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.

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 mom of two little girls, she is also passionate about increasing financial literacy among the youth population. 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 family, recreating restaurant recipes, and finding ways to incorporate low waste living into her daily routine.

Kaydeen Bankasingh 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.

Jonathan Broderick 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.

Diana Bronson 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.

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.

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.

Emilie Chan 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.

Mojdeh Cox 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.

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. Outside of work, you can find Sophie out in the garden, in the kitchen, or enjoying local trails.

Abbe Edelson 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.

Laëtitia has a mixed background in science, engineering and project management. She has over 10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector and has focused her career on leading projects and initiatives to increase organizational impacts and financial sustainability, while supporting individuals and teams navigating organizational change. ​ From 2017 to 2023, Laëtitia was a Senior Director at FoodShare Toronto, Canada’s largest food justice organization. In her role, she provided strategic leadership and support in areas of food distribution social enterprises, risk management, human resources, organizational structure, health & safety, facility management and IT. When not at work, Laëtitia can be found outdoors with her son and partner or enjoying some delicious food with her family and friends.

Kate Fane is a Toronto-based writer, organizer, and communications specialist with over ten years of experience directing communications for progressive causes, organizations, and political campaigns. Kate has worked with organizations like the Canadian Urban Institute, the University of Toronto’s School of Cities, The Stop Community Food Centre, the Equal Pay Coalition, The Responsible Investment Association, The Metcalf Foundation, Jane’s Walk Toronto, and Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood and Community Health Centre, and has written for outlets like VICE, The Toronto Star, Refinery29, Maisonneuve, and Reader’s Digest. Kate is particularly interested in weaving digital storytelling with social policy advocacy to advance equity and support community self-determination. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the Maytree Policy School.

Growing up in a social housing community in Toronto, Camilo Garay 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.

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.

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!

Emily Laurent Henderson is a Kalaaleq (Greenlandic Inuk) and Settler writer, speaker, community organizer and consultant. A 2020 University of British Columbia graduate in Anthropology, Emily's work and writing centers Inuit and Indigenous self-determination in the arts, design, and infrastructure. She has appeared in titles such as the Inuit Art Quarterly, Azure, Studio Magazine, Inuktitut Magazine, and more. Emily has additionally worked extensively in Indigenous Cultural Safety and well-being, and is a former curriculum designer for UBC's 23 24 project, an Indigenous Cultural Safety program geared towards medical professionals. She is also a 2021 graduate of the Ikajuktigiiniq Inuit Mental Health Practitioner Program, and is a 2022 "Aunties on the Road" Indigenous Doula Program cohort member. Emily is a community organizer as one of the founding members of the Indigenous food sovereignty grassroots organization, "Tkaronto Plant Life", and a former board member with Toronto Inuit Association. She has provided consulting services for collections, public art, and community organizations.

Marlo Hwang 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.

Emanuel is a designer and art director living and working in Toronto, Ontario. He brings a wealth of cross-disciplinary knowledge to his design practice, combining over 7 years of agency experience at Concrete Design and Bruce Mau Design with work at various retail companies, digital start-ups and as an independent creative consultant. He holds a BSc in Biological Science with a minor in Film Studies from the University of Alberta and a BDes in Communication Design from Emily Carr University of Art & Design. His work has spanned brand identities, strategy, packaging, digital, experiential, and book/editorial design, having worked with clients such as ASICS, lululemon, Canada Goose, Page Two Books, Patrick Ta Beauty, and the University of Toronto. He is currently balancing his day job at the fintech company Square with his own freelance studio practice.

Daniel Sarah Karasik is the founding managing editor of Midnight Sun, a magazine that seeks to be a forum for strategic thinking about how to build sustainable social change movements, networks, and organizations. They have served as a coordinator of the Toronto-based activist network Artists for Climate & Migrant Justice and Indigenous Sovereignty (ACMJIS), of which they're also a co-founder, and have collaborated on political initiatives that range from organizing large street mobilizations against transphobia to building coalitions to demand a more equitable public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The author of six published books, most recently the poetry collection Plenitude (Book*hug Press), they have been recognized with the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award, the CBC Fiction Prize, and the Canadian Jewish Playwriting Award, and served on the board of directors of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Paprika Festival, a youth-led performing arts organization. They're keenly interested in the intersections of art and activism, poetry and political change work, and excited to dream towards social transformation with you.

Sam Katz is an award-winning non-profit leader with 17+ years of fundraising experience. He is the Director of Philanthropy at the AIDS Committee of Toronto. Sam is Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and a member in good standing with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). He considers his superpower to be his authenticity, allowing him to build meaningful relationships with Canada’s leading philanthropists. Sam has successfully raised over $45 million in gifts and pledges for affordable housing, educational institutions, healthcare, homelessness, the performing arts, and social services. His experience includes Director and Senior Director roles at four Toronto charities. Sam has also volunteered on numerous boards and is currently the Co-Chair of Community One Foundation. When not at work, Sam is usually planning his next travel adventure, volunteering, or spending time with friends and family.

Rickesh Lakhani 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.

Deborah Littman is an 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.

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.

Bo is a human-centered design researcher doing web development things. He uses qualitative research methods, exploratory techniques, and systems thinking in his work to better understand human needs. Bo wants to make a difference by innovating sustainable solutions to complex problems rooted in the design and technology space. Bo’s specialities include: Strategic Foresight and Innovation, Qualitative Research Methods, User Interviews, Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design, Knowledge Mobilization

Darnell is Concept artist/Visual Development artist. Darnell graduated from Sheridan College's Bachelor of Arts with a focus on 2D art. His work experience spans from television productions, magazine illustrations and concept art for video games. Darnell is always looking to get involved in community/diversity fueled projects, and am passionate about giving people artistic platforms that they can use to express themselves.

