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Stories
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Championing mental health - working towards social equity for all Carolina Berinstein, Canadian Mental Health Association - Toronto Branch Committed to reducing health and social inequities, Carolina has 15 years experience planning, implementing and evaluating programs and research projects to make health equity a reality. Learn More ›› |
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Building a movement Che Kothari, Manifesto One of Toronto’s up and coming leaders in the arts Che is an established photographer dedicated to fostering other young artists in his city and around the world. Learn More ›› |
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Crisis intervention by prevention Karen Letofsky, Distress Centres of Toronto Karen knows crisis intervention. Her career spans 35 years and includes the merging of all telephone distress services in Toronto into one organization in 2001. Learn More ›› |
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Leading community research and intervention for HIV/AIDS David Lewis-Peart, Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention As a former high school drop out, and ward of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, David has remained committed to reaching the vulnerable, racialized and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) youth communities. Learn More ›› |
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Speaking out for Ontario's water Mark Mattson, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper A criminal lawyer who became defender to the environment, Mark Mattson champions due process and public access to clean waterways. Learn More ›› |
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Putting pen to paper and safeguarding freedom of expression Julie Payne, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression For Julie Payne, boldly championing the free expression rights of journalists and media workers around the world is all in a days work. Learn More ›› |
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Growing possibilities - picking fruit for social change Laura Reinsborough, Not Far From The Tree Laura is a rising star in the environmental and food security sectors in Toronto, and has already received an incredible array of accolades for her innovations. Learn More ›› |
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Planting community gardens - harvesting social change Carolyn Scotchmer, Greenest City Carolyn has spent more than eight years working with charities in the GTA and in Calgary, to develop programs that focus on community development through greening and gardening. Learn More ›› |
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Remixing opportunities for youth in the arts Gavin Sheppard, The Remix Project Involved in community development and the cultural industries professionally since the age of 17, Gavin is devoted to the personal and professional development of young people in the arts and cultural industries. Learn More ›› |
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Putting active transportation on the map Nancy Smith-Lea, Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation An effective collaborator and regional thinker, Nancy has brought acceptance of Complete Streets concepts to new highs. Learn More ›› |
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"Life is too short to spend it blending in." NigE Gough Shine On Foundation His promising life cut too short, Nigel Gough's inspiring passion for theatre and social justice carries on, supporting emerging young talent in Toronto's queer community. Learn More ›› |
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A legacy of community leadership Angela Longo Leadership Fund Angela Longo's devotion to community service and leadership is celebrated with a memorial fund that supports our city's emerging and established leaders. Learn More ›› |
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Hip-hopping away from violence Michael Prosserman, UNITY Through UNITY, Michael is dedicated to teaching youth forms of artistic self-expression, leading them to make positive life choices. It is making communities safer and stronger. Learn More ›› |
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Walking the walk Jane Farrow, Jane's Walk Locally and internationally renowned for her ground-breaking work in urban walkability issues, Jane creates opportunities for neighbourhoods to become civically engaged in their environment. Learn More ›› |
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Connecting youth to culture ArtReach Toronto This collaborative funding program is the only one of its kind in Canada investing in creative arts industries developed by and for youth living in vulnerable communities. Learn More ›› |
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Social enterprise–the next frontier Nadine Peazer, ANASA Collective Through her innovation and hard work, Nadine has created inspiring, inventive economic development practices and civic engagement opportunities for young women in Scarborough. Learn More ›› |
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A cycle of positive change Yvonne Bambrick, Toronto Cyclists Union With her Vital People grant, community activist Yvonne Bambrick is attending an intensive leadership course to help her lead the Bike Union's cycling advocacy network. Learn More ›› |
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Going to print with a solution for homeless youth Vandewater Charitable Foundation and Eva's Phoenix Using the Toronto Community Foundation's community knowledge, the Vandewater family found an organization they can support - and believe - in. Learn More ›› |
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Fostering a sense of belonging through the power of song Alexandra Asher, Nathaniel Dett Chorale As an integral player in maintaining a cooperative environment for Toronto’s choral arts, Alex is helping to foster a great sense of community and belonging through singing. Learn More ›› |
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Improving the health of her community Lisa Brown, Black Creek Community Health Centre Community health care worker Lisa Brown is using her Vital People grant to expand her leadership capabilities to better serve the poor and immigrant families she works with. Learn More ›› |
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Using the outdoors to equip vulnerable youth Trails Youth Initiatives' Leaders-in-Training This unique program, which challenges and equips vulnerable youth become contributing members of their communities, is preparing to expand their program with a Vital idea grant. Learn More ›› |
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The Native experience through the arts Yvette Nolan, Native Earth Performing Arts Yvette is a vital force in Canada’s Aboriginal theatre community. She is committed to staging productions that engage audiences in critically understanding complex issues. Learn More ›› |
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Helping newcomers cut through bureaucratic red tape Mahad Yusuf, Midayanta Community Services A refugee from Somalia, and Canadian since 1988, Mahad is helping newcomers cope with the bureaucratic requirements of citizenship and integration into Canadian society. Learn More ›› |
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Creative problem-solving through collaboration Artscape Foundation's Creative Spaces + Places Conference A Vital Ideas grant is helping expand the reach of Artscape Foundation to reach a broader audience for their 2009 Creative Spaces + Places Conference. Learn More ›› |
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Urban food activist works towards a healthy food system Rhonda Teitel-Payne, The Stop Community Food Centre Rhonda is using a Vital People grant to gain extensive knowledge of what other groups and individuals are doing for their community garden and urban agricultural products. Learn More ›› |
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Finding a natural fit Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation and Evergreen Taking advantage of our administrative expertise, the Helen McCrea Peacock Foundation is focusing on what's important - finding solid environmental organizations like Evergreen. Learn More ›› |
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Connecting Toronto's youngest newcomers to education Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre's Ready for School Connects With the help of a Vital Ideas grant, Davenport-Perth is developing a comphensive training model to expand their Ready for School Connects program to new neighbourhoods. Learn More ›› |
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Young women and literacy–the building blocks for social change Josephine Altilia, Literature for Life Jo engages young mothers in social change and leadership through the power of the written word. These young mothers are building better futures for themselves, their children, and their communities. Learn More ›› |
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How walkable is your neighbourhood? Jane's Walk and the Centre for City Ecology Jane's Walk and the Centre for City Ecology are helping residents in inner-suburban, high-rise neighbourhoods document the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in their existing walking environments. Learn More ›› |
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Using art to help the marginalized Rudy Ruttimann, SKETCH A Vital People grant from the Vital Toronto Fund is helping Rudy prepare her organization, which uses art to engage youth who are homeless or on the brink of homelessness, prepare for the future. Learn More ›› |
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Taking the Community Centre to the community Macaulay Child Development Centre's More than a Haircut This groundbreaking program promotes positive fathering in Toronto's Black Caribbean community by holding discussions in local barbershops. A Vital Ideas grant is helping Macaulay evaluate their successes. Learn More ›› |
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Bringing artist-educators to schools in priority neighbourhoods Julie Frost, Arts for Children & Youth Julie has spent her career mixing educational opportunity with creative arts programming to help engage and educate youth. With a Vital People grant, she is preparing for the future. Learn More ›› |
