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 current role, Debora worked at Skills for Change, a not-for-profit organization serving immigrants and refugees in the GTHA. Debora believes empathy is an important tool to connect people and foster collaboration.
To learn more about Debora, read her spotlight below.
I speak (other than English)…
My first language is Portugues (not Spanish!) and I’m also a French student (working towards a Certificate in French Proficiency) who can get around with some “portunhol” (a mix of Portuguese and Spanish).
I was born in…
I was born in Osasco, a municipality that used to be a district of Sao Paulo – the largest city in South America. Osasco was founded in the 19th century by an Italian immigrant, which explains my love for panettone, lasagna, and all Italian dishes.
But I currently live in…
I currently live in Toronto, but it wasn’t until recently that I started to enjoy living here. In the first years, I was always back in Hamilton, where I studied and lived for two years. Hamilton felt like a home away from home, where all my new friends and chosen family were. I now enjoy the practicality of living in Toronto and how diverse the city is.
I spend most of my free time…
I spend most of my free time working out (which feels like therapy) and when it is sunny outside I like to go for long walks in the city and hiking whenever I can!
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are…
On a personal note, I am concerned about affordability. I find it very hard for newcomers, and those who cannot rely on their family’s assets, to thrive. In Toronto, most of our income goes towards paying rent, which prevents us from actively engaging with activities that could make our lives more comfortable in the present and in the future.
I’m also concerned about the future of work and the lack of good full-time permanent jobs. The gig economy is here to stay and people are expected to hone their soft skills, but when you come from another country, English is not your first language, and you’re not used to your new work culture, it is challenging to adapt and thrive as a young professional.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is …
I am very fortunate to have worked on important city-building initiatives in all my roles. Currently, I support change-makers who are making legal services and the justice system faster, more accessible and more affordable. In the past, I used my communication skills to connect with Syrian refugees through a program that was providing them with English classes, settlement services, and professional training. Besides the Syrian refugee community, my previous role also allowed me to connect with other newcomers and marginalized members of the GTHA that needed help accessing employment, housing, etc.
One characteristic every leader should possess is…
Every leader should see the potential in supporting their teams and activating their team members’ voices. Diverse teams bring different perspectives to the table, and that’s the very core of innovation. To innovate is to do things differently, better than how they were done before. You cannot expect to have an innovative team if you’re not willing to support them and listen to what they have to say.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is…
I’m an avid reader. My coworkers always joke about my constant visits to the Toronto Public Library. But besides reading, I also enjoy learning from people and their experiences. All my colleagues and the people I get to know through volunteering are a great source of inspiration and learning moments.
If you want to get more engaged in your city or community you should ….
Get out of your comfort zone and go meet people. It can be scary and intimidating, but most rewarding things usually are! As an introvert, I know how challenging it can be. However, all the great experiences I had so far happened when I decided I cared too much about something to let fear get in the way.
Our region has a beautiful community of engaged people who are trying to make a difference. If you don’t know where to start, you should consider joining the ELN!
One surprising thing about me/little known fact is… (can be personal or professional!)
I’m a cat rescuer. It started back home when I would listen to stray cats crying at night with nothing to eat. I used to bring them home, get them fixed and look for potential adopters. I now do similar work with Toronto Cat Rescue, where I’m a foster parent and a foster coordinator – helping other foster parents take good care of their cats.
To me, leadership means…
Leadership means (1) supporting and encouraging others to succeed and (2) deeply caring about issues and intentionally working towards mitigating them.
Diverse leadership is important because…
Diverse leadership is important because we don’t live in isolation. We are all part of a global community that depends on collaboration to flourish. Listening to different perspectives and respecting them is not only the right thing to do, it is also a business advantage.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like…
An inclusive region is a place where its inhabitants are not afraid to discuss their concerns and engage with each other to look for solutions. An inclusive region is also a place where leaders understand the importance of collaboration and listening to all voices.
The impact I hope to see through my term with the ELN is…
I hope the communications efforts in my term will help the ELN increase its reach by connecting with those who feel discouraged and unheard. It is great that a lot of us feel confident enough to join civic discussions, but I would also like to hear from those who are usually not part of the conversation. Through social media, one-on-one conversations, partnerships with other community organizations, and our programming for the next two years, I hope to see more faces joining our civic leaders community.