Our Mission Is Our Compass, Our Values Guide Our Journey and Our People Keep Us Rocking!
Our Beginnings
Together We Rock! was established in 2006 by our Founder, John Draper and incorporated in 2015.
Our Founder
John Draper, Founder of Together We Rock!, believes that accessible, equitable and inclusive communities don’t just happen; they are created. Each of us can take one step towards making a difference and realizing extraordinary communities.
Now is the time.
John Draper is a graduate of the Journalism Program at Durham College in Oshawa. As a volunteer, John has contributed to the Canadian Committee for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Accessibility Advisory Group of a national financial institution, and several American and Canadian university research initiatives related to inclusive education and augmentative communication. Since the inception of Together We Rock! in 2006, John has volunteered his time as an Alumni Guest Lecturer at Durham College. He is a member of his local Chamber of Commerce and other business-related organizations.
John’s efforts to promote accessibility and inclusion have earned him provincial and international recognition and awards, including the honour of being named an Alumnus of Distinction at the 2007 Durham College convocation ceremony. John received the David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility, which was presented by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Ontario, and was named Businessperson of the Year by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce. John’s lived experience as a person with a physical disability who is non-verbal brings a fresh and compelling message that diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are critical to creating extraordinary communities. Using assistive technology, John’s presentations are not only memorable, but have led to significant change.
With a legendary sense of direction, John turned off the road to becoming a restaurant critic (his combined love of food and writing was sure to equal success!) and, instead, carved the path to championing accessible and inclusive communities that would become known as Together We Rock!
Our Mission
Together We Rock! inspires learning and champions leadership to create accessible and inclusive communities.
Our Values
At Together We Rock! we live, sleep and breathe our values – they’re embedded in everything we do and in the choices we make as a business.
Together We Rock!…
Believes in Possibilities
Communities that believe in possibilities can achieve anything.
Champions Leadership
One person can make a difference as their small actions add up to big changes.
Celebrates Diversity
Communities are the best they can be in everything they do when they celebrate diversity.
Envisions Extraordinary Communities
Accessible and inclusive communities don’t just happen; they are created. Now is the time.
Our Success
We believe that success is rooted in our commitment to excellence, integrity, and accountability.
Excellence
At Together We Rock! we begin each day with a promise to do our best. In addition to celebrating diversity and treating everyone with respect, we set high standards for our team and the services we provide. This commitment to excellence has been our key to success since day one.
Integrity
At Together We Rock! we strive to do what is right every day. We’re strong believers in fairness and honesty as the qualities that will lead us on the right path.
Accountability
At Together We Rock! we understand that we’re all human and prone to make a mistake or two. We also believe it’s important to take responsibility for our actions. If we make an error or need to improve, we’ll do our best to make it right.
Our Investment in Inclusive Leadership
With a commitment to making a difference, Together We Rock! does more than just promote social responsibility: we invest in leadership to make it happen. Together We Rock! champions leaders who are taking steps to create a world where everyone belongs. We have a track record of investing in the individuals and organizations we recognize as leaders making a positive difference in creating accessible and inclusive communities.
Our investment in inclusive leaders and organizations is solely at the discretion of the Founder of Together We Rock! Inc. The type and number of investments are not the result of a nomination or application process.
