Abbe is a researcher and writer with a background in community-based research and community development. She works as a contract researcher/writer for evaluation consultants across North America, conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, analyzing data, writing literature reviews and reports as well as providing editorial services. Abbe has over 15 years experience working on a range of projects in the nonprofit sector including documenting best practices for developing community hubs (for the Ontario government) and as a researcher for APCOL, the anti-poverty community organizing and learning project. Abbe’s research for her doctoral studies examined individual and collective learning in three community-based planning groups located in Mimico, in southwest Toronto. She earned her PhD in Social Justice Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (2020). She also had an extensive media career, and worked in radio, television and print.

Alexis is an antiracism educator, public education advocate, equity, diversity & inclusion consultant, and Toronto District School Board trustee. A thought leader in antiracist pedagogy and anti-oppressive practice, she is committed to working with public, private and grassroots organizations on developing strategies and training programs to achieve their antiracism and anti-oppression goals.

Amanda is Burundian-born, North America-residing, citizen of the world, with a mixed background in Psychology and art. In 2020, she returned to university with a desire to understand and contribute to creating a healthier society and to to our collective wellbeing. She joined the then-emerging Black Students in Psychology club, and shortly thereafter co-founded and led the first Black student mentorship program at the university, a program aimed at addressing persistent racial gaps in academia and at increasing diversity within graduate programs and research. Various equity-focused projects have since developed from this work. She is also currently assisting in research with Dr. Carl James, the current Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora in the Faculty of Education at York University. Before that, Amanda was part of a local grassroot art collective helping elevate, amplify, support and provide space for creation to young artists of color of various mediums in Toronto. Amanda’s focus on people’s right to wellbeing and expression is rooted in her own story, as a war survivor, an African immigrant, and a Black woman. Whether the setting is academia, the workplace or an art event, her mind and heart are always turned to the human condition, its ontological yearning for liberation and its capacity for love and expansion, even in the face of the many adversities that befall us. Amanda is tri-lingual, speaking English, French and Kirundi (her native tongue). She is excited to lend her knowledge and energy to the great work being done at Evenings and Weekends Consulting.

Azaria has worked in communities for over the past 15 years with 10 years of cross-sector leadership experience leveraging strategic partnerships and launching high-impact programs for diverse populations of children, youth, families and seniors. More recently, she has pivoted into the field of mental health and is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). She embodies a relational, holistic, compassionate, person-centred approach grounded by an intersectional, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, culturally responsive, trauma-informed lens. As a body of culture with Afro-Caribbean roots, she continues to explore the impacts of imperialist white supremacist hetero-patriarchal systems. A fundamental part of her work is to move toward collective liberation and healing. Azaria is a University of Toronto graduate with a background in psychology, health sciences, community development, food justice, and program management. She has a love for music, movement, nature and spicy cuisine.

Growing up in a social housing community in Toronto, Camilo is no stranger to the demoralizing experiences of poverty, racism, housing insecurity and serious violence that plague many of our Canadian communities. These experiences have been integral in building his relentless commitment to equity and capacity-building in communities across the Greater Toronto Area. Camilo Garay is a respected leader with over 5 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, including his work with Visions of Science Network for Learning, where he served as the Director of Partnerships and Collaborations, and his work with CivicAction, where he currently serves as the Director of Development and Partnerships. Camilo finds great joy in building long-lasting partnerships, collaborating with multi-sectoral stakeholders, and developing creative solutions to community engagement that cultivate social and economic well-being across the Greater Toronto Area. As Camilo’s passion for civic engagement continues to grow, he has been fortunate enough to be elected to the Board of Governors at Toronto Metropolitan University, elected as the Chair of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Partnership Advisory Committee, selected as a 2020 CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow, and invited to serve on FoodShare’s Advisory Committee. Camilo sees himself as a lifelong learner, disruptor, community-builder, and is passionate about building a vibrant, agile, and inventive Canada.

Hailing from Lucasville, one of the historical African Nova Scotian communities, Chanae Parsons is a proud mother and 6th generation African Nova Scotian woman and holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Dalhousie University and a Master's in Adult Education Women's Leadership and Community Development from St. Francis Xavier University. With a strong background in social work and education, Chanae is a dedicated racial justice activist who has made a significant impact in many academic disciplines, as well as the communities that she serves. She is an expert in various fields and subjects including, both adult and early education, community engagement, leadership, Africentricity, program development, research, project management, critical thinking, inclusion and belonging, as well as public speaking. Chanae is particularly committed to empowering youth, focusing on ensuring that Black youth, especially young Black girls and women, have opportunities for leadership roles. Her career is devoted to advancing research, promoting women's leadership, and spearheading community development and education, with a special emphasis on marginalized groups. Chanae exemplifies unwavering dedication to these important causes, showcasing the profound impact of true passion on individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Chiyi is an urban planner and anti-gentrification organizer raised in Vancouver, on unceded Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) lands and waters, in the translation between places and culture. She is currently the executive director of the Kensington Market Community Land Trust. She also organizes with Friends of Chinatown Toronto, which is also exploring community ownership as an anti-displacement strategy for racial & economic justice in Toronto’s Chinatowns. She frequently consults with groups regarding social enterprise legislation, governance and cooperative strategies. She aims to reciprocate knowledge into community.

