Fostering partnerships for sustainable change.
To address 'wicked' challenges, bringing together academia, civil society, government, labour unions, the private sector and youth-led movements around common purpose will be our saving grace.
Dear friends + community,
As you may have figured out by now, I am very committed to supporting the next generation of leaders by building community, deepening mentorship, and championing sponsorship in the workplace and beyond.
Every week, in my conversations with young people in Canada and around the world, I am inspired by their innovation, analysis, and dedication to advancing a more just and sustainable future.
It’s not lost on me though that this is not an easy mindset to adopt in a world as complex and challenging as ours.
Especially, for young people who want to do good and earn a decent living.
For the young people I chat with and perhaps even yourself, it can sometimes feel like those two goals can be at odds with each other.
Because when it comes to navigating a career in social impact, the answers are not readily available, especially for young people from underrepresented communities. It can sometimes feel like you are on your own. I know I have certainly felt like that throughout my journey, especially after the community and resources found in a post-secondary environment.
That’s why I wanted to take a moment to give a shout-out to an incredible visionary and changemaker, Candies Kotchapaw, the Founder and Executive Director of DYLOTT (Developing the Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today).
I had the opportunity to finally meet Candies in real life (IRL) last week after admiring her excellent work from a distance and connecting virtually last year. It was such a delight to learn more about DYLOTT and witness the wonderful youth leadership programming it delivers, including its flagship initiative, the Black Diplomats Academy.
It is such a thoughtfully curated experiential learning experience for Black youth in Canada and globally who want to pursue a career in diplomacy, public policy, and global affairs, bringing together a range of local and global partners. DYLOTT and the Black Diplomats Academy provides a platform for youth to engage with a community of peers and mentors, hone knowledge and skills related to pursuing a career in global diplomacy, and has created an effective pathway to influence international policymaking on multilateral topics such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda and the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
When I think about Sustainable Development Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals, we know to advance the pressing issues of our time, from racial justice to climate action to gender equity, we need all hands on deck. Fostering partnerships is key to creating sustainable change. And creating space for young people to lead will be vital.
Now is a better time than any to be thinking about partnerships and sustainable change.
In fact, 2023 marks the halfway point towards the 2030 deadline for achieving the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To do a global stocktake of how far we have gotten to achieving the 2030 Agenda and renew the world’s commitment to achieving this ambition, the United Nations will be convening the SDG Summit next month from September 18-19 during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
As I may have mentioned in a previous newsletter, I want to host a mini UNGA-like side event in Toronto right after the SDG Summit at the New York United Nations Headquarters to talk about what Toronto’s contribution can be to advancing the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Stay tuned and let me know if you are interested in attending the event in Toronto (and even volunteering). Drop me a note so I can keep you in mind.
That’s it for now! Hope to see you at the event in September, hosted in partnership with the good people at the Toronto Global Impact Network. More details to come out in a few weeks!
Sincerely,
Anjum
PS: FYI an event in collaboration with friends at the Toronto Global Impact Network is coming up in mid-September. Stay tuned! It will be all about Toronto on the world stage - how are we contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially at its halfway point? There are only 7 more years left until 2030 and the world is not getting any less complex. We need to have all hands on deck - what can Canada’s biggest city do to be part of the solution?
PPS: If you haven’t yet, hit the subscribe button below.
Policy and Advocacy Advisor (Humanitarian)
📣Exciting news! I’m looking for a Policy and Advocacy Advisor (Humanitarian) to join my team at Plan International Canada!
If you know someone who:
✅ Is a dedicated and driven teammate passionate about influencing Canadian and global decision-makers to advance humanitarian policy, children’s rights, and gender equality globally
✅ Thrives as a government relations and advocacy specialist and has a track record of influencing change with the Government of Canada, UN agencies, multilateral institutions and/or global fora on humanitarian policy, human rights, sustainable development and related topics
✅ Is an excellent writer and communicator with a talent for making complex information accessible, persuasive, and backed by evidence
✅ Has experience working on youth advocacy initiatives, an asset
✅ Excels in navigating matrix environments, is organized and has experience working in a global organization and/or Federation context
📅Please encourage them to apply! The deadline is August 9th, 2023.
