On January 28th, 2021, we’ll be welcoming nine inspiring rising leaders to the virtual stage at our annual ELN Snowcial to share PechaKucha talks on the theme of inclusive cities. Scroll down to learn more about their leadership journeys and get a sneak peak of their presentation. Excited to tune in to their talks? Join […]
Fellows in Focus: Vani Jain
From Toronto to Montreal and back again, 2011 DiverseCity Fellow Vani Jain‘s leadership journey had many twists and turns. In her recent return to Toronto, Vani is taking on the role of founding Executive Director at The Daymark Foundation where she will be seeking positive community impact in the areas of mental health and food security. In this “Fellows in Focus” profile, read about how Vani’s life […]
Fellows in Focus: Vani Jane
From Toronto to Montreal and back again, 2011 DiverseCity Fellow Vani Jain‘s leadership journey has had many twists and turns. In her recent return to Toronto, Vani is taking on the role of founding Executive Director at The Daymark Foundation where she will be seeking positive community impact in the areas of mental health and food security. In this “Fellows in Focus” profile, read about how Vani’s […]
The ELN Top Ten: Highlights of 2020
You may be thinking: highlights and 2020 in the same sentence?! Despite a challenging year in so many ways for all of us, the ELN has done our best to make the most impact we could. And boy, was there impact! We launched new programming, hosted thirteen events, and brought hundreds of rising leaders to […]
3 ways to get involved in #GivingTuesday in the GTHA!
by Nicole Danesi, Communications Lead with the ELN Executive Committee and Associate Manager of Donor Marketing with CanadaHelps Following the retail rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday is a day celebrating generosity and giving in all forms. On December 1st, 2020, millions of Canadians and people around the world will come together (while […]
ELN Spotlight: Leslie Woo
From founding member of the ELN, to the new CEO of CivicAction! We’re so excited to be welcoming Leslie Woo, a respected leader with over 25 years of experience building sustainable communities and shaping urban growth, to the team. Learn more about Leslie and her city-building journey. My name is… Leslie Woo I speak (other […]
Fellows in Focus: Kendra Kerr
Reflections on allyship and anti-racism conversations Kendra Kerr is a member of the DiverseCity Fellows 2020 cohort and Manager, Partnerships and Projects at MLSE Foundation. The world is changing. The activism we are seeing today through massive social media campaigns (#blackouttuesday), or countless brands releasing statements calling for racial justice, or even the significant demonstrations […]
DiverseCity Fellows: An Open Discussion on Anti-Racism
On June 6th, CivicAction held a space for 2020 DiverseCity Fellows to discuss the ongoing issues of systemic racism in our region. It was an exercise in vulnerability, active listening, empathy, and critical thinking on subject matter that often can be uncomfortable and difficult to address. The Fellows session focused on how diverse leaders are […]
Real Talk on Anti-Black Racism in the GTHA
On June 18, the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) Co-Chairs Letecia Rose and Idil Burale and Executive Committee members Debora Jesus and Anika Harford hosted Real Talk with Black Leaders, a dedicated space for Black rising leaders in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) to come together to share experiences and aspirations for building a […]
Real Talk on Reconciliation: Allyship in Action
On June 23rd, the ELN brought together rising and risen leaders from the Indigenous community in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area for Real Talk on Reconciliation. Over 100 ELNers joined us to hear what these incredible Indigenous rising leaders had to say about allyship, land acknowledgements, taking action beyond Indigenous History Month, and more. Below […]
Canada’s recovery planning must include people with disabilities
COVID-19 has exacerbated existing gaps and inequalities
ELN Spotlight: Active Allyship in Reconciliation
Honouring the diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and cultures also means acknowledging the challenges these communities face and the role rising-leaders must play in supporting them. Celebrating National Indigenous History Month marks our ongoing commitment to supporting education and active allyship within the ELN. As we work to overcome systemic racism, while […]
Digital Dish with Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie: Top 5 Takeaways
