Lived experience is valuable policy knowledge.
When the full range of lived experiences influence and shape decision-making in society, we will achieve better outcomes for all. Representation matters because it makes us feel like we all belong.
Dear friends + community,
Today has been busy on the policy fronts, nationally and globally!
The House of Commons is back in session, and parliamentarians in Ottawa resumed their house duties for the Fall after the Summer break. After an active SDG Action Weekend, today also kicked off Day 1 of the SDG Summit at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. We have only seven years left to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and we have no time to lose on our road to Agenda 2030.
I am excited to unpack this all more when we bring UNGA to Toronto in a few days at our very own post-SDG Summit event in the city on September 20th - a partnership between Toronto Global Impact Network and Northeastern University, with support by Boyden and Gifftid.
It’s already been an active September calendar, and one of the events I feel very fortunate to have attended a few weekends ago was the Mosaic Institute’s Youth Summit.
I had the opportunity to share reflections on my leadership journey alongside game-changing advocate Riley Yesno, expertly guided by Mosaic Institute’s Executive Director Leigh Naturkach in a conversation that truly was a dialogue with the audience, exchanging insights and thoughtful questions on how we can all support the advancement of equity, inclusion, and justice.
One of those questions was by Bavan Pushpalingam, UofMosaic Institute Fellow and a Public Policy undergrad student from my alma mater, the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. He highlighted some of the inequities in Toronto and how communities in Scarborough sometimes get shortchanged when it comes to public policy decisions that don’t always work for them. It opened up a meaningful conversation about the value of diversity in decision-making and what it means to feel seen in public policy - both in the spaces where influence occurs, and decisions get made and in the actual implementation of that work. Feeling like your presence and participation make a difference and that what you say will shift the discourse and decision-making is essential to having that strong sense of belonging and feeling like your perspectives matter.
Catching up after the panel with Bavan and connecting with many of the UofMosaic Fellows, many with roots in Scarborough like me, was such a meaningful experience. Many folks shared how I shared what it was like to grow up in the east end, simultaneously navigating all the systemic challenges and enduring the hard-fought lessons, opened up the space for them to share more about their own journeys.
Growing up in Scarborough is just one part of my identity and upbringing but an important one because it has fundamentally shaped who I am and my approach to public policy, giving me powerful analytical tools and grounding me in invaluable case studies to think through equity and access.
It was a full-circle moment in many ways because it meant a lot that, in some small way, I made folks feel seen and see themselves in my journey. In 2023, sadly, it is still often the case that I am one of the few racialized women leaders in many policy and public affairs spaces. I was also reminded of the power of sharing your story and chipping away to reveal the unvarnished truth. Sometimes, in this line of work, it feels easier to put on that ‘armour’ to protect yourself from the daily onslaught of microaggressions from all corners, but opening up a bit might build community and foster belonging in unexpected ways.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to highlight two remarkable women I had the opportunity to reconnect with after so long at the Summit (I’m telling you, it was a good one): Meena Waseem & Kowmitha Satkunarajah!
Sitting with you both over lunch at the Mosaic Institute’s Youth Summit a few weekends ago was a definite highlight. Each of you is fiercely pushing the envelope of what is possible, from Meena’s work fighting for inclusive quality education for all, such as newcomer and racialized communities, as a school board trustee in the Waterloo Region District School Board to Kowmitha’s ground-breaking initiative Sincerely, Scarbs, putting a spotlight on what folks in Scarborough want and deserve from policymaking spaces.
Lived experience is valuable policy knowledge I need to tap into more. As an entrepreneurial, resourceful person who strives to make the most of each opportunity, your hustle and can-do attitude inspires me that more is possible, especially the possibilities unlocked by tapping into collective strength and community.
Big shout-out to the exceptional work of Leigh Naturkach, Rachel Mansell, Nayani Nandakumar, and the entire Mosaic Institute team - from the Summit to your programming, such as the UofMosaic Fellowship to the resources you are developing, you are practicing what you are preaching in so many ways!
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That’s it for now! See some of you on Wednesday for the Toronto Global Impact Network event! Till then, take good care!
