This Woman I Know

This Woman I Know is a series that features women, who show support, act as allies and empower one another.  

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Mayoori is a spunky Eelam Tamil woman committed to social justice. Witnessing the hardships her parents faced after fleeing the war in Sri Lanka inspired her community activism and advocacy starting at an early age.

In her current role as a Toronto-based immigration and refugee lawyer, Mayoori supports migrants and refugees - many of whom are women of colour - to navigate a complex legal terrain to secure safety and status in Canada. One way Mayoori supports women is by working collaboratively with them to access resources and connections to community supports, in addition to providing critical legal assistance, using an intersectional, trauma-informed lens.

Now at 33 years old, Mayoori is learning to extend the values that guide her work – compassion, respect, and love – inward. She is actively working on learning to slow down and trust in her process. This healing work is partly how she pays homage to the many women who have shaped her into who she is today.

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Kim describes herself as a queer femme of colour, a Bruja, a human rights educator, a writer, yoga instructor, CEO and Mother of the Sun to her sweet baby, Soleil.

She advocates for queer, trans and feminist issues by facilitating radical community dialogues, such as sexism, rape culture and misogyny. Through these discussions she is working to help create the safest possible spaces for women and young girls. Kim is also a yoga instructor and has used yoga as a tool for healing, resilience and care. Her practice is inclusive to communities of colour, Indigenous, queer and trans, differently-abled folks, chronically ill and survivors of violence.

Kim is inspired by the women in her life and dedicates the poetry she writes to them. Her community and friends consist almost exclusively of women and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Arti is very driven in her personal and professional life. Not only is she a Senior National Online Journalist at Global News, but she has also co-founded a collective in her spare time called Didihood.

Arti uses her journalism platform to help tell empowering stories about people of colour and other groups that are often left out of mainstream media, and women.  The stories she tells are important as they cover topics such as expert advice on how to navigate the workforce, or what women of colour need to know about laser hair removal before committing to a clinic or about how the majority of women know other women who have been sexually harassed.  In her personal time, she has co-founded a collective called Didihood (or Sisterhood) which focuses on mentoring, networking and socializing opportunities for South Asian women who work or are interested in working in Media, arts and other creative fields.  

Arti isn’t sure what her next steps in life will be, but she is here for the challenge.

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Arielle describes herself as a fierce, fearless warrior who is grounded and focused on bettering her community.  She is also the first black, woman city councillor ever to be elected in London, Ontario.  

She uses her platform to forge a path to community and civic engagement for women, but most importantly for underrepresented black women to help normalize, humanize and allow them to live freely and fearlessly.  

Arielle wants to see equity lenses in every level of government and any powerful institution that is making decisions, in order to keep women safe.

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Saman is a young, Iranian-Canadian woman who is passionate about people.  She is the Policy Chair of the Iranian Canadian Congress, ran for provincial and municipal government in 2018 and is also an Anthropologist.  

As a candidate for two progressive campaigns in Willowdale last year, It was important to Saman to recruit a young and diverse team.  She believes that if we want to open up and change politics, we need to ensure that those who are newer to the process are learning skills to lead.  Saman feels that one of the largest barriers to getting involved in more traditional types of campaigns, is volunteers often do not see themselves in candidates, or as integral to the campaign - when in fact they are crucial.

Saman believes making politics accessible and doing the work to frame it as something personal, allows people, particularly young women and young racialized women, to become involved.

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Aima is a Canadian-Pakistani, Muslim Woman and describes herself as an individual who carves out her own path. She doesn’t conform to societal norms but rather, chooses to be true to herself.   She supports all women by acknowledging their truth and path to liberation.  She uses her platform to educate her fellow sisters on what it means to be an ally, and shows solidarity with other marginalized women.  Not only was she actively involved in ratifying an all Muslim Women’s Group for the Muslim women at Ryerson University, but she is also a part of online magazine, MuslimGirl .  Aima uses her position there as a writer and graphic designer to elevate local Canadian talent.   Aima portrays Muslim women taking a powerful stance through her art as a way to act as a buffer against the trolls and negativity in the world. 

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Hema is a former Toronto city councillor candidate, a feminist and the co-founder of Women Win TO.