With years of legal and public affairs experience Chris has shaped public policy. He has a genuine desire to bring about positive social change and proven ability to achieve results. Clients have come to rely on his advocacy and incisive advice to shape policy. Chris provides strategic advice, with the foresight to succeed, devises strategies, develops policy and bylaws, mediates, and helps clients comply with regulations and understand their human rights obligations. He is fluent in English and French, and counsels clients in both languages. He led an effort to end the discriminatory gay, bi blood ban after he was needlessly turned away. Since he hopes to donate to make a significant difference. As an expert advisor to the All Blood Is Equal Coalition, a national coalition of Canadian organizations committed to ending Canada’s discriminatory blood ban, he researched blood and organ regulations, advised organizations on the development of public policy, built relationships with partner organizations, engaged key stakeholders, monitored policy and lobbied government.

Connor’s work centers around admin, accounting, support, and customer service within the retail and non-profit sectors. His friends and colleagues describe him as a great listener and a fast typer with a penchant for taking detailed, concise notes. When he’s not diligently recording, he’s probably enjoying a board game or bird-watching with his friends.

Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive who brings a decade of nonprofit experience, raising tens of millions of dollars in contributions through corporate and foundation partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel mass-market campaigns in his career. He is deeply committed to volunteerism, community management, political activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. On top of a depth of experience in fundraising, he brings expertise in communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, and media relations, generating over one billion impressions with strategic marketing and media campaigns. Dane has worked with international and local charitable causes in human rights, arts, healthcare and higher education. He graduated from the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He is a member of the board of governors for 4th Line Theatre, and a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter). He has been a CFRE Ambassador since 2019. Dane strongly believes that change can begin with small acts of philanthropy and advocacy and proudly works to translate that impact into systemic change, social betterment, and political action.

Daniel is a photographer, producer and consultant with a 12 year background in editorial, journalism and branded content. He was the Director of Photography at Canada's largest independent magazine publisher where he directed many of Canada's top photographers in the creation of award winning work and, indeed, has had his own work recognized in the award circuit. A consummate innovator and problem solver, Daniel thrives when he is being challenged. His passion for visual storytelling and forming long lasting relationships combine to make the secret sauce that he has come to be known for.

Deborah is and experienced organizer with a demonstrated history of working in the labour and non-profit sectors, with skills in organizational development, leadership training, volunteer management and community engagement. Deborah was most recently Lead Organizer for Metro Vancouver Alliance, a broad-based alliance of over 50 labour, community, educational and faith organizations, working together for the common good. As an Organizer, Deborah has trained hundreds of community leaders and developed projects and campaigns, bringing together community organizations and non-profits around common issues. Deborah has also been deeply involved in campaigning around low pay and living wage, helping to launch living wage campaigns in the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

Diana has over three decades of experience in the non-profit sector working on human rights, climate change and biodiversity, and food system change. She has also worked on Parliament Hill, in public broadcasting and feminist organizing. She works in both English and French. After leaving her position as Executive Director of Food Secure Canada in 2019, Diana became certified as an Integral Associate Coach and now works to enhance the effectiveness and well-being of her clients who are mostly involved in the non-profit sector. Diana has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of social change work and sees practices of mindfulness and self-awareness as essential components of the new world we are seeking to build. When not at work, Diana enjoys gardening, cycling, swimming and generally delighting in nature in the Laurentian mountains where she lives.

Ellery is a human resources professional with an expertise in policy and systems change to drive organizational equity, inclusion, and justice. A tinkerer and empath by nature, she is always looking for ways to improve processes, experiences, and impact for employers and employees. Ellery is driven to improve human resources systems and organizational culture in order to attract the people best positioned for the work, empower people to do their best work, and enable organizations to deepen and expand their impact. She has spent her career building diverse, empowered teams; developing meaningful, just employee lifecycles; and bringing systems thinking to process improvement. Her background in international experiential education allows her to bring facilitation skills, cultural competency, and humility to her work in HR, organizational policy, and training and development. Ellery’s favourite way to connect with people is over food, whether it’s sharing time in the garden, grocery shopping, or eating. Her go-to contribution to a group gathering is a freshly baked loaf of sourdough bread.

Emilie is a digital marketing expert who specializes in building and executing seamless data-driven omnichannel strategies. She is passionate about consumer behaviour and branding, and is skilled and awarded for strategic decision-making, team building, and marketing innovation. Emilie is currently an Associate Account Director at a leading digital performance marketing agency in Toronto, Canada. In her role, she develops, executes, and manages paid media strategies for global and multi-market brands across various industries. When not at work, Emilie can be found somewhere in the neighbourhood trying a new restaurant.

Evan is an educator, researcher, and consultant. They come with 15+ years of experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities across sectors including education, arts and culture, health care, and justice initiatives. Evan also has experience in the nonprofit sector, and is the Director of Learning at the Ontario Digital Literacy and Access Network (ODLAN), which seeks to bridge the digital divide that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities face. Evan founded Vipond Consulting, where they provide consulting services on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, and advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) in workplaces, institutions, and communities. They specialize in training and facilitation, curriculum development, IDEA policy review, 2SLGBTQIA+ content review, and 2SLGBTQIA+ community consultations. Evan is a PhD Candidate in Gender, Feminist and Women's Studies at York University. Their doctoral work focuses on critical politics and trans inclusion.

Gelek is a Tibetan Canadian communications professional based in Toronto. With a keen focus and commitment towards social justice, decolonization, the climate crisis, art and activism, he has led a diverse portfolio of communications and media projects spanning various sectors, organizations and campaigns. Gelek’s writing and photography have been published in the Toronto Star, Maclean’s, VICE Canada, Azure Magazine, NOW Toronto, Briarpatch Magazine, and more. As a communications consultant with Jay Pitter Placemaking, he was involved in producing reports like “Engaging Black People and Power” and “The Little Jamaica Cultural District Plan.” He currently works as the Strategic Communications Lead for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. When he is able to find time, he hosts and produces “A Good Refugee Podcast.”