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emerging Leaders Network has heard loud and clear that rising leaders from across the GTHA are looking for opportunities to engage with decision-makers and contribute to important conversations around relief and recovery. On May 19th, CivicAction brought together nearly 100 rising leaders for an ELN Digital Dish with Mayor Bonnie […]
ELN Spotlight: Anna-Kay Russel
Meet Anna-Kay Russel. Originally born in Kingston, Jamaica and now calling Toronto home, Anna-Kay is a passionate policy professional involved in both Leading Change Canada and the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance. But her biggest city building accomplishment is co-founding the first-ever Toronto Black Policy Conference, an event that brought together 300 Black policy professionals […]
CivicAction Announces 2020 DiverseCity Fellows as Toronto Region Leadership Unites for COVID-19 Response
Posted on Cision. TORONTO (May 13, 2020) – Over the past few months Canada’s leaders have stepped up to address the COVID-19 pandemic. But as we move through recovery and build back a better region, there’s a unique opportunity to increase diversity in our leadership ranks and plug new voices into decision making tables. That’s […]
Fellows in Focus: Brad Bradford
Leading an All-Hands-on-Deck Effort (and How DiverseCity Fellows Played a Part!) A profile on 2018 DiverseCity Fellow Alumna Brad Bradford. TIME IN THE DIVERSECITY FELLOWS PROGRAM How would you describe your Fellows experience? What were the biggest take-aways for you both during and post program? For me, the DiverseCity Fellows program was one of the most […]
Re:Action Task Force of Rising and Risen Leaders Launched for COVID-19 Recovery
As our region looks to recover and rebuild from COVID-19, we need to ensure that a diverse set of voices are included at decision making tables. As part of this effort, CivicAction was thrilled to kick off our Re:Action Task Force on April 28, 2020. Co-Chaired by Toronto City Councillor and 2018 DiverseCity Fellow Brad […]
ELN Spotlight: Rising Leaders Rise to the Challenge
COVID-19 has brought on unprecedented challenges worldwide and emerging leaders across the GTHA are rising to the challenge. From stepping outside of their comfort zones through job redeployment to the front-lines, to leading innovative strategies within their organizations in response to our “new normal”, we’re celebrating the many ways emerging leaders across the GTHA are […]
COVID-19 & the ELN: Five Key Issues from Rising Leaders
We asked. The ELN answered. Between March 24 and April 2, 2020, we canvassed over 200 ELN members to get a better idea on how they’ve been affected by COVID-19, which supports they need now, and how they want to be part the GTHA’s recovery efforts. Whether it was through our recent online survey, in […]
Grow your network with #ELNonline: Mentorship
As virtual becomes the new normal, we’re leveraging a new tool in the ELN Facebook group that matches members who are interested in participating in online mentorship and facilitates digital meet-ups or chats. Here’s how it works: Join the Group: Join by clicking ‘Mentorship’ in the left sidebar of the Emerging Leaders Network Group on […]
ELN Spotlight: 15 Ways to Stay Connected
As a network of rising leaders actively plugged into civic issues, we know it can be difficult to practice social distancing (especially for those extroverts among us). At a time when we’re being called to step up and stay home, organizations and individuals are coming forward with innovative initiatives and resources to help us manage […]
ELN Reflections: What Obama Taught Me About Leadership
Debora Jesus is a 2020-21 ELN Communications Lead and the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Ryerson University’s Legal Innovation Zone. Learn more about Debora here. On January 23rd, the Economic Club of Canada launched an event series on the future of work and the new economy. The forum opened with Future Skills: A Conversation with […]
ELN Member Spotlight: Debora Jesus
Meet Debora Jesus. Debora is one of the 2020-21 ELN Communications Leads and the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Ryerson University’s Legal Innovation Zone. Debora was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and moved to Canada in 2015, where she completed a Master of Arts in Communication and New Media at McMaster University. Prior to her […]
Fellows in Focus: Ruby Latif
Connecting with Community A profile on 2013-14 DiverseCity Fellow Ruby Latif. It’s rare to find someone who harnesses the power of connecting with community as masterfully as Ruby Latif—the driving force behind meaningful community relations for some of Ontario’s most high profile political campaigns. Ruby started engaging with her community from a young age. While […]