Janine Manning is Anishinaabe and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation (Neyaashiinigmiing, ON). She is the Manager of Annual Giving & Donor Relations, Anishnawbe Health Foundation, Chair of Laidlaw Foundation, and Consultant to Edkaagmik Nbiizh Neyaashiinigamiingninwag Edbendaagzijig Trust. She has dedicated the last decade to Indigenous relations & community development and revitalization efforts through the public granting, private trust and philanthropy, and charitable sector. Janine also serves on FoodShare Toronto Board of Directors and is an Indigenous Advisor to the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Library and BGC Canada. Janine is a passionate, community-centric fundraiser, grant maker, and trust-based philanthropic leader.

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” (https://levelvf.ca/project/eat-well-eat-together/). 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.

A visual historian cosplaying as a documentary and commercial photographer, Jalani Morgan is also the current Photo Director of West End Phoenix. Jalani’s creative work explores visual representation within a Black Canadian context and focuses on documenting and portraying images of Black life both in Canada and internationally. As a commissioned photographer, Jalani covers the spectrum of portraiture and current events documenting Toronto culture.

Yamikani Msosa 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.

Phillip Dwight Morgan 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.

Kain Nathaniel 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.

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.

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.

Kais Padamshi 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.

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.

Moe Pramanick 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.

Kaleb Robertson 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.

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.

Daniel Rotsztain, aka the Urban Geographer, an artist, writer and cartographer whose work examines our relationship to the places we inhabit. The author and illustrator of All the Libraries Toronto and A Colourful History Toronto, Daniel’s work has also been featured in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and a regular column on CBC Radio's Here and Now. Daniel's wide range of illustration clients includes the City of Toronto, ERA Architects, Heritage Toronto, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Toronto Public Library. As a frequent patron of libraries, malls, and strip malls throughout the Greater Toronto Area, Daniel's projects seek to understand and support the diverse settings of the city’s public life through walking tours, residencies, and landscape interventions. He is the co-lead of plazaPOPS, a community-lead approach to transforming strip mall parking lots into free, accessible, and safe gathering spaces. He is also a project manager at ERA Architects where he works on cultural and economic development projects. When he isn't working, Daniel loves to ride his bike throughout the city, visiting libraries and strip mall restaurants. In the winter, he loves to skate!

Mercedes Sharpe Zayas is a community planner committed to movement building and economic justice in the urban form. Before joining Evenings and Weekends, Mercedes was cultivating her participatory planning practice as the Planning Coordinator for the Parkdale People’s Economy, a network of over 30 community-based organizations and hundreds of community members organizing towards decent work, shared wealth, and equitable development in Parkdale. She has also worked as a Policy Research Intern at the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division, a Research Assistant for the Metcalf Foundation’s Inclusive Local Economies Program, a Graduate Research Assistant with The Public Studio, and a Co-Facilitator with the Power Lab. She holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts in Honours Anthropology from McGill University.

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.

Paul Taylor is a long-time activist, non-profit leader, educator and media commentator. He is also the co-founder and principal consultant of Evenings & Weekends Consulting. For the last several years, he has also taught in the areas of organizational leadership, people resources and fundraising at Simon Fraser University. From 2017 to 2023, Paul served as the Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto, Canada’s largest food justice organization. At FoodShare his leadership was consistently recognized for inspiring adoption of equity-focused people policies and practices in organizations well beyond FoodShare. Paul’s experience includes Executive Director roles at Gordon Neighbourhood House and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House. He has also chaired the British Columbia Poverty Reduction Coalition, served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and as Vice-Chair of Food Secure Canada. He has written several op-eds on leadership, the non-profit sector and various social issues. In 2020, Paul was named one of Canada’sTop 40 under 40, one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians and voted as Best Activist by Now Magazine readers. When not at work, Paul is almost always found in the kitchen, on his bike, in a good book or at a local protest.

Mythri has a background in project management, community development and research and evaluation of social and public health initiatives. She completed a Masters in Public Health at the University of Toronto with a specialization in health promotion. She has held research and evaluation roles at different agencies including United Way of Greater Toronto and The Evaluation Center for Complex Health Interventions. Mythri is passionate about incorporating an equity lens into social programs and initiatives. When not working, Mythri enjoys running, reading and spending time with family

Chris Wilson is a passionate cultural leader based in Toronto with extensive experience in Arts and Culture and the Non-Profit sector. As a dedicated cultural programmer and brand partnership specialist, Chris has a proven track record of assembling and managing innovative, diverse, and attractive year-round programs of high-quality music and cultural events. Currently pursuing a Master's of Design at OCAD U in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, Chris is focused on supporting Arts & Culture and the Non-Profit sector through policy development and the design of urban spaces within our neighborhoods in response to the desires and interests of individuals. He is passionate about building communities that are better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Chris approaches his work from the lens of a social architect, focused on designing and creating social systems, structures, and processes that promote collaboration, engagement, and positive change. He is dedicated to creating more connected and meaningful communities and has a keen interest in foresight and future’s work. He identifies potential future trends, risks, and opportunities that may impact various sectors, combining this with his bottom-up approach by involving community members in the design and planning process. Along with his studies, Chris is actively involved in the community and sits on the Board at the Akin Projects, Soho House, Polaris Music Prize and is Board Chair at It's OK*, where he plays an integral role in developing a new studio space for creatives in collaboration with the City of Toronto. Overall, Chris is deeply committed to the development and growth of individuals and communities. Through his skills and experience, he is dedicated to creating programs and initiatives that support the needs and aspirations of all individuals, and build a more vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape.

Greg Wong 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.