Greg is a community worker and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. He is used to wearing several hats at once, having always held at least four or five jobs concurrently since entering the workforce. This has given him a breadth of front-line experience in different fields including retail, arts work, student organizing, and community work especially relating to sexuality and sexual health, harm reduction and mental health. Despite the diversity of perspectives, he has found that we are generally all trying to address the same question, just in different ways: how can we come together in an ecosystem of labour to imagine a better quality of life? When not at home with his cats, Greg can often be spotted in the city riding his bicycle, photographing an event, getting down on a dancefloor, or enjoying a public park.

jade is a queer, mixed-race educator, facilitator, and community organizer. jade is committed to social change work rooted in justice, liberation, and joy and approaches this work with tenderness, curiosity, and reciprocity. Based in Treaty 13 territory, jade currently oversees FoodShare Toronto’s community learning and engagement programs. Before that, she worked across the non-profit sector with organizations like the Stop Community Food Centre and Thorncliffe Park Women’s Committee, and as a social policy research intern with the City of Toronto’s Social Development, Finance, and Administration Division. Beyond 9-5, jade is a community organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers and sits on the Black Food Sovereignty Action Plan Advisory Circle. She was previously an advocacy co-lead on the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council and co-created the Black-youth-led ‘Soul Food Project TO’ community cookbook. Her words have been published online in rabble, and heard on podcasts like the Toronto Star’s 'This Matters' and Canadaland. jade’s approach to learning and social change work is shaped by intersectional feminism, critical race theory, and anti-colonial pedagogies. She holds a Masters of Social Work from York University and an MA in Communication and Culture from Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also an avid baker, enthusiastic dumpling-eater, amateur rug-hooker, and reality tv fanatic.

Jenna is a writer, speaker and EDI consultant who empowers people to share their stories and truths. She has spoken internationally at Harvard, The Walrus Talks and TEDx, exploring the complexities of race, queerness and faith. She is a graduate of Carleton University’s journalism program and has a master’s degree in gender studies from the University of Ottawa, where she lectured on spoken word and activism. Her writing has been featured in Broadview, CBC, the Ottawa Citizen and The Huffington Post. Jenna was featured in an OUTtv documentary, Queers, Christians and Canadian Justice, exploring Trinity Western University’s proposed law school and the impacts on 2SLGBTQ+ students and faculty. She is a founding member of the Asian Canadian Women’s Alliance and the founder of Queer Sunday, a community for queer and trans BIPOC people of faith. Jenna believes in the power of storytelling to break silences, connect people and change the world around us.

Jeremy's combined experience in non-profit, executive coaching and public health provide him a wide range of skills to support executives, and emerging leaders. Jeremy brings a values driven and explorative approach as a coach, applying his experience in leadership development, emotional intelligence, and relationship systems coaching to his work. Jeremy brings a fresh perspective with over 12 years in social diversity, LGBTQ2+ leadership, health, and stress management helping contribute to high performance, team cohesion and wellness at work. He provides the playful push we all need to reach the next level in fulfillment, performance, and leadership development. Jeremy holds is a certified professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC, CTI). Jeremy is recognized as an Accredited Certified Coach (ACC), under the International Coaches Federation (ICF). Jeremy also is a Relationship Systems Coach trained practitioner (ORSC) and applies Relationship Systems Intelligence to all relationship coaching.

Jonathan is A\CREATIVE working and thriving in Toronto, Canada. Propelled by a fear of mediocrity and a palate for shiny and whimsical things, Jonathan is an active member of Toronto’s Black, Queer and Creative communities and advocates for marginalized peoples in his work. Jonathan attended the "X" School of Interior Design (Toronto Metropolitan University) where his propensity for graphic communications and brand identity came to life. His work includes onsite and online activations for several not-for-profit organizations and cross-disciplinary creatives working in Toronto and surrounding areas. Today, Jonathan’s portfolio explores text, typography, photography, fashion, architecture and interiors to help you share your story; In other words, Jonathan likes to create pretty moments that people #heart.

Born and raised in the Ottawa region, Jonathan is a Law student at Osgoode Hall who completed his BA (2020) and MA (2022) in Legal Studies at Carleton University. Jonathan has developed expertise in legal service provision and access to justice – centring his work around constituency group interviews and compiling unique legal databases which shed light on systemic issues. He wrote his MA thesis on access to justice for Indigenous persons being sentenced, highlighting the barriers faced by defence counsel, their clients and service providers when attempting to access justice. Jonathan has written on the outcomes achieved by applicants alleging police misconduct at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. As well, he has clinical and research experience with Legal Aid Ontario. He is a passionate learner and believes in applying interdisciplinary approaches to complex problems.

Based in Calgary, Jordan Gray is currently a senior policy analyst, Indigenous housing with the Government of Canada. Since beginning in community advocacy ten years ago, Jordan has advanced a wide range of policy actions within and outside government. Each aimed at improving social outcomes for Indigenous, racialized and underrepresented communities. He studied global and transnational history at Carleton University and has a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Calgary. Jordan is also the recipient of Ontario’s Lincoln M. Alexander Award for his leadership towards eliminating racial discrimination. Currently, he serves on the Board of Imagine Canada and as the Chair of the Canadian Roots Exchange, a national voice for Indigenous youth. Jordan is from Mi'kmaw and Trinidadian ancestry and uncle to seven.

