From Church Volunteer to AI Educator: Why App Night Exists

How 20 Years of Finding Solutions on Tight Budgets Led Me Here

I was never set out to become a tech expert. I was just the person in my church who knew how to find digital solutions.

Need to save money on banking services? I'd research it. Looking for the most cost-effective fundraising platform? Give me a weekend. Finding properties, managing communications, setting up live streaming for digital evangelism—I'd figure it out, present my findings, and typically hand it off for someone else to execute.

For 20 years, I did this work. Unpaid. Because that's what you do when you serve in ministry and support startups—you find ways to do it at a fraction of what corporate organizations spend, because there simply isn't a budget.

I didn't realize I was becoming an expert over the years. I was just being resourceful.

The Breakthrough That Changed Everything

The third time I heard about AI, something clicked.

The first time? I dismissed it. "Everyone's going to ask the same questions and get the same answers," I thought. "What's the point?" But then I realized something crucial: Not everyone knows how to ask the right questions.

That's when I saw the real power of AI—not in the technology itself, but in how we use it. Prompting matters. Framing matters. Training your AI matters.

I watched my mom, a senior citizen, embrace technology with confidence while other seniors hesitated. I saw my daughter become so essential to her Sunday school's tech setup that teachers would call looking for her assistance if she was running late. I realized that what felt natural to me—curiosity, experimentation, problem-solving with tech—wasn't universal.

My "aha moment" was realizing that everybody is not as curious and confident to play with tech as I am.

And if that was true for my family, it was true for my community.

Why I Had to Do Something About It

I've sat in too many meetings where budget concerns killed good ideas. I've watched too many churches, ministries, and startups struggle with manual processes while affordable solutions existed right in front of them.

The frustration wasn't just about the wasted time and money—it was about the fear.

People think AI is complicated. They think it's intimidating. They think it's going to take their jobs away.

But here's the truth: AI doesn't eliminate jobs—it creates positions for people to manage it. That volunteer already doing the work? Now they can be more efficient, more trackable, more consistent. Now you need someone to manage these systems. That's not a job lost—that's a role transformed.

I realized I couldn't just keep using these tools myself. I had to teach others.

The Real Problem Nobody Talks About

You know what frustrates me about how AI is typically taught?

People treat it like magic. Download the app, ask a question, get an answer. Done.

But that's not how it works. You can't just copy an assignment question into ChatGPT and expect excellence. You have to train your AI. You have to educate it. The difference between using a general AI and a personalized one you've trained? Massive. And that’s what people are often missing.

Everyone's selling the dream—"AI will revolutionize your business!"—but nobody's showing you how to actually use it effectively. Especially not in ways that make sense for churches, ministries, startups, and small businesses operating on tight budgets.

Why Durham Region? Why Now?

Everything is always happening in the big city.

But there's a large number of people that moved to Durham, especially since the pandemic. We're out here building businesses, leading ministries, raising families—and we shouldn't have to drive over an hour into Toronto every time we want access to quality tech education or networking.

That's why App Night happens in Durham. That's why we partner with local restaurants to make AI Machine Learning accessible and fun for everyone. We support local businesses while creating casual spaces for learning—no stuffy offices, no intimidating tech conferences. Just good food, good people, and real solutions.

This is what "community over competition" looks like in action.

What AI Has Actually Done for Me

Let me get practical for a second.

AI has made me more consistent online—and I'm someone juggling work, volunteer leadership, a team, a household, and my doula practice. Before AI, staying consistent was impossible.

Now? I dedicate focused time to sharing my vision with my team, and they work with AI to execute. Our communications go out consistently. Our leads are up. Our exposure is up. Our frequency is where it needs to be.

And it's not just about business. AI has opened doors for my family. My mom can now communicate across language barriers. I can reach multiple communities across multiple platforms. I can get translations, language enhancements, better messaging—all because AI makes it accessible.

That's the power I want everyone to experience.

Why App Night Is Different

App Night isn't about sitting through presentations about the future of AI.

It's about learning the exact tools I use every day. The ones that save me 10+ hours every week. The ones that don't require a tech degree to use. The ones that are either free or cost-effective enough for tight budgets.

We're not talking theory. We're not making you feel stupid for not knowing. We're removing the intimidation and showing you: "Here's the problem. Here's the solution. Here's how it works."

Because I've been where you are.

I've spent 20 years serving ministries and startups, finding digital solutions on no budget. I've researched, tested, analyzed, and saved organizations thousands of dollars by figuring out what actually works.

I've struggled through tech breakdowns—like when my laptop needed repair and I had to drive over an hour because we don't have an Apple store in the East End (Apple, we need you out here!). I've pushed through technical glitches, learned that sometimes you just need to breathe and take a break, and discovered that tech, like humans, makes mistakes.

I know what it's like to need solutions yesterday with a budget of basically nothing.

That's why I'm uniquely positioned to teach this. Not because I have some fancy degree or corporate background, but because I've lived it.

What People Are Already Experiencing

The attendees from our first App Night aren't just excited—they're transformed.

They're saving 10+ hours every week on content creation. They're automating workflows they used to do manually. They're creating professional materials in minutes instead of hours. They're building sustainable systems for their businesses.

And they're telling their friends. They're posting about it. They're asking when the next one is.

Because when you remove the intimidation and show people practical solutions, they run with it.

This Is Your Invitation

If you're reading this and thinking, "I've been meaning to learn about AI but I don't know where to start"—this is for you.

If you're frustrated by how much time you waste on manual tasks—this is for you.

If you're tired of watching everyone else talk about AI while you feel left behind—this is for you.

If you're running a church, ministry, startup, or small business on a tight budget and you need solutions that actually work—this is especially for you.

App Night isn't just an event. It's a movement to make AI accessible, practical, and less intimidating for our community.

It's about bringing world-class education to Durham Region without requiring you to commute downtown.

It's about supporting local businesses while building a network of innovative, resourceful entrepreneurs.

It's about showing you that you don't need to be "tech-savvy" to benefit from these tools—you just need to be willing to try.

Here's What I Know

The most competitive thing in the world is convenience. The businesses that win are the ones that save people time and make their lives easier.

AI gives you that power. But only if you know how to use it.

I've spent two decades being that resourceful person who finds solutions. Now I want to teach you how to be that person in your own business, ministry, or organization.

Join me at App Night.

Come curious. Come with an appetite (the food is always amazing). Come ready to see that tech isn't as intimidating as you thought.

Because after 20 years of doing this work, I can tell you with absolute certainty: If I can figure this out while serving on tight budgets, you can too.

And I'm here to show you exactly how.

App Night #2: Tuesday, October 28th | Los Cabos Cantina, Whitby

Stop wondering about AI. Start using it.

Register now: https://luma.com/1tpmvh92

See you there. 💪🏾

Blessed is the Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at HERR Network and Clarington Chapter Lead for AI Collective. She's dedicated to making AI education accessible and practical for entrepreneurs, ministries, and small businesses across Durham Region.