Spring Awakening: Empower Your Voice, Expand Your Impact
April 17 2025
As we head into spring, I’m excited to offer two powerful opportunities for community members to build and strengthen their leadership skills. Whether you're looking to amplify your impact at the grassroots level or gain a deeper understanding of municipal processes, these courses are designed to support your growth and engagement in our community.
Introducing the Lead with Impact Leadership Accelerator: Empowering Women to Lead Boldly in Etobicoke and Beyond
In Etobicoke and throughout Ontario, there’s no shortage of incredible women making a difference in their communities—whether it’s through advocacy, organizing, or simply showing up and caring for others. But how often do we take the time to recognize that quiet, yet impactful leadership? Too often, women’s leadership goes unnoticed or isn’t given the credit it deserves.
But it’s time to change that.
That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce the Lead with Impact Leadership Accelerator. This isn’t just another leadership program. This is a space specifically designed to help women in Etobicoke and throughout Ontario to break through barriers, find their authentic voice, and step confidently into leadership roles. Whether you’ve been leading from behind the scenes or wondering if you’re “cut out” for leadership, this program is here to help you realize that your leadership is exactly what your community needs.
What is the Lead with Impact Leadership Accelerator?
The Lead with Impact Leadership Accelerator is a 6-week program that’s all about supporting women who are ready to step into leadership, own their voice, and make a lasting impact in their communities.
This accelerator focuses on the things that hold us back: self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and all those invisible social pressures that tell us we’re not qualified or ready to lead. Through hands-on virtual workshops, personalized mentoring, and group support, you’ll gain the confidence, skills, and connections you need to step into leadership with power and clarity.
By the end of the program, you’ll be able to:
Understand and embrace your unique leadership style
Tackle those nagging doubts and fears that hold you back from leading boldly
Learn how to communicate clearly and confidently, even in difficult situations
Master practical skills like advocacy, fundraising, and networking to fuel your impact
Build a strategic plan for creating meaningful change
Why This Program Matters for Women
Let’s face it: leading as a woman isn’t always easy. There’s the self-doubt that creeps in, the internal battle with imposter syndrome, and let’s not forget the external pressures that make us second-guess our worthiness. The truth is, women are often socialized to downplay their strengths and contributions, even when they’re making a big impact behind the scenes.
But Lead with Impact is about changing that narrative.
The truth is, women have been leading for generations—whether we’ve been on the front lines of political campaigns, advocating for better health and safety in schools, or organizing grassroots movements. And now, it’s time to make sure your voice is heard. It’s time to claim your power, stop doubting yourself, and lead without fear of judgment.
Through this program, you’ll learn how to step into your leadership with confidence, unapologetically owning your voice and your place in your community.
What You’ll Learn
This isn’t just theory. This is practical, hands-on leadership that you can start using immediately in your own life and work. We’ll dive deep into:
Finding Your Leadership Voice We all lead in different ways. Some of us are quiet, but powerful; others are bold and outspoken. The key is to embrace your authentic voice and lead in a way that feels true to who you are. Whether you’re an introvert, an advocate, or a caregiver, you can be an effective leader—and you’ll learn how to amplify your unique strengths.
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome If you’ve ever felt like you don’t deserve to be in a leadership role or that you’re not “ready,” you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is a real challenge for many women. But in this program, we’ll help you identify and crush those thoughts so you can step into your leadership role with confidence.
Mastering Communication and Advocacy Being a leader is about using your voice—whether it’s advocating for your community or getting up to speak at a local event. You’ll learn how to communicate with clarity, conviction, and power, and we’ll give you the tools to become a compelling advocate for the issues you care about most.
Fundraising and Resource Building Leadership isn’t just about ideas; it’s about execution. And to execute, you need resources. Learn how to fundraise, build relationships, and gather the support you need to bring your vision to life. This is a skill every leader needs, and we’ll break it down in a way that’s accessible, even if you’ve never fundraised before.
Building Your Network No leader does it alone. The most effective leaders know how to surround themselves with the right people. In this program, you’ll learn how to build and leverage a network of mentors, peers, and supporters who will help you grow as a leader and make a bigger impact.
Who Should Take Part?
This program is for women—and those who identify as women—who are ready to step up and lead, whether you're new to leadership or looking to refine your existing skills.