June is a CPA, CMA with extensive experience in financial analysis, forecasting, reporting and accounting operations in both the private and non-profit sectors. She is most recently the Finance Director at Evergreen, a charitable organization whose mandate is to make cities more livable, green and prosperous. As a first generation Canadian raising two little girls in Toronto, she is also passionate about advancing racial and gender equity. When not at work, she is (still) constantly on the lookout for new problems to solve or processes to streamline. In her spare time she can be found baking with her daughter, recreating restaurant recipes, finding ways to incorporate low waste living into her daily routine or crafting away on her annual Christmas ornament project.

Kain is a Tkaronto-based Afro-Indo Caribbean genderqueer consultant, public speaker, and facilitator who hosts co-learning spaces for development, support, and expression. Their work prioritizes 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and adults, disability justice principles, and developing inclusive practices within community and corporate spaces. He speaks from lived experience and draws on over 10+ years of cultural asset mapping and community engagement to develop practical strategies for corporations, organizations, and community members to support gender diversity and inclusive environments for all. After graduating from George Brown College with a diploma in social service work in 2021 they went on to work with a variety of community organizations, brands, media outlets, and nonprofits to bring those conversations to a wider audience and groups, which include Cityline, OutTv, Queer Collective, Toronto Metropolitan University, and more. In 2021, they became a member of C.R.I.P. Project, a disability and arts collective. Recently, in 2022, he launched True Lives Consulting with Kaleb Robertson.

Kais is a Black East African-Mixed settler based in Tkaronto/Toronto (Treaty 13) working as a visual artist, published writer, playwright, equity consultant, arts administrator, wellness facilitator and community worker. His writing practice encompasses academic, research-based texts, curatorial essays, poetry, and exhibition reviews centering African Diasporic narratives. His writing practice focuses on themes of cultural identity, belonging, de-colonial futures in addition to individual and collective healing. As an equity consultant, Kais has researched, developed and facilitated numerous Anti-Black racism training for not-for-profit organizations, student union boards, and other private organizations and businesses. Working as an arts administrator for 4+ years, Kais has produced various public programs, developed numerous strategic partnerships and developed professional development mentorship opportunities for artists and creatives based in Tkaronto/Toronto (Treaty 13) alongside his marketing and communications experience.

With 15 years of experience in human resources management, Kaitlin Sandor-Kerr is a leadership development coach, consultant and mentor to business and community leaders. She specializes in the empowerment and growth of new leaders and first-time managers, helping them build their skills and confidence, and helping them build leadership habits intended to serve them and their teams throughout their careers. Kaitlin’s coaching practice centres around a core insight: new managers are not typically set up for success which can lead to less-engaged and ineffective teams. Bringing a lens of balance, equity, inclusion and empowerment, Kaitlin helps her coaching clients to navigate difficult conversations, have candid communications, and develop strategies for empowering teams and working within and navigating patriarchal, racist, capitalist structures. Kaitlin’s approach to supporting managers reflects how employees want: to feel like their work is valued, to feel like they are heard, and to feel like management and the employer are communicating clearly and honestly. As a professional with ADHD, Kaitlin also offers support and coaching around neurodivergence in the workplace. She brings a unique perspective on levering employees’ super powers, and helping managers find ways to best support them. Kaitlin’s human resources consulting practice specializes in applying those same principles on an organizational level. Kaitlin helps organizations identify their values, and then works to embed and reflect those values in policies, procedures and operational practices; and she holds her clients accountable to those identified values. She supports leadership in decision making and communication, and is called on to offer her counsel for difficult conversations. At the forefront of that work are diversity, inclusion, belonging, equity and justice. She has experience working with organizations that focus on vulnerable communities, as well as non-traditional governance models and decision-making frameworks.

Kaleb is a Tkaronto based Cultural Producer who does workshops for youth and adults on identity, body positivity, queerness, trans issues, drag, and creating diverse inclusive spaces. His multimedia workshops include sharing personal experiences as a trans person and sparking discussions around intersectionality and privilege. He speaks to groups of all ages about his own experiences of gender and encourages people to relate those experiences to their own lives and community, regardless of gender identity or sexuality. Kaleb also performs as Fluffy Soufflé (they/them), a non-binary drag character. Fluffy is half of the magical children's entertainment duo, Fay & Fluffy’s Storytime, who do live performances and have a television show on Family called the Fabulous Show with Fay & Fluffy. When producing events and performing, their goal is to make drag accessible to all ages, and to foster a fun, inclusive environment.

Kaosarat is a professional with a background in business analysis and project coordination and a passion for driving business growth through effective proposal writing and business development. With a knack for crafting compelling narratives, she specializes in transforming ideas into winning proposals that resonate with clients’ needs. She has played a pivotal role in business development, cultivating strategic relationships, and identifying opportunities for organizational expansion in various sectors. Her ability to analyze market trends, understand client needs, and tailor proposals accordingly has contributed significantly to the success and growth of the organizations she’s been a part of. She has also successfully managed multifaceted IT and non-IT projects from initiation to completion while ensuring seamless collaboration among cross-functional teams. Outside the professional space, she enjoys hosting guests and creating memorable experiences. She also actively engages in volunteer work, dedicating her time and skills to initiatives that positively impact her community.

Kate is a community-based facilitator and organizer who works with people to help them bring more care, complexity, and collectivity into what they do. They work at George Brown College as a coordinator and professor in the Transitions to Post-Secondary Education program, an academic program geared towards adult learners who have faced barriers to education due to challenges with mental health and/or substance use. A winner of the George Brown College Innovation Award, Kate is also a Universal Design for Learning coach and former facilitator of Foundations for Flourishing, a workshop series designed to support college educators in cultivating an emotionally-literate, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive teaching practice.