Sincerely,
Anjum
PS: I am about to head into the busiest 3 months of the year for me - the Fall is full of exciting youth leadership programming, global policy advocacy campaigns, and innovative public engagement activations, so while my Substack newsletters may not be as frequent, know I will be back in a more frequent fashion in 2024. But guess what? My goal in 2023 was to publish at least 12 issues of this newsletter; this is my 13th! So I’m in the clear for now, haha!
PPS: If you haven’t yet, hit the subscribe button below.
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🇺🇳This week, we are bringing the United Nations and #UNGA78 to Toronto!
💡Join the Toronto Global Impact Network as we have an urgent and vital conversation about the future of our city - what can and should we do to advance the United Nations and Sustainable Development Goals in Toronto?
✨Featuring thought-provoking speakers, including:
🌎Paul Klein, Founder and CEO of impakt
🌎Alicia Richins, Sustainable Impact Strategist and SDG Champion
🌎Candies Kotchapaw, Founding Executive Director of Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today (DYLOTT)
🌎Carol Devine, Climate Change and Health Researcher and Writer
🌎Tina Sweeney, Senior Officer, Outreach and Partnerships, Cuso International
❤️Thank you to all our friends, collaborators, and supporters for making this event possible, including a fab group of organizers Alain Pescador, Eric Meerkamper, Mary Eileen Milner, and Tanja Matuszis.
🙏🏾And so much gratitude for such community-minded institutions, champions, and innovators, such as Deniz Toker of Northeastern University, for your commitment to being a university for the people and incubating social impact! Proudly supported by Boyden and Gifftid!
🔗Get a ticket here: https://bit.ly/The-Road-To-Agenda-2030-Toronto-And-The-SDGs
✨And in the meantime, if you haven’t yet, join the Toronto Global Impact Network LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14159278/
Opportunities to grow + stretch
Campaign School | Equal Voice | Deadline September 20, 2023
Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellowship | Rabble Canada | Deadline September 22, 2023
Youth Consultation Survey on Youth Exchanges | Canadian Heritage | Deadline September 30, 2023
Board Director | Council of Agencies Serving South Asians | Deadline October 2, 2023
Executive Course in Global Health Diplomacy | Dalla Lana School of Public Health | Deadline October 13 (For International / VISA Requiring Applicants) and November 17 (For Domestic / Non-VISA Requiring Applicants)
2024 Young Impact Leader | Future of Good | Deadline October 20, 2023
20+ jobs in policy & public affairs & more:
Chief of Staff | Habitat for Humanity GTA
Director of Public Policy | Mastercard Foundation
Director of Public Affairs | Rogers Communications
Senior Manager of Public Policy | Rogers Communications
Director of Programs and Services | Skills For Change
Vice President, Philanthropy | MS Canada | Deadline September 19, 2023
Manager, Programs | BGC Canada | Deadline September 20, 2023
Women’s Rights Policy & Advocacy Specialist | Oxfam Canada | Deadline September 22, 2023
Chief of Staff | UNICEF Canada | Deadline September 22, 2023
Policy Advisor, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion | International Institute for Sustainable Development | Deadline September 22, 2023
Manager, Government & Community Relations | OCAD University | September 22, 2023
Director, Marketing & Communications | Fighting Blindness Canada | Deadline September 24, 2023
National Director, Marketing & Communications | Canadian Mental Health Association | Deadline September 26, 2023
Specialist, Women and Gender Equity | City of Ottawa | Deadline September 28, 2023
Director, Partnerships | Indspire | Deadline September 29, 2023
Executive Director | Peacebuilders Canada | Deadline September 29, 2023
Program Manager, International Programs | War Child Canada | Deadline September 29, 2023
Vice President, Philanthropy | CivicAction | Deadline September 29, 2023
Executive Director | Alberta Council for Global Cooperation | Deadline October 1, 2023
Vice President, Research and Innovation | Genome Canada | Deadline October 1, 2023
Vice President, Stakeholder / Community Engagement | Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta | Deadline October 15, 2023
Community Engagement and Events Coordinator | Ottawa Food Bank | Deadline October 15, 2023