If you’ve read our March 2020 ELN Newsletter, you’d know that we are 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 […]
Program Updates
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 […]
CivicAction Calls on Toronto Region Game-Changers for 2020 DiverseCity Fellows
TORONTO, Jan. 8, 2020 /CNW/ – Nearly 80% of Canadians say they think CEOs should take the lead on change. Yet as people look to leaders for action, decision-making tables continue to lack a rich cross-section of backgrounds, experiences or skills needed to effectively tackle tomorrow’s most pressing challenges. To change the leadership game in […]
A fond farewell from your 2018-19 ELN Co-Chairs
Dear ELN Network, As our term as ELN Co-Chairs comes to a close, we can’t help but reflect on our journey and want to thank the many incredible people who helped make this an extraordinary two years advancing the most pressing challenges that face the GTHA. When we began our journey in January 2018, we […]
A view from the sidelines at The Emerging Leaders Bootcamp
Written by CivicAction’s Communications Intern, Kyle Hayward. On November 16th emerging leaders rose bright and early ready to break a sweat for ELNstudio: Better Leader Bootcamp, located at U of T’s Daniels Architecture building. My role as part of the Communications team was to document the day’s events and amplify #ELNbootcamp. Nearly 150 ELNers registered […]
A debate is worth watching, even if it won’t change your mind
ELN Communications Lead Sean Mackay is a digital marketing and communications professional working in Toronto’s real estate industry. Sean works as Managing Director at Livabl, an online publication that helps consumers better understand and navigate the real estate market. Sean is a mentor with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), an organization that addresses […]
What matters this election? Some insights from Hamilton young leaders
2018-20 ELN Communications Lead Alyssa Lai is a permanent resident in Canada. While she can’t vote in Canadian elections, she enjoys being a fly on the wall as she observes and follows election and current affairs news. Alyssa is fascinated by the discourse around various social, economic, and political issues and shares her thoughts regularly […]
#AskELNExec chat with Alyssa Lai
On July 23, we had a Ask Me Anything Twitter chat with current ELN Communications Lead Alyssa Lai to learn more about her experience on the ELN Executive Committee. Read below to find out what Alyssa has to say about her time on the committee! Alyssa, why did you apply for a position on the […]
Apply to join the ELN Executive Committee! (Applications now closed)
Do you want to take your leadership skills to the next level, create opportunities for next gen leaders, and expand and diversify your network? NOTE: Applications for ELN Executive closed on August 12, 2019. Stay tuned on this website to be the first to hear about the new ELN executive team. Apply now to be […]
Apply to be an ELN Co-Chair! (Applications now closed)
Do you love your city and want to be a part of making it even better? NOTE: Applications for ELN Co-Chair closed on June 24, 2019. Stay tuned on this website to be the first to hear about ELN Executive Member recruitment. Apply now to be an Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) Co-Chair where you’ll lead […]
Here’s what in store for the ELN in 2019
We’re off and running in 2019! It’s a whole new year and our plans are bigger, bolder, and better. First off, thanks so much to all those network members who braved the weather and came out to our 2019 Snowcial at The Gladstone Hotel. The event name was way more apt than we had expected […]
Your year with the ELN.
When they said time flies, they forgot to mention that it flies on rocket fuel. It seems like just yesterday we met for the first time to map out our vision for 2018. Now we’re already planning out how we can make next year’s programming even bigger and better. Our amazing ELN community has made […]
The big three: Transit, healthcare, and safety
Written by: Yiming, Age 16, from Centre for Immigrant and Community Services Walking down the streets of downtown Toronto and watching people from every social class hurrying by each other to their fulfilled and busy life can be seen as unique and astonishing. The clear blue sky, the fresh green belt, all kinds of fancy cars […]
Working with corporate Canada to reduce poverty
Written by: Dave D’Oyen, from CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network Toronto has again been labelled the child poverty capital of Canada. Housing has become unaffordable, even for dual income families. Individuals with lower incomes are being forced out of the downtown, some even out of the city. The challenges are many. My vision of Toronto is a […]
Starting each day with a shower, coffee, and a vision for Hamilton
Written by: Dave Heidebrecht, from CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network Most mornings of my life follow the same routine. Early alarm. Quick shower. Hot coffee. Clean clothes. Off and running. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Recently, however, my morning routine changed. In September 2017, my wife and I welcomed our son into the world—he is hands down the […]
Creating paths to jobs that pursue passion and pay the bills
Written by: Renaldo Brown, from Citizen Empowerment Project In the city that we live in today, the system is sets us up for failure and every year this cycle repeats. For both parents and children who grow up in the urban areas of Toronto, life has always been difficult. A parent’s duty is to go […]
Tapping into the power of politically engaged youth
Written by: Rayne Fisher-Quann, from CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network There’s a common belief that young people don’t care about politics – that we’re uneducated, or apathetic, or lethargic. This couldn’t be further from the truth. My generation is one of the most passionate, active, revolutionary generations in history: whether you look at the Parkland activists, […]
Making Toronto the city where the world meets
Written by: Owais Lightwala, 2018 DiverseCity Fellow, from CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network If I were Mayor, I would aim to make Toronto the city where the world meets. My campaign might be called something like “One World, One Toronto”, or “We’re For One Six” (get it? It’s a pun. Okay, maybe I’ll get someone else […]
Keeping our communities safe
Written by: Oliver, Age 16, from Centre for Immigrant and Community Services Since I am already the mayor of Toronto, let me just cut right to the case. I think the main problem for Toronto right now is its security. As the largest city in Canada, it is not safe enough. Toronto ranked 17th out of […]
Prioritizing mental health awareness, after-school programs, and community safety
Written by: Nana Agyemang, from Citizen Empowerment Project My name is Nana Agyemang and I am 25 years old, born and raised in the lovely city of Toronto. Living in Toronto is great, and one of the reasons why all love Toronto is because we have all kinds of different characters in Toronto, and Toronto acknowledges […]
The roof over our heads: creating affordable housing
Written by: Imanzi Kayitare, from CivicAction’s Emerging Leaders Network If I were mayor of a municipality, one issue that I would seek to champion is affordable housing, with a focus on supporting residents in precarious situations. I believe that a city mayor can have a big impact on creating a caring and nurturing city that builds […]
Toronto for all: engaging citizens in the city’s decision-making
Written by: HuSainatu Barrie, from Citizen Empowerment Project Toronto is an extremely diverse and multicultural city. If I were mayor, I would acknowledge this and emphasize it in all the decisions and choices I make. The first thing I’d do is work to create many opportunities for citizens by increasing employment and producing more jobs. I […]
Food security as a fundamental right for all Torontonians
Written by: Erika Dupuis, Toronto Youth Cabinet Urban Health Lead on behalf of the Urban Health Working Group, including members Sophia DiNocolo & Mariana Villada Rivera Food insecurity is not a new issue to Toronto. Food insecurity is a continually growing problem for numerous communities across wards; it is time we start paying closer attention to its […]
A student’s take on rethinking education
Written by: Anonymous, age 15, from the Centre for Immigrant and Community Services If I were a Mayor, I would make a few adjustments to the Board of Education. To start, I would disregard the reinforcement of the curriculum. These days, every course is becoming simpler and simpler; students receive an extra hour when writing […]