In an increasingly globalized and inter-connected world, the importance of diversity and inclusion has never been more important. While we are fortunate to live in one of the most diverse regions in there world, there is still much to be done to ensure that we are creating communities where different perspectives, views and ideas are valued and all voices have an equal opportunity to contribute.
Through the delivery of world class leadership programs, the CivicAction Leadership Foundation is committed to harnessing the power of diverse leaders to build strong, dynamic and inclusive cities, and providing a platform that inspires, educates and empowers all voices to influence and shape our region.
About CivicAction's DiverseCity Fellows Program
CivicAction’s DiverseCity Fellows is an award-winning program for diverse rising leaders in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) who are interested in impacting change in their communities. The Fellowship came out of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a partnership between Maytree and CivicAction, which identified the need for more diverse leadership to create a stronger and more prosperous region. Click here to learn more about the history of the initiative.
With a focus on inclusive leadership and driving impact, this free year-long program provides participants with opportunities for personal leadership development while growing a strong network of civic-minded peers across sectors. Past participants have noted that it helped further their leadership journey while also helping them contribute to their community in a meaningful way post-program.
CivicAction has graduated close to 200 rising civic stars from the DiverseCity Fellows program, each receiving 100+ hours of intensive leadership training and programming.
Build Your Own DiverseCity Fellows Program in Your Community
For almost a decade, DiverseCity Fellows has proven to be a successful model for identifying and supporting diverse rising leaders in communities. In an effort to build leadership capacity across all sectors in our province, CivicAction has created a shareable model for other organizations across Ontario to implement the DiverseCity Fellows program in their local communities. With support from the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, CivicAction has created this toolkit, which includes lessons learned and best practice guidelines for implementing the DiverseCity Fellows program.
It is our hope that sharing this guidebook will create a stronger and more prosperous province where all individuals, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to shape the communities they live in.
The CivicAction DiverseCity Fellows shareable model guidebook is a detailed program guide that addresses key program elements including program design, recruitment, mentoring, project incubation, etc. It also include:
- Best practices and advice based on nearly 10 years of program delivery;
- Various templates and tools to support in developing your own cross-sectoral leadership program;
- Contact information for program advisors/subject matter experts to answer questions; and
- A draft Statement of Diversity and Inclusion that can be used as a template for other organizations looking to develop a statement or policy.
Video of 2017 Info Session
For More Information
For more information or specific questions about CivicAction’s DiverseCity Fellows program, please contact Seher Shafiq, Program Manager – DiverseCity Fellows at seher.shafiq@civicaction.ca or 416-309-4480 ext. 518.