Laura Anonen is a Community Development Worker at Don Valley Community Legal Services. She works with community members, tenant groups, organizations, and elected officials to ensure the legal clinic is aware of issues impacting the communities they serve, as well as advocacy and law reform opportunities. 

She has over ten years of experience working in the non-profit sector and municipal government. She worked for a Toronto City Councillor for six years prior to her current role, where she managed communications, outreach, and housing and tenant matters, including assisting with the development of a potential renoviction bylaw. 

Laura has served on the Board of Directors of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) since 2021. 

Laura has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Environmental Policy from the University of Toronto, as well as a Certificate in Strategic Public Relations from the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies. 

Guled Arale has been an advocate for Scarborough for over a decade. Guled has extensive experience working inside and outside of government and with community groups, to gain a deep understanding of how the system works, leading his activism to tangible results. In Guled’s many roles, he always needed to oversee and coordinate numerous projects and events that involved outreach to community members and capacity-building. In his current role as the Program Coordinator for the Scarborough Civic Action Network, Guled has been leading initiatives to get residents engaged in the political process. Guled has also had experience working with various equity seeking communities and groups, including Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+, and racialized communities. 

Dr. Michaela Beder is a psychiatrist with Inner City Health Associates and at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. Her work is focused on improving the system for, and providing care to, people who experience severe mental illness, homelessness, substance use, criminalization, and immigration-related difficulties. She is the Director of Mental Health and Substance Use Care for Inner City Health Associates, and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She is the Equity and Social Justice Lead for the Department of Psychiatry’s general residency program. Dr. Beder is also a community organizer working together with allies at Health Providers Against Poverty and the Healthcare for All Coalition, and on issues of immigration detention.

Juana Berinstein is a non-profit leader with experience in systems change, policy advocacy, strategic planning, and fostering stakeholder engagement. In her role as Director of Policy and Communications at the Association of Ontario Midwives (since 2007), she has led policy change in reproductive rights, including the renewal of Indigenous midwifery, equitable healthcare access for 2SLGBTQ, immigrant, and racialized communities, the establishment of birth centres, improved abortion care access, intersectional gender-based analysis, and pay equity. Juana holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Culture from York University and Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto. She served as a fellow at the Wolf Willow Institute and is a published author and public speaker. In addition to her professional work, Juana has held volunteer roles as a board member, mentor, trustee, and community advisor. 

Hermia Corbette’s extensive career within the public and non-profit sector, most notably as the Executive Director of Community Development Council Durham (CDCD), is marked by her unwavering dedication to fostering safer and more inclusive spaces for individuals, families, and communities. Employing an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, intersectional perspective and social policy lens, she oversees a wide array of programs encompassing newcomer services, community development and research, housing retention, homelessness prevention, and more, all while championing CDCD’s mission. 

As a board member of several umbrella agencies, she shapes immigration policies in Durham Region and promotes social inclusion and community well-being. Moreover, she advocates for the rights of immigrants and refugees in Ontario and reaffirms her commitment to promoting equity in marginalized communities. With a background in social work and extensive experience in dispute resolution, Hermia’s 17-year career in management positions with community agencies is fueled by her passion for positive change. 

Ryan Erb is a long-time resident of Stratford, is married, and has three beautiful daughters. Ryan has more than 25 years of non-profit management, community development, fundraising, and marketing experience, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the United Way Perth-Huron. 

Ryan has been, and continues to be, an active volunteer with other non-profit organizations, including Rotary, Living Wage Canada, Libro Credit Union, and his church. In these roles and others, he has amassed more than 35 years of non-profit board experience. With that experience and related education as a board consultant, Ryan often helps non-profit organizations over and above his job. Ryan enjoys hiking, hockey, and spending time with friends. He holds a Master of Arts degree in leadership, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Development/Peace and Conflict, and a Bachelor of Religious Education degree in Counselling. He is also a Certified Board Governance Trainer. 