Kaydeen is a grassroots community facilitator, organizer and coordinator. For over ten years she has worked to facilitate group process dynamics and develop equitable relationships between residents, agencies and other partners. As an adult and popular educator, Kaydeen works with marginalized populations including youth and newcomers to build their capacity to be effective leaders and change makers in their communities. Kaydeen is a new associate with our team.

Kwame is a life long Toronto native with a passion for creation and collaboration. With almost a decade of experience within TV broadcasting and content creation, he has made the switch into web development with an intention of creating applications with a focus on accessibility and user experience. Kwame is constantly looking for ways to get involved in community based projects through any medium, and is always game to learn something new. On his downtime, you can find Kwame making music, catching a movie, or at trivia.

Leslie is a anti-poverty and food justice advocate with an extensive background in community development and food security. His current work supports policy and systems-change to reduce poverty in Toronto. His current volunteer roles include sitting on the George Brown Bachelor of Food Studies Program Advisory Committee, and serving as Governance Committee Chair on the Makeway (formerly Tides Canada) Board of Directors. Prior to taking on his current roles, Leslie supported community-led food access initiatives, research, and advocacy working with the non-profit FoodShare Toronto. He has also spent 10 years working internationally in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and East Africa developing rural food security and agriculture programs, conducting research, and building relationships between public institutions, governments, and community organizations. These experiences taught him the value of approaches that centre and draw from the wisdom, leadership, and power that exists within communities. Leslie’s work seeks to examine and combat the many systems of oppression – systems like colonialism, capitalism, systemic racism, and patriarchy – that hold issues like poverty and food insecurity in place. Leslie holds a Masters degree in Geography from the University of Toronto.

Marlo is a multipotentialite with passions spanning across areas in graphic design, art, activism, productivity, spirituality and mental health. Marlo has over 10 years of extensive experience working with design studios, artist-run organizations, entrepreneurs, independent businesses and creatives. Currently, Marlo is in school training to become an art therapist while running a freelance studio focused on branding, creative consultation, graphic design and packaging.

Menon is an arts leader with over 25 years of experience in executive director, artistic director, and community arts leadership positions in both Canada and the United States. Dwarka's expertise lies in leveraging technology to create diverse programming and administrative spaces, while also applying a post-colonial lens to IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Success) initiatives. Dwarka has successfully guided arts and culture organizations of all scales, including grassroots organizations such as Toronto's 918 Bathurst Centre, where he served as both Artistic and Executive Director. He has also been a valued board member for organizations such as the Canadian Opera Company, where he was chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee. In the United States, Dwarka led the music departments at the 92nd Street Y and Harlem School of the Arts and served as the Executive Director of the Greenwich House Music School. As Senior Vice President of Arts Consulting Group, Dwarka completed IDEAS audits for the Winnipeg Symphony, ArrayMusic, and the Toronto Musicians Association. Dwarka is a public speaker and has been featured on platforms including CBC Television, WBAI Radio, TVOntario's The Agenda, and The Walrus Talks. His expertise is also showcased through regular appearances on Sesame Street. He was a part of the inaugural cohort of the Banff/Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Lab and served on the City of Toronto's Economic Development and Culture's Strategic Planning Committee, a group specifically formed to advise the City on the creation of Toronto's 2018-2022 Culture Plan. Dwarka holds BMus and MMus degrees in Music Composition from the University of Toronto, and was an ABD Ph.D. candidate at SUNY Stony Brook.

Mercy Ayesha is determined to help people around them—fuelled by passion, transparency, and authenticity. Awarded with Seneca College’s Stephen E. Quinlan Award and Nicolas Esper Liberal Arts Award, their continued work to actively improve our community was widely recognized. As the recipient of the Julianne Pettigrew Award at the 2021 OACUHO Residence Life Conference for their outstanding presentation on anti-racist and anti-oppression frameworks in programming. Having lived an incredibly turbulent life as a child, they are determined to make sure no one experiences the difficulties they have as a Peer Advisor on Lumenus Community Services’ Harm Reduction Hangouts Advisory Committee and CAMH’s Youth Advisory Group to support young people with lived experience of mental illness, substance abuse or sex work. Mercy Ayesha has always been an active citizen, performing various roles in political and electoral campaigns in both her home of London, UK and her new home of Tkaronto, Canada, with a lifelong commitment to contributing a positive change to their community.

Minnie has worked in the not-for-profit sector in Canada and internationally. She is committed to global socio-economic justice and equity. As an independent consultant Minnie coaches and mentors organizations on developing and implementing effective government relations strategies to influence public policies that advance inclusive and equitable societies. In her recent past role as Director of Government Relations and Public Policy at the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC) she advised on government relations strategies to influence policy on a range of socio-economic issues including affordable housing, youth unemployment, justice and policing, child welfare and philanthropic reforms. In 2022, she was appointed by the Minister of National Revenue to Canada's National Advisory Committee on the Charitable Sector. In this role, she advocates for an equitable and inclusive regulatory environment for charities. Minnie is proud of her African heritage as a woman that was born and raised in Kenya. She currently lives in Canada in the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations - also known as Vancouver. When she’s not working, Minnie enjoys reading, walking in nature and travelling.

