Jennifer Arango
I have completed my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Studies and Spanish at Queen's University. I have volunteered as a literacy tutor with the Frontier
Prison Literacy Initiative and as a program coordinator at the Isabel McNeil House, a federal penitentiary for women serving life sentences. I have also volunteered at St. Stephen's Community House, Romero House, and the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture. Seeing the hardships and challenges faced by a wide variety of people has led to my dedication in working towards the empowerment of others and myself.
Mafaza Assan
I am a Political Science and Sociology student at the University of Toronto with an enthusiasm for serving my community. As a Panel Member with the Scarborough
Youth Justice Committee, I work on a program that takes a restorative justice approach with young offenders, giving them a second chance. Volunteering with Operation Springboard allows me to help youth and adults find employment. My community work and five years on the Student Advisory Council has inspired a strong interest in politics. I am truly honoured to live in a city that not only allows but encourages women to participate in government.
Laura Auquilla
Laura Auquilla is actively involved in various community and volunteer activities. From community interpretation to workshop facilitation, to Business consulting, she is especially interested in social enterprise and social entrepreneur initiatives and is looking to transition into a non-profit or social enterprise organization. Her current project is providing organizational consulting for an online peer-initiative that will give a voice and claim a space on the Internet for the poor and their cultural contributions. For the past five years, she has held various management positions at a mid-sized public relations company in downtown Toronto. She hopes to use her experience as a Project Manager to assist organizations with a social purpose to establish themselves as vehicles for change and social improvement. Laura is passionate about the empowerment and inclusion of women in both the public and private sectors. She hopes to learn more about Toronto's governance not only so she may be an agent of change; but so that she may encourage other women to become involved in the governance and politics of their communities.
Elizabeth Callahan
I am 24 years of age and I have a passion for my city. I attended a BA in Human Services and Social Work at Tyndale University College & Seminary, and the Child and Youth Work certificate program at Centennial College. Volunteering at the Young Street Mission, Light Patrol, and Church Without Limits, has made me politically-conscious. As a Group Home Staffer and Teaching Assistant at Kennedy House Youth Services, my eyes were opened to circumstances and serious challenges and I believe that every life has value. Although I have seen many improvements in our city, I want to contribute to ongoing positive change.
Efe Igor
I am studying Political Science, Diaspora and Transnational Studies at the University of Toronto. I am a woman who wants to find solutions to eradicate poverty. Poverty claims countless victims every day. I have founded Volume Productions to raise funds for specific causes and registered charities. My community involvement also includes the Community Service Learning Initiative at Regent Park, the Victoria College Student Council, the Education and Equity Committee. I aspire to work as a liaison between governments and non-governmental agencies to find solutions to help eradicate poverty.
Hwayoung Ryann Jang
Although I grew up in Nova Scotia and attended Carleton University in Ottawa to earn an Honours BA in International Business, Trade and Marketing, I live in Toronto and love this city. Its ethnic diversity, arts and culture, and mix of old along side the new, is enchanting. I serve on the board of the Hispanic Women's Network, an organization that helps Hispanic women succeed in business and be financially independent. As an intern at the Toronto Board of Trade, I have researched current urban initiatives and this has prompted my interest in city planning, immigrant integration, the environment, and gender equality.
Annamaria Jaskolka
I am in my fourth year at York University in the Faculty of Arts, Political Science Honours program, and I hope to study law. I am the Vice President of Academic Affairs for the McLaughlin College Student Council where I represent students in matters of academic importance. I also chair a committee for all student clubs affiliated with the College. I am a coordinator for academic orientation for new students, and I have worked as a Relief Worker for the Catholic Children's Aid Society and the Funshine Childcare Centre. I hope to use my knowledge and experiences as a future elected municipal leader.
Venesse Lewis
I have lived in Malvern for over twenty years, and I want to change misperceptions of this community. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Legal and Corporate Administration from Seneca College. I am a dedicated community organizer. As a director on the board of the Malvern Community Coalition, I work to engage, empower and connect residents to organizations and institutions to find solutions to local problems. My involvement has made me more aware of the need to encourage greater civic participation among families that will lead to a more harmonious and equitable city.