If you’re someone who has always been the behind-the-scenes organizer, the passionate advocate, or the quiet leader in your community, this is your time to step into the light. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to lead or felt like the world wasn’t ready for your voice—this program is for you.
This program is perfect for:
Emerging leaders who want to develop their skills and become more confident in their leadership
Advocates and activists looking to amplify their impact and learn how to influence change more effectively
Caregivers and nurturers who want to build stronger, more compassionate communities
Introverts who want to lead with authenticity and confidence, even from behind the scenes
Organizers who want to expand their influence and create lasting change in their communities
Why Now?
Now, more than ever, our community needs strong women leaders to step up. Etobicoke is facing important challenges—everything from housing to climate action to the health and safety of our kids in schools—and it’s going to take bold, courageous women to make a real difference.
That’s where you come in.
Lead with Impact is your opportunity to step into your power, own your leadership, and start making the change you want to see. The world needs your voice, your ideas, and your leadership—so why wait?
How to Enroll
Are you ready to Lead with Impact?
We are set to kick off in mid-May, and spaces are limited because I want to make sure that each participant gets personalized support and the attention they deserve. This first cohort is priced at just $249, a savings of $351 off the regular price of $600. And if cost is a barrier, we’re offering a few sliding scale spots to ensure this program is accessible to everyone who wants to be part of it. To enroll, simply fill out the form below. This is not a commitment—but it lets me know you’re interested and gives you a head start when registration opens on May 1.
Click here to fill out the form and get started.
This is your chance to become part of a leadership community that will help you grow, thrive, and lead with confidence. Don’t wait—get on the list today!
City Hall 101: A Comprehensive Introduction to Toronto Municipal Politics
I’m also excited to reintroduce the City Hall 101 course this spring—an accessible and engaging program designed for anyone curious about how our local government works, and how everyday residents can shape what happens in their city. Whether you're a long-time community advocate or just beginning to pay attention to local issues, this course offers a solid foundation for understanding municipal politics and making your voice count.
Fully updated for 2025, City Hall 101 reflects the most recent developments in city governance and includes brand-new content that explores the real-life impact of local political decisions. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of how policies are created, debated, and passed—and why the municipal level of government often has the most direct influence on your daily life.
This course is especially valuable for those involved in community organizations, grassroots initiatives, or non-profits who need to better understand how to navigate City Hall and effectively advocate for their causes. If you're working to advance affordable housing, road safety, environmental action, or any other local issue, this course will give you the tools to connect your mission to the levers of municipal power.
Through a mix of presentations, real-world case studies, and interactive discussions, participants will explore:
The structure and function of Toronto’s City Council
How city councillors, committees, and city staff work together
The city budgeting process and how priorities are set
Key tools for resident engagement and influencing decisions
The role of public consultations, petitions, and deputations
How local advocacy campaigns can shape policy and outcomes
This four-week program is offered for $125 and is perfect for anyone considering running for office, thinking about volunteering on a campaign, community advocates who need to navigate city hall, or those who simply are wanting to become more engaged and informed. By the end of the program, you’ll not only understand how decisions get made at city hall—you’ll also feel more equipped to take part in shaping them.
Registration will open April 25 and more information is coming next week! The course will run from June 1 to 30, with weekly 60-minute sessions. Session days and times will be selected based on what works best for the majority of the cohort. To support flexibility, recordings of each session will be made available weekly, making it easy to keep up even if you can’t attend live.
In a time when civic engagement is more important than ever, City Hall 101 helps demystify the system and empower everyday people—and community leaders—to become active participants in our local democracy.
Invest in Your Leadership—Invest in Your Community
Both the Lead with Impact Accelerator and City Hall 101 are rooted in the same belief that drives The Etobicoke Voice: that when residents are informed, engaged, and confident in their leadership abilities, communities grow stronger and more connected.
Whether you’re ready to deepen your skills as a community leader, explore a potential role in public life, or simply want to be a more effective advocate for your neighbourhood, these programs offer an accessible, practical starting point. You don’t need to be an expert—just curious, committed, and ready to learn alongside others who care.
As we head into spring, it’s the perfect time to invest in yourself and in the change you want to see locally. If you’ve ever wondered how to take your involvement to the next level, these programs were designed with you in mind.
Together, let’s build the kind of leadership that brings people together, uplifts local voices, and creates lasting impact—right here in Etobicoke.