Moe is a visual artist based in Toronto. She explores themes of grief, transformation, kinship and other feelings that emerge from her interpersonal relationships. Moe is interested in using illustration, public art and workshop to allow space for herself and others to nurture visions of a new world. By day, Moe works in food justice advocacy at FoodShare Toronto, exploring how food access relates to harm reduction, abolition and transformative justice. She is curious about building solidarity inside and across movements, practicing mutual aid, and learning to love responsibly.

Mojdeh is an impact and results oriented community builder and leader. For nearly 15 years, Mojdeh has coached organizational leaders and consulted with institutions across all sectors seeking to heighten their equity lens and carry the principles of justice, equity, inclusion and belonging into all elements of their business operations. She is an award-winning facilitator and learning and development designer, inspired by the popular education model to mobilize knowledge through an anti-oppression lens. Mojdeh believes that a supportive, inspiring organizational culture where there are shared values and goals is how cross-functional teams in complex systems thrive. Mojdeh has expertise in labour relations, change management, government relations, and issue-based campaigns and advocacy. Most recently, her thought leadership on radical accountability has been nationally recognized in her tenure as President and CEO of Pillar Nonprofit Network.

Mueni is a Kenyan-Canadian with a passion for meaningful conversation, and seeing and meeting people where they are at. She is skilled at fearlessly cultivating and nurturing meaningful connections and strategic partnerships for enhanced cooperation through facilitation, coaching, training and mentorship, leading departments and building networks. Mueni is a conscientious, focused and assertive leader, who has successfully built and maintained strong teams, both in Canada, and across East and West Africa. Mueni’s analytical expertise is demonstrated in her passion and commitment to engage at a system’s level through a conscious equality lens. For Mueni, real and sustained transformation can only emerge when all of us are included and able to fully participate in building and rehabilitating broken relations (seeing ourselves as deeply interconnected), to co-create equitable, inclusive, engaging and meaningful spaces, ideas and possibilities. Mueni is the founder and principal consultant at Mutinda Consulting, an Equity and justice-centered, and radically inclusive approach to program management. She recently led community consultations in collaboration with the Province of Prince Edward Island, a partnership which contributed to the province' first Anti-Racism Action Plan. Mueni is delighted to work with others and sees the opportunity to do so as the gift of this present moment. In this way, Mueni is a disruptor, truth-teller with love and vision for the possibility of the energy inherent in each one of us.

For over 15 years, Mythri has worked in the not-for-profit sector, where she has held roles in project management, evaluation, and equity, aimed at moving forward various social and public health initiatives. Through both her work and training, she has developed strong skills in conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation and restorative practices through an anti-oppression and anti-racism lens. Mythri has completed training on embodied social justice and embodied conflict resolution where she learned body-centered practices combined with trauma-informed techniques and anti-oppression principles to address conflict. She has also been trained in restorative justice practices and mediation based on the principles of restorative justice, which focuses on repairing harm and fostering accountability. Mythri has a deep commitment to challenging systems and processes rooted in colonialism, capitalism and white supremacy, while integrating Indigenous wisdom and values. She completed a Masters in Public Health at University of Toronto with a focus on the impact of social inequities on health. When not working, Mythri enjoys running, reading and spending time with family.

For years, Njoki has immersed herself in community service, and advocacy around health, food, and equity. In October 2020, she completed a nine-month policy program with the Vancouver Foundation where she published and presented a comprehensive policy brief titled “Anti-racist Approaches to Effectively Address Food Insecurity and Social Isolation among Indigenous and Black Seniors in Downtown Vancouver”. Most recently, she worked as the program facilitator for the 2022 cohort of the LEVEL Youth Public Policy Program, where she supported 16 Indigenous and racialized immigrant & refugee youth in writing, researching, and presenting their policy briefs. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Environmental Youth Alliance (https://eya.ca/). Through her work and volunteering, she hopes to facilitate and advocate for policies, projects, and partnerships guided by the voices of Indigenous and Black people and communities. Among multiple, shifting identities, she is a curious generalist, poet, and immigrant from Kenya who is currently living on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.

Phillip is a freelance writer and researcher with seven years of experience writing speeches, op-eds, profiles, and reports. His writing has appeared in Maclean's, The Toronto Star, CBC News, and The Walrus, among others. In 2017, Phillip was selected as the inaugural rabble.ca Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellow and he is currently working on his first book, Where do we begin?, with the generous support of the Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council. When not at work, Phill is almost always snuggling his cat, playing sports, or reading a book.

RaeChelle-Faith is a people-centric strategist, community capacity builder, entrepreneur and solutions architect. With over 4 years' experience in government relations and advocacy and over 6 years' project management expertise, she's passionate about decolonizing and influencing public policy and building community programmes that work. Born and raised in Jamaica, she's trained in law, government relations and project management--combining all three to serve and impact youth and communities for the better. She brings her vast experience in program/ project coordination and government relations--specializing in areas of: GR strategy, communications, event planning and management, digital campaigning, educational consulting, research and writing, community organizing, stakeholder management, media relations, youth policy development, and business development. RaeChelle-Faith worked and volunteered for numerous organizations such as: the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), CARICOM, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Division of Global Affairs Canada in Jamaica, the Yonge Street Mission, Leading in Colour, NATIONAL Public Relations, the Ministry of Tourism in Jamaica, and, most recently, JN Clarke Consulting. She's excited to play her part in telling client stories and securing their advocacy wins!