In 2017 Hema Co-founded Women Win TO; an organization that trains and prepares women, including trans and gender non-conforming individuals, to run winning municipal campaigns. When Hema ran for office, she received feedback on “how to look” and how to physically “fit the role” of a leader.  She works hard to make sure that women never hear that they don’t look like power, and she reinforces that power, in fact, looks like them.

In Women Win TO’s Inaugural 2017 class, there were 15 amazing participants, 10 of whom became candidates, including two now-sitting Ontario MPPs. Seven incredible participants are running for city council right now! Together, they have built a community of strong women leaders.

Hema feels fortunate for the people who have empowered and mentored her and says it feels natural to mentor other women and will continue to do so.

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Brittany is a policy analyst and political commentator, seen on CBC News, CTV and other current/public affairs programs. She describes herself as a complex, multifaceted being, whose purpose is to defy traditional norms and conventions and expand the possibilities of who and what a Black professional woman can and is supposed to be.

Through her work in policy, politics and media, she inserts new perspectives, thoughts and opinions that challenge people to think critically about the world and society they live in. All three of these spaces play a vital role in her ability to communicate to the public and helping to engage others in the political process. Brittany believes that both outward pressure and internal pushes can bring about the systemic changes needed for marginalized groups.

Brittany always makes time to meet and talk with young women, especially Black women, because she feels that for many of them, their dreams of achieving goals are either denied by being told they are not good enough or by not having access to the right mentors. She feels she has been extremely fortunate to have continuously been encouraged to reach for the stars while having amazing women by her side helping to guide her along the way. She feels honoured to pay it forward to those who come after her, by sharing resources, being an ear or a simple dose of reality by reminding them about how badass they are.

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Yami is a grassroots feminist, anti-violence advocate and educator born in Lilongwe, Malawi and raised in Ottawa Ontario. She identifies as a child of the diaspora, occupying many spaces of the “in-between”.  She is currently the Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusion, overseeing the Black Academic Success and Engagement (BASE) Initiative at Humber College.

For the last 10 years, Yami has been a frontline worker, educator and advocate for folks who have experienced sexual violence. She has given talks and trainings all over the country, on issues related to Sexual Violence, LGBTQ Communities & Anti-Black Racism; including the Ministry of the Attorney General, Ministry of Labour, Status of Women, UN Committee on International Decade of People of African Descent, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.  Yami also teaches yoga and uses her practice as a way to support people’s journeys to affirm themselves and their bodies.  She’s done this through offering classes for folks who may feel/be marginalized from mainstream classes.  This can be anyone from survivors of sexual assault, to folks that don’t feel comfortable in mainstream yoga studios because of beliefs it is only for skinny white women. She feels honoured to create and hold space for folks to connect with themselves, others and their bodies through movement and breath.

As a queer black femme with invisible disabilities, she strives to work against systems of oppression that seek to silence those on the margins. 

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Erin is a Korean-Canadian grassroots organizer, storyteller, and facilitator local to Toronto.  She develops and delivers trainings, programs, workshops, and curricula around themes such as leadership, anti-oppression, and empowerment. Erin founded Stories of Ours (@storiesofours_TO) in 2014, a grassroots project that aims to deepen community, invite solidarity, and challenge dominant narratives through intentional acts of storytelling and creative arts.   Erin tries to support and empower others by exploring healing and trauma, diaspora and identity, love and rage.  She believes the lessons we learn through reflection on these tensions in our own experiences, is critical to how we will move through life, in all aspects.  Erin is passionate about creating space for dialogue - she hosts brunches for self-identifying Asians to talk over food in her home; cooking workshops (open to all) to examine history and politics while enjoying a meal; and organizing Stories of Ours.  Erin uses her experiences to mentor womxn, and youth, and has a strong focus on skill sharing in collaborations with other femmes.    Erin aims to cultivate a trans-inclusive, intersectional feminist lens, which she hopes will only continue to grow throughout her life. #thiswomaniknow

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Anne is a writer, launching her first book of essays next month titled, Nobody Cares. She writes for many publications, including a weekly newsletter, and hosts a podcast called Nobody Cares But Me.

Anne often shares her own personal experiences, whether it be about break-ups, anxiety, sobriety or struggles with mental health.  By doing this, she aspires to normalize these conversations and shatter the stigma surrounding them.  

