As the province begins to work on recovery, the plan must address how women, especially Black, Indigenous, and racialized women, have been impacted by the pandemic. Join Bhutila Karpoche and Dr. Jill Andrew for an important International Women's Day conversation on 'She-covery'.
Panelists
Brenda Ngina Kahura
Brenda Ngina Kahura is celebrating 6 months of being a small business owner in Parkdale. She credits her cat Penny for being one of the main catalysts to opening Parkdale Pet Foods. Beyond weathering the current storm of lockdowns and pandemic related uncertainty, Brenda looks forward to being a good neighbour and continuing to build a hub that serves both pets and their humans with empathy, kindness, quality products, safely, in a joyful environment.
Erin Williams
Erin lives and works in Parkdale-High Park. For the last seven years, they have been an RECE at Ferncliff Daycare and Afterschool Group in Roncesvalles. Erin has served four years on the executive of CUPE Local 2484, which represents over 600 Toronto Childcare Workers. Erin is a strong advocate for universal childcare and aims to cultivate a new normal where access to quality early years programs is truly equitable in practice.
Tanisha Sri Bhaggiyadatta
Tanisha Sri Bhaggiyadatta is the Program Manager of Resident Services at The Redwood Shelter and a Professor in the Assaulted Women and Child Counsellor Advocate Program at George Brown College.
Joanne Daw
Joanne Daw was born in Toronto to Guyanese parents who taught her the value of hard work and perseverance. Reflecting on the memory of her parents’ immigrant experience, which included pride in their black culture and an entrepreneurial spirit, Joanne was inspired to open Vegwood Café, a restaurant serving delicious vegan treats in the heart of the Oakwood Village neighbourhood.
Surranna Sandy
Surranna Sandy is the CEO of Skills for Change, a training and skills development nonprofit. She has an MA and B.A in Leadership and Management, an MBA in Human Resources Management, and she is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts in Global Development/Sustainability at Harvard University. Surranna was awarded the Government of Canada’s Canada 150 Outstanding Neighbour award, the 100 Accomplished Black Women Award, the 100 Black Women to watch in Canada.
Gitanjali Lena
Gitanjali is a queer non-binary lawyer, activist, parent and artist of Tamil/Sinhalese Ilankai (Sri Lanka) ancestry. Gitanjali was born in England, raised on Algonquin territory and now living in T'karonto. They have worked in community lawyering for 25 years across Turtle Island. Gitanjali supports tenant's associations in their neighbourhood of Oakwood Vaughan and is a member of the Oakwood Vaughan Neighbourhood Association, the Law Union of Ontario and is a legal observer for organized protest through the Movement Defence Committee.
Please register to receive a link to view on March 9th.