Rickesh believes that we are all responsible for each other’s success, and that social impact organizations will do their best work when they are nurturing from within and grounded in truth and trust. He has over 15 years of experience in the social impact sector, including serving as the Executive Director at Future Possibilities for Kids, a community-based organization serving children, and as the Director, Campaign at United Way York Region, leading an $8M annual fundraising campaign. Rickesh is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), sits on the Global Council for the Community-Centric Fundraising movement, and has volunteered with numerous causes and boards. He enjoys spending time with his family including his 3 children, camping, bike riding, cooking, and playing drums.

Roselyne, an educator, activist, and consultant, has a rich background in teaching at Algonquin College in Ottawa and George Brown College in Toronto. Currently residing on unseeded and unsurrendered Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, ON), they are interested in the intersections of racial, food, disability and gender justice. With experience in various community centers across Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and New York, Roselyne possesses a deep understanding of how anti-Black racism manifests in Canada and across borders. They are passionate about shedding light on the systemic persecutions affecting Black lives, including the carceral system, education, health, art, parenthood, environmental degradation, and disability justice. Roselyne holds a degree in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Ottawa and has roots in Montreal, Brooklyn, New York, and her ancestral land of Haiti. Please remember to use a mix of she/they pronouns when referring to Roselyne to respect them and the way they navigate the world.

Sam is an award winning non-profit leader with 16+ years of fundraising experience. He is Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a member in good standing with the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Sam considers his superpower to be his authenticity, allowing him to build meaningful relationships with Canada’s leading philanthropists. Sam has successfully raised over $30 million in gifts and pledges for affordable housing, homelessness, social services, the performing arts, and educational institutions. His experience includes Director and Senior Director roles at three charities. Sam has also volunteered on numerous boards and is the Co-Chair of Community One Foundation. When not at work, Sam is usually planning his next travel adventure, volunteering, or spending time with family.

Sandro is a photographer, cinematographer and director working in commercial and narrative projects across Canada. Having previously helmed the food and wellness brand, Lovekind Inc, as their Creative Director and the edu-tech company, Learners, as their Director of Production, Sandro's work spans across diverse industries. His photography exhibit, In The Pit, profiling dishwashers in restaurants has been exhibited at Daniels Artscape & his last short film, Melody, won best film & cinematography awards at multiple film festivals. In his off-time he helps teach empathetic storytelling with TellPeople. Outside of work, Sandro loves to bike (fast) around the city and recently composed the music for the fringe show A Small Part of the Whole Story.

Shellene is a writer, communications strategist, and educator. Helping people connect and engage through storytelling has always been a passion for her. For all of us, answering the question, ‘who are you?’ is integral to creating your story and standing confidently in your truth. Shellene is a contributing columnist at the Toronto Star and a freelance journalist who has shared the stories of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Globe and Mail, Toronto District School Board, Deloitte, and others. She is a sessional lecturer and the creator and instructor of the Modern-Day Griot Project at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus teaching about the stories of Black Canadians to change the narrative of Blackness in Canada.

I am a community-driven researcher and consultant with a background in political science, modern treaty implementation, community economic development, and socio-economic assessment and monitoring. As a researcher, project manager, or facilitator, I bring a holistic perspective while ensuring that my work is reflective of related best practices, contextual considerations, and community or organizational values. I am interested in supporting governments, communities and other entities through the gathering, creation, and mobilization of knowledge. I have worked in the Yukon for 5 years and have a detailed understanding of the social, political, and economic relationships among Yukon First Nations, Yukon Government, and Canada that can influence a research project or strategic planning process. I provide a versatile skill set including expertise in comprehensive research projects, report writing, knowledge synthesis, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, facilitating relationships among diverse actors and stakeholders; and, strategic planning. I hold a Master of Arts in Political Science, and certification for training in OCAPTM and Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS-2).

Sophie is a consultant and researcher working at the intersections of social, economic, and environmental justice issues. As one of our consultants, she works with clients on issues related to organizational governance, equity and inclusion, and organizational change. Sophie is also a Project Manager for the Leading Social Justice Fellowship, a cross-sectoral leadership development program focused on social justice and run in partnership with United Way Greater Toronto, the School of Cities, and Rotman Executive Programs. In this role, Sophie coaches teams from across the GTA on project planning and implementation and co-leads program design, evaluation, and partnership coordination. Sophie is a board member at the Fair Finance Fund, a non-profit social finance fund dedicated to providing loans and mentorship services to local food and farm enterprises that value strong local food systems, local economies, and a healthy planet. Sophie holds an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a BA from Wesleyan University. Her previous work includes research on behavioural insights and Canadian food policy with Behaviourally Informed Organizations, consulting to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers on a new development strategy, leading food access and community development programming in rural Vermont, and more. From 2013 - 2014, Sophie was a Fulbright Researcher in Morocco, studying traditional food and ideas about innovation and authenticity.

Steevie is a queer and bilingual social designer who lives in Rimouski, Québec. Their practice was defined by navigating between reflections of social justice and a design education. They piloted a social innovation lab on aging and the demographic transition for 10 years where they explored many intersecting issues (housing, food security, equity, decolonization, sustainability, death, etc.). They co-founded a social entrepreneurship program for (pre)retirees and a co-working space for non-profits in Montréal. Steevie completed an internship in 2014 at Dilab - PUC in Chile on the impacts of a social practice of design on the educational path of engineering students. They were also a Fellow of Getting to Maybe : a Social Innovation Residency from the WISIR and the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity in 2019. Steevie is a board member of the Vanier Institute for the Family. Creativity, introspection and pleasure are ingredients they always bring to the table. Steevie loves to adapt and create methodologies and tools for facilitation to be in service of a project’s intentions. They also explore how artistic practices and diverse media can amplify our abilities to reflect and to create new connections between people and ideas.