Samantha Fernandes is a Project Manager at the Ending Violence Association of Canada (EVA Canada), working in the field of gender-based violence (GBV). She has over 16 years of experience working in community settings, both at the front-line and management levels. During this time, she has gained valuable experience in stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and program development. This professional experience, coupled with her Master of Social Work degree, has made her a strategic partnership developer, systemic thinker, and innovative problem solver. Samantha’s approach to this work is rooted in her belief that systemic social problems such as poverty and violence require creative thinking and brave conversations. She is passionate about making connections between the structural and the personal, as well as mobilizing collective resources to drive effective and strategic advocacy solutions. Samantha’s interests lie in disrupting traditional narratives, exploring progressive models of leadership, and engaging in creative advocacy that can address complex social issues and lead to societal transformation. 

Carolyn Ferns is the Public Policy Coordinator at the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), Ontario’s central advocacy group for a universal, affordable early learning and childcare system. Carolyn has been active in Canada’s childcare movement for over 20 years, including as an Early Childhood Educator, policy researcher, and advocate. Carolyn sits on the boards of both Child Care Now (Canada’s national childcare advocacy association) and the Childcare Resource and Research Unit. She is the author of many articles, reports, and position papers on childcare policy, including the Roadmap to Universal Child Care in Ontario. Carolyn has a Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. 

Jordan MacInnis began her career as a news and current affairs researcher at the CBC and has worked in media ever since. As Director of Domestic Programs at Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), an international NGO, she oversees programming that supports journalistic communities in Canada and internationally. She led JHR’s resettlement response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University. 

Yamikani Msosa (they/them) is an award-winning Black neurodivergent nonbinary activist and cultural worker based on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. Since Fall 2023, they serve as the Executive Director at the Ottawa Coalition To End Violence Against Women. Yami’s recent advocacy, as the Network Engagement Manager at the Ontario Nonprofit Network, focused on decent work and racial justice supporting Black and Indigenous grassroots groups. Yamikani is currently an advisory board member of Black Femme Legal and Co-Chair of the B-WGGD Initiative Advisory, showcasing a dedicated commitment to advancing gender equity for Black women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals in Canada. In 2017, they founded SEEDS, a yoga class for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. 

Tonny Muzira, Co-founder of the Centre for Black Development Options Canada (CBDOC), is a social worker, community advocate, and public health practitioner with a passion for making a positive impact. With over eight years of experience, Tonny has been a force in lobbying for public policy changes. As an HIV advocate, women’s rights activist, and gender equality champion, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of sexual and reproductive health services. His commitment extends to advocating for young people, adolescents, and people with special abilities (PWDs), fostering HIV prevention, coordination, and clinical research. Tonny is a part of the African-Canada Strategic Refugee Housing Crisis Team in Toronto, collaborating with Dominion Church and other African-led organizations to address challenges faced by immigrants. Having worked in global health in Uganda and Africa, Tonny has served on various boards as a youth representative, contributing to international health initiatives. In Ontario, he focuses on building strategic partnerships and supporting advocacy engagements with Black immigrants, refugees, and partners. 

Alex Noreau is a creative and dedicated advocate committed to addressing food insecurity in Ottawa. Serving as the Officer of Communications and Advocacy at the Ottawa Food Bank, a non-profit organization working in partnership with a network of 112 member agencies to create a healthier city by empowering people, increasing access to healthy food, and advocating for systemic changes that reduce food insecurity. 

Alex integrates community engagement and storytelling as integral aspects of her work. She firmly believes in the transformative impact of evidence-informed policy solutions, actively supporting the development of initiatives that target income-based solutions to address the complex issues of food insecurity and poverty. 

Maryam Pandi (she/her) is a non-profit leader and community advocate and currently serves as the Executive Director of Choice in Health Clinic. Recognized as one of the 30 Young Impact Leaders to Watch by Future of Good in 2022, she is passionate about social justice and grounds her work in intersectional feminism and anti-oppressive values. In her daily work, Maryam engages in community building through a gender-equity lens and strives to contribute to a just and equitable future for all. Before joining Choice in Health Clinic, Maryam was the Executive Director at Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, where she led the organization during the pandemic and helped revamp its programs and policies to better serve the diverse community of survivors. 

Ashley Quan is the Manager of Research and Government Relations at Feed Ontario, a charity that supports a network of food banks across the province. Her work focuses on creating tools and opportunities for food banks to engage in community organizing and advocacy, producing research on how food bank use intersects with social, labour, and housing policy, and working with government partners and like-minded coalitions to advance evidence-based solutions to food insecurity and poverty. 

