Experience

Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre

• Canada
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Operations

  • Jan 2023 - Present

  Responsible for the development and implementation of organizational strategies, policies, and practices; With a primary goal of cross-organizational coordination, providing oversight and direction in efforts to strengthen and expand CONC.

• Senior Advisor, Operations & Strategic Projects

  • Oct 2021 - Jan 2023

  Responsible for the strategic management of various organizational and operations projects and initiatives, under the close direction and support of the Executive Director. Key areas include: Administration, Communications and Project Management.



Fair Change Community Services

• Canada
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • 2020 - Present

  • Coordinated with up to 15 student volunteers in the operations of the legal clinic that offers free assistance with tickets from the Provincial Offences Act and Safe Streets Act for homeless community members • Planned and executed community outreach strategies to increase public awareness and scope of clinic services Key Achievements: ✔ Established a standardized system for advocates to remotely assist clients and collaborate with team members ✔ Successfully secured key partnerships with various community organizations such as Eva’s Initiatives Show less



Councillor Mike Layton - Ward 11 University-Rosedale

• Operations & Communications Coordinator

  • 2019 - Oct 2021

  • Oversees the strategic planning and execution of the day-to-day operations for the prominent Toronto Councillor • Executes ward communications strategies including all media relations, public messaging, and online presence • Administers the website and multiple social media channels by producing engaging content for target audiences • Creates graphic designs for the marketing materials to promote live events and public appearances • Author newsletters, disseminate press release, ghostwrite articles, and host virtual and in-person events • Receives incoming messages, review requests, schedule meetings, and prioritize and delegate daily activities • Controls the Councillor’s calendar, respond to inquiries, and prepare and distribute regular correspondence • Gather stakeholder feedback and draft detailed motions for City Council proposals and initiatives • Works with city employees to launch initiatives and address complaints submitted by Ward 11 residents • Liaises with community groups and serve on multiple Community Police Liaison Committees (CPLCs) Key Achievements: ✔ Played an integral role in helping the Councillor gain the reputation as a champion for affordable housing and contributed the research and communications strategy that helped gain approval for over 40 km of new bike lanes ✔ Orchestrated the response plan to address public concerns regarding the growing homeless encampment emergency by interacting with local activists, serving on working groups, and designing outreach tactics ✔ Introduced new software to enable the team’s transition to remote working during the ongoing pandemic ✔ Successfully expanded the Councillor’s social media presence by initiating the Facebook and YouTube accounts Show less



Margaret's Housing and Community Support Services

• Canada
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community & Client Engagement Coordinator

  • 2018 - 2019

  • Spearheaded client and community engagement at the newly founded 24/7 Respite Centre that offers housing options and community-based support to women living with mental illness, substance use, and homelessness • Facilitated weekly staff meetings with the Manager to review performance, mediate conflicts, and brainstorm ideas • Designed and formatted the annual reports, promotional collateral, and community response plan brochures • Communicated with followers on Twitter and compiled agendas and infographics for employee meetings Key Achievements: ✔ Concocted the outreach strategy to minimize anger among Rosedale residents upset at the new respite centre by hosting community liaison meetings and creating a formal complaint system to uncover key impacts and trends ✔ Obtained funding to initiate a resident outreach team to connect with homeless women in the area that was so successful that the program was extended to the downtown location and adopted by the Yonge & Dundas BIA ✔ Enriched relationships with neighbourhood residents by creating a walking group to clean up garbage and originated health and wellness days for community members to participate in wellness programming at the respite Show less



The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness

• Canada
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community & Outreach Manager

  • 2018 - 2018

  • Mandated with driving the community outreach and partnership development programs for the largest national research institute devoted to conducting and mobilizing research to influence homelessness policies and solutions • Directed the Community Workspace on Homelessness and performed the reporting duties for federal funders • Built and nurtured relationships with internal team members, external partners, and community organizations • Coordinated research for annual conferences such as the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness Conference • Fronted special projects and sustained knowledge on contemporary issues and trends related to homelessness Key Achievements: ✔ Improved the accessibility and user friendliness of the social enterprise website by revamping the content ✔ Instituted the first national survey for homelessness experts to inform strategic planning and agency direction Show less