Sukran is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in sales management, counseling, and community outreach. Her expertise encompasses the entire sales process, from building strong interdepartmental relationships to ensuring smooth and effective communication with clients and preparing proposals and reports for seamless sales and invoicing operations. Her education includes a master’s degree in Family Counseling and Education, as well as certification as a Professional Life Coach. Her diverse background includes being the owner and manager of a children’s bookstore in Turkey, designing and leading playgroups for children, organizing family workshops, and creating a support network for new mothers. Sukran is also a passionate volunteer as a mentor for a non-profit organization and has supported University seniors in their career journeys. Outside of work, Sukran is an avid reader of children’s books, enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, and loves animals. She is passionate about making a positive impact in the world through meaningful projects that can leave a legacy for future generations.

Tab is a community-based leadership facilitator and fellow human living and working in the east end of Toronto. With over a decade of experience as an advanced leadership instructor, examiner, and coach in the aquatic sport and recreation sector, Tab's passion lies in bringing community learning and leadership out of the boardroom and onto the pool deck, court, track, or field where emerging leaders are already playing, growing, connecting, and working their magic. As a facilitator, Tab strives to support emerging leaders by sparking conversations wherein ideas are exchanged and expanded, breaking big concepts down into useful building blocks for one's own unique leadership practice, and co-creating brave spaces where little and big breakthroughs happen. Tab is a high honours graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health program at Seneca Polytechnic. As a member of Seneca Student Life's inaugural Peer Leadership Facilitator Team, Tab supported the development and delivery of a diverse array of leadership workshops to the student community, with a focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and access (EDIA)-oriented curricula.

Tenzin is a Tibetan-Filipino Illustrator based in Toronto, Canada. With a passion for digital art and a keen eye for design, she enjoys comics, characters and colours which is greatly reflected in her work. Her creative expertise lies in creating visually captivating illustrations and with educational and highly researched elements that effectively communicate and engage with her audience. Graduating from OCAD University, she honed her skills and acquired a Bachelor's degree in Illustration. She developed a deep understanding of design principles, colour theory, and composition, and beyond her professional pursuits, Tenzin actively participates in the creative community by tabling at events, attending workshops, and creating artwork for the Tibetan Cultural Center.

Thanuja is a Sri Lankan-born antiracism practitioner with over two decades of dedicated experience in holistic human resources. She is a seasoned professional expert in various facets of the field and her journey encompasses talent acquisition, talent management, equity, diversity, and inclusion, all centered around cultivating an environment where every individual feels a sense of belonging. Thanuja's passion for fostering inclusivity and fairness has led her to become a prominent advocate for equity and diversity, consistently driving initiatives that bridge gaps and promote understanding. Beyond her HR expertise, Thanuja holds an MBA and MEd and currently pursuing her Ph.D. She is a devoted antiracism researcher presently engaged in the research phase of her Ph.D., further exemplifying her commitment to dismantling systemic prejudices and generating knowledge that fosters meaningful change. As a mental health advocate, she’s a board member of GenWell Project, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting human connection.

Tristan is an impact-focused storyteller who seeks to use his energy to promote meaningful collaboration and facilitate equitable and sustainable social change. His professional journey has led him through parliament hill, into the non-profit world, and around the new media movement, providing a unique background in media relations, policy communication, and collaborative community engagement. With South African and French Canadian roots, Tristan has been based in Ottawa for the past 7 years.

Vicky is a writer, editor and podcaster. She has a breadth of experience in editorial leadership - as a co-editor of the national bestselling book Canadaland Guide to Canada; as a guest editor of The Ethnic Aisle; as the Critical Race, Culture and Society Editor at the Conversation; and as the managing editor at Study Hall. She has worked as the national columnist at Metro News Canada, and as a contributing columnist at the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. She has bylines in the Washington Post, the Guardian, Cottage Life, the Walrus, BuzzFeed, VICE Canada, and others. She has been a host and producer of podcasts Safe Space (Metro News) and No Little Plans (St. Joseph Media). Her work focuses on highlighting Canada's Black and racialized communities.

With over a decade of experience in Management Consulting, Vjeruska is a dynamic and creative leader recognized for steering projects, shaping strategies, and conducting market analyses. Holding an MBA and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, along with a Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management, her expertise lies in consulting and market research for public and private institutions from different industries such as construction, manufacturing, mining, and agriculture. Successfully managing more than 50 projects spanning South America, North America, and Europe, she exhibits cross-cultural competency, facilitating effective collaboration across diverse teams. Beyond her analytical and project management skills, she demonstrates a passion for creating social impact. In Canada, she has specialized in consulting services to non-profits, social enterprises, and startups, focusing on strategic planning, organizational diagnostics, and continuous improvement processes. This commitment to driving positive change aligns with her broader goal of not only achieving financial success in projects but also making a meaningful societal impact. With a unique blend of expertise, adaptability, and a dedication to social responsibility, she is poised to contribute significantly to organizational success while making a positive difference in the non-profit sector.

Yamikani is a Black genderqueer Malawian arrivant currently living in Tkaronto. As creative and facilitator, they love building containers for connections to be forged and holding space for individual, community, and systems transformation. Yamikani is committed to a practice of anti-racism & anti-oppression, using popular culture, creative facilitation, emergent strategy and digital engagement. They completed hir Master’s degree in Women and Gender Studies at Carleton University, and a Certificate from Michigan State University in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and Organizational Change. In hir spare time Yami teaches yoga to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence & Yoga for Black Grief.