As a passionate advocate for active transportation and city-building, Ashley currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors at Cycle Toronto and has worked on several municipal and provincial electoral campaigns. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, crafting, and cooking, and has recently set a goal to visit all of Canada’s national parks. 

Vanessa Rankin is Director of External Relations with the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, Canada’s leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth in the child welfare system. With a strong history in government relations and stakeholder engagement, Vanessa is focused on advancing social impact in Canada’s child welfare landscape and is committed to continual learning and action that seeks to dismantle the devastating impacts of colonization. Before the Foundation, Vanessa led mental health advocacy for Ontarians as Director of Policy and Communications at the Ontario Association of Social Workers and has worked in direct practice as a social worker with children, youth, and families across jurisdictions, including northern Canada. Vanessa has taught as an Adjunct Professor, received the Canadian Association of Social Workers’ Distinguished Service Award, and is passionate about and committed to decolonizing her practice and advocating for equitable social policies. 

Sahar Raza is the Vice President, Research and Advocacy, Daily Bread Food Bank and sits on Oxfam Canada’s Board of Directors. As a daughter of immigrants and racial justice advocates, she is deeply committed to amplifying marginalized voices and championing practical pathways to social and environmental justice. She has successfully advocated with human rights bodies at the United Nations and in Canada and has over a decade of experience in policy research and analysis, communications, and movement-building, all focused on tackling systemic issues rooted in colonialism, discrimination, and privatization. She now works to build more equitable and just societies through the implementation of fundamental human rights, both locally and abroad. 

Sahar holds a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Culture from York University and Toronto Metropolitan University (jointly), a Graduate Diploma in Communication Studies from Concordia University, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science degree from McMaster University. 

Diana Sarosi is the Director of Policy and Campaigns at Oxfam, leading a team of advocates working to advance gender justice and tackle growing inequality by influencing governments, corporations, and multilateral bodies and mobilizing the public into action. She is focused on building alliances for collective actions and supporting feminist movements. 

She is a long-standing feminist advocate, with more than 15 years of experience working with non-governmental organizations in Canada and throughout Southeast Asia. Diana previously worked for the Nobel Women’s Initiative and grassroots organizations throughout Southeast Asia. She lived five years in Thailand and founded an NGO working to protect human rights defenders. 

Diana holds degrees in Political Science and Conflict Resolution and has published several reports, articles, and op-eds.

Mohy-Dean Tabbara is Policy Advisor at Maytree, where he leads the organization’s income security policy file. His work uses a human rights lens to focus on reducing the rate and depth of poverty and transforming Canada’s social safety net. He co-authors the Welfare in Canada report, and authors the Social Assistance Summaries report. Before joining Maytree, Mohy was a Researcher at the Institute for Research on Public Policy where he worked on several policy issues, including income security, criminal justice reform, and institution building. Mohy holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from McGill University. 

Bibiana Virguez is a project manager with a focus on food justice, anti-oppression, community organizing, and community-led approaches. Bibiana was born and raised in Colombia and sees food as a driver to have great conversations and inspire change. As a BIPOC immigrant, she advocates for shifting power redistribution and decision-making to the voices doing the work. Bibiana is the Director of Advocacy and Programs at FoodShare. She leads the Right to Food Campaign to update the Food Charter with the City of Toronto. She also supports program managers in implementing initiatives that centre the food justice lens in urban agriculture projects, food education workshops, and governance models for grassroots. Bibiana’s role is centred on collaboration and how the connection to the land and people can inspire systemic changes. Bibiana is the mother of a beautiful toddler, which drives her interest in continuing to explore how our responsibilities and interactions with family, nature, and communities can shift society! 

Savhanna J Wilson (they/them) is the Acting Executive Director at the Toronto Alliance to End Homelessness. They grew up in rural Saskatchewan and currently live, work, and organize in Toronto. With a background in community-based participatory action research, policy, advocacy, housing, and community development, they have spent the past 13 years supporting diverse communities in exploring the work of values alignment, equity-based strategic development, and community-driven and collaborative interventions and policy changes to address systemic social inequalities. 

Rooted in anti-oppression and human rights, transformative justice, harm reduction, and collective impact, their work is driven by their values and organized around progressive and sustainable social change. 

They believe that collaboration is the pathway to justice and are committed to a liberatory future.