Tinashe Mafukidze
I have studied Political Science at Concordia University and am currently a Project Management student at Ryerson University. I came to Canada at age 15 as a political refugee. Since then I have been engaged in local and global issues. I worked with the Maytree Foundation, the International Aids Conference, and CNAPSIS Inc. I oversaw and coordinated international projects delivered in Uganda. I served as a Youth Advisor at the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) on immigrant youth, research and program development. I am the founder of the Immigrant Youth Canada initiative, an online community providing resources and connections for youth. I want to find innovative ways to inspire other young women to step into leadership roles.
Filsun Mahamed
I am a fourth year Political Science and Equity Studies student at the University of Toronto. I have learned about issues facing individuals through my direct involvement in many community initiatives. I have worked as a Youth Outreach/Radio Program Facilitator with the Somalia Youth Association of Toronto and as a Project Manager with Evergreen. Having worked on several initiatives in marginalized communities has heightened my desire to work in the political sphere so that I can create policies and programs to benefit impoverished communities. Toronto provides an array of opportunities to meet and learn from influential figures that champion issues around policy development.
Hanna Mbazigwe
I hail from Nigeria, studied at Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School in Toronto and am currently studying Public Administration and Governance at Ryerson
University. I am an outgoing individual who is passionate about making a difference in the community by empowering women and youth for positive impact. This has led me to be actively involved with the Women's Creative Club International (WCCI), a women's organization that promotes the creative potential of women. I believe that a mission to develop women and youth's cultural, environmental, health and socio-economic well-being will bring about improvement in their lives.
Jamilla Mohamud
As a fourth year Bachelor of Science Biology student at Ryerson University, I have found education to be the most important and energizing mechanism to effect change in our communities. My mother encouraged me not only to develop academic interests, but to pursue other extra curricular activities. I am a ballet performer with the Opera Atelier, have worked with children at the Ontario Early Years Centre and conducted academic research on Aids with the Africans in Partnership against Aids. I am a member of various committees and councils. I want to use my personal experiences to motivate young women to reach their goals in our country which is filled with tremendous opportunities.
Shana Nathan
I love Toronto and all that it offers. I have lived through and lost my father to civil war and have seen a lot of devastation and loss of life. As an oldest child, it was up to me in many ways to "blaze a trail" in my family's adjustment to life in Canada. I have completed my studies in Social Work at George Brown College. I contribute to improving the lives of Toronto residents by working and volunteering at the Aggila Greek Association, a non profit organization for abused women; as a patient services worker at Toronto Community Living and as a Volunteer Coordinator at the Maple Wood High School. It is exciting to be part of such a unique leadership program and I look forward to shaping Toronto politics with global and international perspectives.
Murielle Peyer
I have completed an Honours Bachelor degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ottawa, and I am currently enrolled in the Professional Certificate in Public Sector Management program at York University. In high school, I was President of the School Council, and in university I was a student ambassador mentoring other students. I have been a training coordinator at Fédération de la Jeunesse Franco-Ontarienne (FESFO), volunteer for the Centre for Equity and Human Rights at the University of Ottawa, and am a fundraiser coordinator for the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. I appreciate the many ways that public service can make a significant difference to residents of Toronto, and I want to be a part of it.
Simone Samuels
I am in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Political Science and Philosophy at York University. Besides being heavily involved in my school, church and community, I founded a program with the Congress of Black Women — Ontario edition entitled "Girls in Transition" to foster leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills in black teenage girls in at-risk communities. I am a member of the Equal Voice chapter at York University which seeks to promote the election of more women to all levels of government. I am passionate about life and helping to ameliorate the lives of those around me.
Yanique Williams
I have obtained a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Political Science from Queen's University. I am currently a member of the JDCF-Future Leadership Executive and was actively involved in the process of organizing the 2009 Global Future Leadership Conference held in Jamaica. The conference strengthened the process of building networks of Future Leaders in the Jamaican Diaspora and brought about real and substantial change. I also founded theCOR: the Community Online Resource which is a positive online space created to provide resources that highlights and commends community members for their positive works.
Contacts
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