Anne works to empower other women by sharing her platforms with them, as well as facilitating connections wherever she is able.  She values the small, generous acts of peers that helped build her career, and she tries to help others do the same.  

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Tiffany is a community advocate, a TDSB school board trustee, and the founder of “Beyond at Risk,” a non-profit focused on changing the narrative of marginalized youth and communities. She is also very proud to be a Ward 7 candidate for Toronto City Council, where she has lived her whole life.

Tiffany is inspired by her community, and the young people who live in it, who shine despite often harmful media portrayals. She believes they deserve greater investment from city hall–into the housing and schools, etc. As trustee, She has supported young women and men to advocate for change in their schools, by developing youth advisory committees, and mentors young women in various capacities.

As a young Black woman growing up in the community, Tiffany knows that representation matters. This is affirmed when she hears from young women in her community, to say that Tiffany inspires them to persevere and achieve their dreams. Young girls constantly inspire her and she does not want to let them down.

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THIS WOMAN I KNOW, her name is Hana.  She describes herself as a weirdo brown girl, who is an artist and writer that is passionate about creating content that has a healing impact on people.

Hana aims to support others through her relatable and empowering art.  She has been making daily affirmations since March 2016 and has made roughly 130 to date. These affirmations touch on topics such as body image, sexual assault survivors, depression, anxiety, sexuality and self care.  

Hana has also collaborated with organizations like Consent Comes First, (a group at RyersonU)  as well as the Young Women’s Leadership Network.  Both of these organizations do a lot to support survivors and provide education on empowering young people.  Through her artwork she is able to help draw attention to the incredibly important initiatives groups like these are generating. 

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THIS WOMAN I KNOW, her name is Aura.  She is a Haudenosaunee | Oneida artist/muralist and is passionate about working with Indigenous youth and womxn to support their healing journey by focusing on empowerment. She believes in the power of art as healing.

Aura uses art to examine stories that are connected to the mind, body and spirit.  She aims to address the pain of intergenerational trauma and intergenerational healing to communicate experiences from the inside out. She does this through a combination of painting, drawing, beadwork, image transfers, art as healing workshops and sharing stories.

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THIS WOMAN I KNOW, her name is Chief Lady Bird and she is an Anishinaabe (Chippewa and Potawatomi) artist from Rama First Nation and Moose Deer Point First Nation.  She creates illustrations, street art, collaborative community murals, and mixed media paintings with her major focus on empowerment- specifically intended for Indigenous people through a decolonial lens.

Through her art she aims to create work that challenges the lens that Indigenous people are viewed through.  One of the ways she does this is by illustrating and painting womxn within her community who empower themselves in various ways.  Through these illustrations and explorations, she is able to tackle issues of representation, sexuality, language, connection/disconnection and identity.

Chief Lady Bird feels that one of the most important aspects of empowerment, specifically as an Indigenous womxn, is to create a circle of learning and healing together.

@chiefladybirdblog

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THIS WOMAN I KNOW, her name is Alia.  She is an extraordinary portrait photographer and an artist.  She uses visual storytelling through photography and video to investigate and represent concepts and communities that are meaningful to her.

Her work with “The Sisters Project” makes space for Muslim women to feel a part of an inclusive community that celebrates their unique identities. Her most recent series “Like a Sister”, encourages women to look at the female relationships in their lives in order to better celebrate and improve them.  She believes humanizing women’s stories is a great way for them to feel more empowered and also a great way to better understand the women around us which leads to further support.

Her hope is to celebrate women and bring them together.

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THIS WOMAN I KNOW, her name is Chenthoori.  She is a daughter form the Tamil diaspora, a sexual violence advocate, is aspiring to become a social worker and she is a caregiver to her grandmother who also happens to be her best friend.  

Chenthoori currently works at the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. She designs and facilitates workshops on sexual violence within the immigrant and refugee communities for women. She was elected the president at The York Federation of Students representing 55,000 undergraduate students in 2016, and recently has been elected as the national board of director with Equal voice to encourage more women of colour to consider running in politics, as well, Chenthoori mentors women to see themselves in leadership position.

She strongly believes in femmetorship, and believes that if it were not for the women before her and all of the women with her she would not be where she is today.

In the work that Chenthoori does, she is constantly making sure that she is challenging the status quo and ensuring that marginalized women are taking up more space in the world.