Say hello to our rockstar 2016-2017 fellows
Six connectors, teamed up across generations, have the chance to be a part of shaping the future of the nonprofit sector.
Two years ago, the CTS Fellowship was established for nonprofit thinkers of all generations to work on major policy files for Ontario’s nonprofit sector. As a partnership with the Ontario Nonprofit Network, the Fellowship gave participants a chance to connect with peers, mentors, and sector leaders, and build solutions for complex sector-wide issues.
We are now entering year three of the CTS Fellowship. Through thoughtful and reflective evaluation, we have adapted the fellowship model to provide an opportunity for newer and established nonprofit professionals to engage in research about intergenerational relationships in the nonprofit sector. In partnership with the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) and The Philanthropist, we now bring you the CTS Writing Fellows!
Sujin Chang
At present, Sujin is a Carleton University student who is frantically trying to finish her Bachelor's in Public Affairs and Policy Management. For the past 5 years, Sujin has been mainly involved in the international development community in Canada but is now slowly venturing into the world of local community nonprofits. When she isn't diligently serving her country as a public servant at Global Affairs Canada, Sujin enjoys writing, reading, and yelling at the neighbourhood children from the front porch about social issues.
Miranda Hassel
Miranda works at the Toronto Foundation as the Program Coordinator on the Community Initiatives team. Aside from granting, Miranda supports their family of grantee organizations and Fundholders by managing the Community Knowledge Centre website. A graduate of Ryerson University’s Arts and Contemporary Studies program with a major in Equity and Diversity Studies and minor in Nonprofit Management, she has been dedicated to pursuing a career in the sector for a long time. Miranda is always looking for solutions to the status quo. Rather than intimidated, she’s excited by complexity and is learning to use design thinking to solve problems. Passionate about social justice and intersectional feminism, she has attended the UN Commission on the Status of Women, presented a paper at the National Women’s Studies Association conference and co-founded White Ribbon’s What Makes a Man conference. Miranda thinks gender is a drag and can kick above her head.
Heather Keachie
Heather is an associate lawyer in Toronto with a practice that focuses on charities and not-for-profits. She grew up in Toronto but has lived and worked in the Halifax, Ottawa, France, and West Africa. She is committed to her community and continues to be involved with several not-for-profit organizations in a volunteer capacity. She commutes by bike as much as possible and enjoys cross country skiing in the winter.
Alyssa Lai
A Southeast Asian born tan but without the Ray-Bans, Alyssa is a public relations professional working in nonprofit. Through volunteering, she found herself in the nonprofit world, which has helped her thrive personally and professionally. In her journey to build her career toolkit, Alyssa has written for CBC Hamilton, stage-managed an LGBTQ dance theatre show and more. She is the digital marketing coordinator for Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and the 2016 chair of Hamilton HIVE, the city’s leading young professional organization. An aspiring prof, Alyssa enjoys teaching and facilitating. Her university research on principles of good teaching was published in the Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology (2013). At 24 years old, Alyssa was honoured with YWCA Hamilton Woman of Distinction Award (Public Affairs, 2014) and McMaster Hamilton Community Impact Award (2015). A true Gen Y-er, she has many online selfs. Connect with her via Twitter @alyssaglai or at alyssaglai.com
Daniel Moore
Daniel is a grant writer and communications officer for a social service agency in Hamilton, Ontario. One of his main areas of focus is developing community programs using evidenced-based practices and engaging stakeholders. Much of his work also involves creating donor communications for print and online, and he is in the process of earning his Certified Fund Raising Executive credential. Before coming to the nonprofit sector, Daniel taught communications at Mohawk College and earned his PhD in English from Queen’s University. As a graduate student he was part of a successful campaign to form a union for Teaching Assistants at Queen’s University—one of the last Canadian universities to not have a union for TAs. He is active in several community development initiatives in his neighbourhood and has high hopes for his new winter garden. He loves exploring Ontario and the northeast states, especially by rocking or ice climbing.
Tka Pinnock
Tka is the Executive Director of the University of Toronto Students’ Union. She is actively committed to community service and has spent over ten years volunteering and working in the non-profit sector. Tka is most proud of her work in the Jamaican diaspora. She currently serves on the boards of the Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations, and the Lifelong Leadership Institute; organizations committed to enhancing the life outcomes for youth through education and leadership developmemt. In 2012, she received the Town of Markham's Recognition Award for Community Service.
A Collaboration between Connect the Sector and:
About The Ontario Nonprofit Network
As a 7,000-strong network, with a volunteer base of 300 sector leaders, the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) brings the diverse voices of the sector to government, funders and the business sector to create and influence systemic change. ONN activates its volunteer base and the network to develop and analyze policy, and work on strategic issues through its working groups, engagement of nonprofits and charities and government. ONN convenes the approximately 55,000 nonprofit and charitable organizations across the province.
About The Philanthropist
The Philanthropist is a free online journal for practitioners, academics, supporters and others engaged in the nonprofit sector in Canada. It publishes articles and useful information about the sector’s important contributions to our communities, our country, and our world and aims to spark and facilitate debate among readers.