Experienced Community Relations Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry.

My work is centered on retooling and retrofitting the Toronto Catholic District School Board's (TCDSB) senior staff, trustees, principals and vice principals with information, tools and strategies to meet the needs of Toronto’s multicultural and multiracial populations. My primary responsibilities have been to lead, design, develop and implement teaching and learning strategies to address the gaps in diversity and equity within the organization. With the goal of creating, supporting and sustaining diverse, equitable, safe and inclusive learning environments for students, staff, community and stakeholders .

Augustine joined the Toronto Catholic District School Board in 2004 and has worked as a School Social Worker in the East region. He completed his Bachelor of Social Work degree at Ryerson University and has a Master of Social Work degree from York University. He has extensive clinical experience working as a social worker and psychotherapist, specializing in adolescent mental health.

A Father Henry Carr graduate, a current Political Science student at York University, a former Men of Distinction Leader and current mentor to youth in the North Etobicoke area, Joshua Newby is a young man with an insatiable desire to succeed. One who is not unfamiliar with the adversities facing urbanized youth, Joshua seeks to aid his fellow peers with the tools of success; learning from his own successes and failures in life, he seeks to better his community in any way he can. Being a participant in many community fundraising events, he understands the importance of unity and the power of purpose, when we come together.

Andre Fullerton, MBA is the Senior Manager of Community Use of Schools and the Coordinator of the Focus on Youth program. With over 20 years of experience working professionally in various capacities of community engagement, Andre has worked with a variety of organizations including Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Tropicana Community Services. A former student at Neil McNeil Highschool, Andre is eager to share his educational, work experience and life experiences as a father, educator, community developer and social justice change agent who maintains a flair for fostering positive relations with the community.

Carl E. James holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora in the Faculty of Education, York University, Toronto, where he is also the Senior Advisor in Equity and Representation in the Office of the VP Equity, People and Culture. His research interests include examination of the schooling and educational experiences, performance, and trajectories of racialized youth, and Black youth in particular. His recent book is: Colour Matters: Essays on the Experiences, Education, and Pursuits of Black Youth.

Derek Boyce is the Associate Director of Facilities, Business and Community Development for the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Prior to joining the TCDSB, Derek worked at the City of Brampton. As Acting Commissioner, Community Services, Derek was a member of the Corporate Leadership Team and led the department through the pandemic and in his his role as Director of Recreation, Derek was instrumental to the expansion of recreation programming into non-traditional recreation areas such as STEM, e-sports, and the renovation and construction of a number of new recreation facilities. Additionally, he worked closely with numerous stakeholders within the community, including local school boards to develop agreements and partnerships to build and improve access to amenities shared by both students and residents of the City. From 2004-2016, Derek served in several senior roles with the City of Mississauga including Director of Corporate Performance and Innovation at the City Manager’s Office. There, he managed the development, execution, and implementation of projects that involved strategic master plans, feasibility studies, business analysis, organizational reviews and assessments, partnership agreements, financial modelling, process improvements and automation, and concept papers. Derek holds a Master of Art’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from Ryerson University and a Bachelor of Art’s (Honours) in Political Science, with an International Trade Specialization from the University of Waterloo. Additionally, Derek is heavily involved in youth basketball and co-founder of one of Canada’s top youth basketball organizations (CIA Bounce Basketball) and has coached a multitude of players that have gone to collegiate and professional basketball, including several NBA and Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball team players.

Ghanaian-born George Sefa Dei is a renowned educator, researcher and writer who is considered by many as one of Canada’s foremost scholars on race and anti-racism studies. He is a widely sought after academic, researcher and community worker whose professional and academic work has led to many Canadian and international speaking invitations in US, Europe and Africa. Currently, he is Professor of Social Justice Education & Director of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto (OISE/UT). Professor Dei is the 2015, 2016, 2018-19 Carnegie African Diasporan Fellow. In August of 2012, Professor Dei also received the honorary title of ‘Professor Extraordinarius’ from the Department of Inclusive Education, University of South Africa, [UNISA]. In 2017, he was elected as Fellow of Royal Society of Canada, the most prestigious award for an academic scholar. He also received the ‘2016 Whitworth Award for Educational Research’ from the Canadian Education Association (CEA) awarded to the Canadian scholar whose research and scholarship have helped shaped Canadian national educational policy and practice. He is the 2019 Paulo Freire Democratic Project, Chapman University, US - ‘Social Justice Award’ winner. Professor Dei has thirty-five (35) books and over seventy (70) refereed journal articles to his credit. Finally, in June of 2007, Professor Dei was installed as a traditional chief in Ghana, specifically, as the Gyaasehene of the town of Asokore, Koforidua in the New Juaben Traditional Area of Ghana. His stool name is Nana Adusei Sefa Tweneboah.

Zaevian Dawson is a grade twelve student and leader of the Trust 15-Men of Distinction leadership program at Monsignor Percy Johnson Catholic Secondary School. Through his community engagement, Zaevian has developed a passion for peer mentorship, reading, keeping abreast of business news and listening to podcasts. Zaevian’s goal is to pursue a career in computer science/engineering.

Nosakhare is a grade 11 Student at Monsignor Percy Johnson and a member of Trust 15's Men of Distinction group. Nosakhare enjoys helping out his community through volunteering. He enjoys the applied sciences and is aiming to become a chemical engineer.

Amadu is in his final year at Chaminade College School. He is a midfielder for the Chaminade Gryphons and Vaughan Soccer Club. Both parents are immigrants from Sierra Leone, and he has two older sisters. Amadu intends to graduate with a degree in Kinesiology. He hopes to inspire his peers to be confident and to truly be secure in their own skin.

Elijah is a grade 12 student at Chaminade College School. Both of his parents immigrated from Jamaica and he and his older sister reside in North York. As the student council president Elijah brings school spirit and student leadership into full effect. He plans to earn his degree in Business Technology at the post-secondary level. He believes all students should be proud of their backgrounds and to not feel uncomfortable with who they are.

Terry Ofori is a grade 12 student at Chaminade College School. His family is from Ghana. He is planning to pursue a career in architecture. He hopes to engage his peers into thought-provoking and enlightening discussions on how to navigate through life as a person of colour.

Shemar Lee is a grade 12 student at St. John Paul II C.S.S. His ethnicity is Jamaican. His favorite subjects are science and gym. For fun, Shemar can be found playing basketball, playing piano, or hanging out with his friends. He is interested in pursuing a career in the trades, specifically as an electrician.

GRADE 12 STUDENT

POPE JOHN PAUL II S.S.

Davyon is a Grade 12 student at St. John Paul II. He is of Caribbean descent. He loves physical activities like exercising and his favorite class this semester is fitness. Davyon finds learning more about his culture and heritage very interesting. He is hardworking and enjoys taking in new tasks. Davyon looks forward to gaining more knowledge about and insight into his cultural heritage in the years ahead.

Manual B is a Filipino student in Grade 12 at St. John Paul II. He enjoys studying mathematics and played on the school's flag football team, as well as participated in two Terry Fox runs held by the school. In his free time, you will find him hanging out with friends, spending time with family, playing video games or playing basketball, and he recently started working out. He is considering a future as a stockbroker or working in the trades, as either an electrician or mechanic.