance reaches over 5,000 people and we do lots of outreach workshops and we also have community classes. Propeller also has a children’s program on Saturday mornings and we have an amazing staff including Ximena Puente, Shara Weaver, who is the main teacher, then me, Jessie Huggett who is the teaching assistant.

It’s important that people who have Down syndrome are seen as leaders, teachers, mentors and role models. Why? Because we can show them that we are responsible, talented and mature. It shows that we too have gifts to bring to the world.

I have a challenge for you!!

As this is National Down syndrome awareness week, I want all of you with Down syndrome to get involved by making a difference in your community just like I do when I teach. The reason why this is important is because if we all do it, it will be a more diverse inclusive world where ALL of us have a voice.

Thank you.                    

31 for 21: BOO!

Twenty years ago today, this was Jessie:

Just discovering the wonders and bounties of the world—dressed up like little red riding hood skipping merrily through the neighbourhood collecting, incredulously, candy! No wolves; neighbours to keep her safe and filled with sugar.

Today, this was Jessie:

Just discovering the wonders and bounties of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (at, believe it or not, the SAME cinema I watched it at back in university more than 30 years ago!)

Dressed up like Columbia, pockets filled with bubbles, the requisite newspaper (for the rain), and a plastic glove to snap, skipping along the main drag with a gaggle of other students dressed variously in drag, maid uniforms, little silver pants, and other standard Rocky Horror fare. Not too many wolves; and friends and neighbours to keep her safe and filled with sugar.

These 31 days of blogging have been a journey, but just a small measure of the journey from little red riding hood to rocky horror.