➡️Learn more and apply here: https://bit.ly/Policy-Advocacy-Advisor-Humanitarian-Plan-International-Canada-July-2023-Job-Posting
Opportunities to grow + stretch
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Youth Climate Action Initiative | Skills For Change | Deadline September 24, 2023
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Coordinator, Advocacy and Health | Human Rights Watch | Deadline August 1, 2023
Communications Coordinator | DeafBlind Ontario Services | Deadline August 1, 2023
Scaborough Civic Action Network Coordinator | Agincourt Community Services Association | Deadline August 2, 2023
Policy & Research Specialist | Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions | Deadline August 5, 2023
Manager, Media and Public Relations | Trans Canada Trail | Deadline August 5, 2023
Senior Manager, Global Advocacy | Nutrition International | Deadline August 6, 2023
Compliance Manager, Global Fund | Plan International Canada | Deadline August 6, 2023
Director of Organizational Development | Social Planning Toronto | Deadline August 7, 2023
Administrator, Policy and Communications | Association of Ontario Midwives | Deadline August 7, 2023
Communications Specialist | Business + Higher Education Roundtable | Deadline August 7, 2023
Gender and Climate Technical Advisor | Canadian Lutheran World Relief | Deadline August 8, 2023
Policy and Advocacy Advisor (Humanitarian) | Plan International Canada | Deadline August 9, 2023
Chief Executive Officer | Fora: Network for Change | Deadline August 10, 2023
Policy Analyst, Healthcare Equity, Quality, and Human Rights | Association of Ontario Midwives | Deadline August 10, 2023
Lead, Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization | Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada | Deadline August 11, 2023
Outreach and Advocacy Advisor - Saskatoon | Canadian Centre for Housing Rights | Deadline August 11, 2023
Executive Director, Philanthropy & Public Affairs | CUSO International | Deadline August 11, 2023
Advisor, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement (Part-Time) | Right to Play International | Deadline August 11, 2023
Communications Specialist | TAIBU Community Health Centre | Deadline August 13, 2023
Policy Analyst | Government of Ontario | Deadline August 14, 2023
Senior Policy Advisor | Government of Ontario | Deadline August 14, 2023
Team Lead | Government of Ontario | Deadline August 14, 2023
Coordinator, Communications and Public Relations | Humane Canada | Deadline August 14, 2023
Communications Coordinator | Prince’s Trust Canada | Deadline August 14, 2023
Director, Marketing and Communications | CFA Society Canada | Deadline August 16, 2023
Manager, Equity and Engagement | CAMH | Deadline August 17, 2023
Senior Policy Advisor | Canadian Centre for Housing Rights | Deadline August 18, 2023
Senior Policy Analyst | Council of Ontario Universities | Deadline August 18, 2023
Executive Director | KidSafe | Deadline August 19, 2023
Advocacy Consultant | Migrant Workers Centre | Deadline August 20, 2023
Officer, Development and Operations | Fora: Network for Change | Deadline August 20, 2023
Child/Youth Advocacy Centre Project Lead | Cedar Centre | Deadline August 21, 2023
Manager, Policy & Government Relations | Tourism Industry Association of Ontario | Deadline August 21, 2023
Marketing Communications Officer | Community Food Centres of Canada | Deadline August 21, 2023
Advisor, Humanitarian and Resilience | CARE Canada | Deadline August 23, 2023
Vice President, Evidence Generation | Blueprint ADE | Deadline August 25, 2023
Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement | Sea to Sky Community Services | Deadline August 25, 2023
Manager, Youth Exchanges Program | Experiences Canada | Deadline August 28, 2023
National Advocacy and Policy Analyst | Canadian Federation of University Women | Deadline September 8, 2023