Meet Jesse Darling, one of our fearless ELN co-chairs. As Manager of Policy Innovation Platform at the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship, she works to designs initiatives that bring human insights into policy development and service design. When not at work, you can also spot Jesse volunteering, picking up a stack of holds from the library, or experimenting in the kitchen. Discover Jesse’s thoughts on making municipal elections more inclusive, how she uses reading to fuel her leadership growth, and her top issues she feels are facing our city.
To learn more about Jesse, read her spotlight below.
I speak (other than English) …
French.
I was born in …
Toronto, where I currently live.
I spend most of my free time… (Tell us about your passions and what you do for fun!)
I do a lot of volunteer work. As Co-Chair of the ELN, I work with the Executive Team to shape programming that aligns with our strategy and sit on the Board of Directors of CivicAction. When I’m not volunteering, I’m most likely visiting a Toronto Public Library to pick up my holds or trying out a new recipe.
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are…
The top issues in Toronto stem from inequality. This impacts everything from access to decent work, affordable housing, parks and recreation and basic city services.
If I were mayor, I would…
Give permanent residents the right to vote in municipal elections. Nearly half of Toronto’s population is born outside Canada, if we want to be the most diverse AND inclusive city, we need to remove barriers that limit participation in our democracy.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is…
Being Co-Chair of the ELN network. Working with a team of bright, thoughtful city-builders who demonstrate a new model for civic leadership makes me really proud.
One characteristic every leader should possess is…
Being open minded. Great leaders surround themselves with people who will challenge their thinking and assumptions, listen to their perspectives and develop a pathway forward by processing divergent ideas.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is…
I read a lot. Different newspapers give me diverse perspectives on a particular policy or issue. Biographies and historical fiction to better understand the lived experiences of different populations and build empathy. Non-fiction to build capacity in emerging technologies, disciplines and management styles and finally design and innovation magazines / blogs to unleash my creativity.
If you want to get more engaged in your city or community you should ….
There are so many ways to be more engaged in your city or community. Join your local Toronto Library Branch, attend a condo board meeting, support local businesses. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to community engagement. You need to do what’s right for you.
To me, leadership means…
Empowering colleagues to be their best selves, celebrating their successes and encouraging them to learn from their mistakes.
Diverse leadership is important because.
It’s 2018.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like…
All residents, regardless of race, age or socioeconomic status, having access to the same opportunities, programs and services.
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Know of an impressive rising leader doing great things across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area? Tell us about them! Nominate an ELNer for a spotlight.