Meet Benjamin Bongolan. Originally from Mississauga, Benjamin now works in Toronto at The 519, where he strives to support communities and impact issues like equity, racism, homophobia, and the challenges of the immigration process. Benjamin wants to build a city where everyone has equal access to supports and feels proud of who they are.
To learn more about Benjamin, read his spotlight below.
My full name is…
Benjamin Enverga Bongolan
I was born in …
Manila, Philippines. My Filipino heritage and family histories have been a significant part of my community work journey. My family came to Canada in the 80’s and in the early 90’s began organizing within the Filipino community in Toronto. My uncle and mentor, the late Tobias Combalicer Enverga Jr. organized many events and medical mission trips to the Philippines. I remember attending fundraisers growing up and witnessed the power of community organizing at a young age. He was eventually elected to be a TCDSB Trustee and in 2012, appointed to the Senate of Canada.
I currently live in …
Mississauga. I love the City Hall/Celebration Square area: visiting the YMCA, Central Library, Square One, Whole Foods Market is my perfect weekend! And thanks to mobility service providers, Mississauga is (finally) accessible for me!
I speak …
Tagalog/ Filipino
Diverse leadership is important because …
It gives people an opportunity look at complex social problems, challenges, and possibilities from a perspective different from their own.
Civic engagement is important because …
It empowers people to learn about political systems, provides them opportunities to be vocal advocates for change, and learn about to how make changes within the system.
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are …
Working with LGBTQ2S communities, newcomers, youth, and families across the city, I witness the dearth of affordable services in certain parts of Toronto which often makes people feel disconnected and invisible. I feel that service providers must strive to be intentional in their outreach and connect with demographics that are often systematically excluded from accessing services.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is …
Facilitating LGBTQ2S inclusion trainings with The 519 across the city. In these workshops we provide an overview of the LGBTQ2S spectrum, concepts of inclusion, strategies in creating safer spaces, group dynamics, and a learning market-place for participants to discuss how they can be an ally for LGBTQ2S people. I’ve been welcomed by universities, school boards, corporations, and the non-profit sector to do this work.
In addition, I am a recipient of the 2018 Emerging Leader Award from my alma matter, Victoria College at the University of Toronto, joined the 2018 DiverseCity Fellows cohort, and in 2016 I was nominated for a J.S. Woodsworth Award for Human Rights and Equity.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is …
Do my best to maintain a balance in life. The more I work in my field the more I realize how important it is to keep myself calm and centered, which is especially important when having challenging conversations, engaging in de-escalation, or supporting colleagues and community members.
One characteristic every leader should possess is …
Be open to meeting new people and experiences. I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to work with many diverse communities that have had a significant impact on how I approach community work.
If you want to get more engaged in your city or community you should …
Volunteer if you have the opportunity. As an undergrad I volunteered at the Filipino Centre Toronto’s (FCT) Parliament and Wellesley location and tutored elementary and high school students. Volunteering at the FCT sparked my passion for community work and led to my first job in newcomer settlement services with For Youth Initiative.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like …
A place where we can be proud of who and what we are and where our personal histories, sexual orientation and gender identity are affirmed and celebrated.
One of my favourite places in the GTHA to visit/go is …
Yes Yes Y’all parties and the second floor of Crew’s and Tangos for dancing. I also love hanging out in a library.
A hobby/talent of mine that people may not know about …
I’m Level 40 in Pokemon Go.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or deceased …
Hayao Miyazaki. I love his films and I have always wanted to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum in Japan. We’d talk about Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro.
Given that it is both Pride Month and National Indigenous History Month, can you share what being an ally means to you? How can individuals exercise allyship?
To me, allyship is thinking critically about “safer spaces” and what that can look like for an individual based on their lived experiences. Correspondingly, allyship for me also means recognizing the diversity that exists in the Indigenous, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQQI+ communities, and how these people have unique backgrounds and understandings of inclusivity and safer spaces. Allies can take advantage of the educational, networking, and dialogue that is happening this month around inclusion and accessibility, talk to people, and learn about what safer spaces means to them. Guided by what you learn, implement these ideas and strategies in the physical spaces you occupy, and in the way you communicate, educate, and advocate.