• Outreach & Communications Manager

  • 2016 - 2018

  • Established the communication and outreach strategy for the recently opened emergency shelter on Bloor Street • Managed and updated the website and various social media accounts to promote accessibility and transparency • Developed and delivered monthly reports on the status and progress of outreach program to ensure accountability • Wrote external communications, press releases, and grand applications for capital projects and programming • Maintained the program budget, tracked expenses, and confirmed costs remained within the allocated amount • Supervised the placement students and contract Graphic Designer in their day-to-day operations • Represented the CONC at town halls and local events to instigate strategic partnerships with community groups Key Achievements: ✔ Co-created a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) of local residents who meet on a monthly basis to discuss community issues and homelessness, promote volunteership, and develop community integration strategies ✔ Shrunk formal complaints regarding the Bloor Shelter by fostering a transparent environment, improving staff training, expanding outreach, and establishing the online Community Response Plan to address public concerns ✔ Increased volunteership and student placements by over 300% by successfully raising public awareness and introducing an online system that allowed people to sign up for volunteer and student roles through the website ✔ Collaborated with communications team to design, build, and launch the agency website in December 2016 and grew social media followers and likes by up to 200% by introducing regular promotions and engaging content ✔ Raised over $300,000 in funds from leading private and public institutions through successful grant writing ✔ Secured news coverage from television and print outlets including CityNews, Toronto Star, and Metroland Media ✔ Created the Corporate Days of Giving Program to build partnerships and donations from Toronto businesses Show less



Legal Aid Ontario

• Canada
• Law Practice
• 500 - 600 Employee

• CLSC Support

  • Sep 2014 - 2016

  • Provided support to LAO empaneled lawyers with both technical legal and client related issues • Triaged clients and connected them to services and referrals needed either within LAO or to external sources Key Achievement: ✔ Always exceeded bi-weekly goals for various performance metrics including call times and accuracy • Provided support to LAO empaneled lawyers with both technical legal and client related issues • Triaged clients and connected them to services and referrals needed either within LAO or to external sources Key Achievement: ✔ Always exceeded bi-weekly goals for various performance metrics including call times and accuracy



The Centre for Addiction & Mental Health

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations

• Drug Treatment Court Intern

  • Sep 2013 - Apr 2014

  • Performed practicum work based in the both the Assessment/Brief Treatment & Drug Treatment Court programs • Duties included facilitating and creating therapeutic groups and advocating for clients in court and the Toronto South Detention Centre • Performed CAMH standardized intake assessments and program eligibility screenings for potential clients in custody on a weekly basis in addition to tracking casework on TREAT & InfoMed software • Attended multiple inter-professional educational seminars including but not limited to: trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing and dialectical behavioural therapy Show less



Sistering

• Canada
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• BSW Intern

  • Sep 2012 - Apr 2013

  • Supported the harm reduction program at Sistering • Duties included co-facilitating the peer worker program, organizing a 6 week Hepatitis C support group in partnership with PASAN, Sherbourne Community Health Centre & Queen West Community Health Centre • Co-facilitated the H.I.P.S. program (Healthy Initiatives Promoting Safety) in conjunction with All Saints Community Centre, which provided training for female harm reduction outreach workers • Facilitated a weekly art group to create the “Freedom Bird” mural and produced a short promotional film for the agency based on their harm reduction services Show less



The Basic Needs Trust Fund

• BNTF Community Development Worker

  • May 2012 - Sep 2012

  • Conducted community needs assessments and research geared towards infrastructural improvements • Wrote and delivered public psycho-educational workshops on child abuse to groups of up to 30 parents • Oversaw the planning, promotion, and execution of community meetings throughout the various neighbourhoods to promote the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Alliance human rights dialogue initiative Key Achievement: ✔ Produced a short promotional film on the history and impact of the Basic Needs Trust Fund in St. Kitts & Nevis Show less



The Shift Project

• France
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder & Project Manager

  • Mar 2011 - Apr 2012

  • Founded the “micro-opportunity” fundraising project dedicated to launching women’s local entrepreneurship initiatives while fundraising for international women’s rights organizations • Led the public outreach strategy by creating a website and building relationships with non-profits organizations Key Achievement: ✔ Successfully raised over $10,000 by facilitating three successful fundraising events and secured partnerships with various organizations in Central America including Proyecto Miriam and Pro Mujer Show less