Advisors
The gatherings I convene and support span a range of themes, styles and functions. I am guided by and collaborate with these wonderful humans who hold expertise in a wide variety of subject matters and experiences.
Adil Dhalla-Kim
Adil Dhalla-Kim is a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Reset, a community that imagines a world where community is the foundation of collective well-being.
Informing and inspiring Adil's path are countless teachers and professional experiences including being the former Board Chair for the StopGap Foundation, the Executive Director at the Centre for Social Innovation, the Managing Director at Artscape's Launchpad, the Executive Producer of Toronto for Everyone, a Community Organizer on the Obama campaign, the Maestro for Project Ukulele Gangsterism, a Facilitator of One Big Hug and a Co-Founder of My City Lives, one of the world’s first mobile video applications.
Adil is a DiverseCity Fellow, a New Economy Fellow and most recently was identified as a Positive Deviant by the Wolf Willow Institute.
Alyssa Becker
Shaun Rana, aka DJ Peachez, Web Designer and DJ
Chef Alyssa Becker entered Toronto’s culinary scene after graduating from George Brown College in 2008. She is best known as former Executive Chef at Wasan Island, an international conference centre in Muskoka serving nonprofit and charitable organizations.
For 12 years, she has collaborated with groups focused on environmental sustainability, health, education, and food and water security, cooking for guests from around the world and witnessing food’s power to spark joy, curiosity, and transformation. Of Guyanese and German heritage, Alyssa draws inspiration from global cuisines shaped by time in 30 countries. She serves as Manager of Special Projects at Community Foundations of Canada, supporting foundations nationwide.
Shaun is a Graphic & Web Designer who uses his keen eye for colors, layout and spacing to contribute valuable insight into the development process of websites (including this one). As a software engineer he loves using his right-brain for problem-solving and as a DJ he loves using his left-brain to spread joy on the dancefloor. His insights, attention to detail, challenging standards and deep sense of care in all he does makes the digital content and dancefloors he commands equally welcome and accessible spaces.
Kayonne Christie
Sociologist
Ryan Ram
Principal at Matrix360
Chris Derksen
Senior Research Scientist, Climate Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada
Kayonne Christy is a Jamaican-Canadian sociologist whose work lies at the intersection of migration and urban studies. As an interdisciplinary, justice-oriented scholar, Kayonne views research and pedagogy as powerful tools for positive social change. Her published work spans a range of contemporary social issues, including medical racism, urban inequality, medical education, and the impacts of COVID-19 on society. Beyond her research, she has designed and facilitated social justice–oriented courses, professional workshops, and faculty development seminars for medical professionals within and outside of the university, and has delivered training on qualitative research methods to community organizations in the GTHA. Kayonne is currently completing her PhD in Sociology at The University of Michigan.
Ryan Ram leads the team and strategy at Matrix360, a talent management & search firm helping organizations strengthen teams, evolve culture, and build inclusive pathways for talent. Passionate about people and communities, he founded the RealStories Speaker Series to amplify underrepresented voices in Corporate. Through years of dialogue and collaboration with industry leaders, Ryan advocates for systemic change and meaningful action beyond performative promises. He has shared insights at events hosted by Urban Land Institute Toronto, Canadian Institute of Planners, Informa Canada, TMU, and Schulich to name a few.
Chris Derksen is a senior research scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
He is a world-leading expert on snow and its role in the climate system, with research focused on the impacts of climate change on snow cover, freshwater availability, Arctic ecosystems, and the carbon cycle.
Dr. Derksen holds leadership roles in international satellite and climate-modeling initiatives, has contributed to major climate science assessments including IPCC reports, and has extensive field experience across the Canadian Arctic. He has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and is co-editor-in-chief of The Cryosphere.
Dr. Salina Abji is a Sociologist with over 20 years of experience in social justice research, education, and evaluation. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree (MSt.) in Women’s Studies from Oxford University.
As a scholar and educator, she has published ten peer-reviewed research studies on citizenship and migration, gender-based violence, and social justice activism in scholarly journals like Citizenship Studies, Signs, Social Politics, and Studies in Social Justice.
As a consultant, she has published over 20 community-based research studies advancing knowledge of systemic barriers and gaps as well as promising practices being developed by non-governmental organizations in Canada. She has evaluated over 60 programs and services using trauma-informed and intersectional evaluation methods. As a grant-writer, she has helped bring in over $42M in government and private foundation funding.
Dr. Salina Abji
Sociologist, Researcher, Educator
Stefan Hostetter
Director of Programs and Community at The Centre for Social Innovation
Stefan Hostetter is a life long environmentalist, storyteller, and community builder. Currently working with the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as the Director of Programs and Community. He's always looking for new interesting projects to jump into. Outside of CSI, he is the Treasurer of the Toronto Climate Action Network. Cohosts the Green Majority, a nationally syndicated radio show that covers environmental topics. And co-produces the Stories We Don't Tell, a monthly storytelling series and podcast that dives into the parts of people's lives society often is happy to leave untold.