Connect Series

SfC's Connect Series examines Canada's status as a global leader in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, through conversations with individuals and organizations across the country who are finding innovative solutions to champion these causes. In this episode, Skills for Change's Sampada Kukade speaks with Lizz Bryce, Senior Vice President of Community and Strategic Initiatives, at CanadaHelps about the state of donorship, importance of digitalization, and Giving Tuesday.

This week, Director Sampada Kukade is joined by Co-Founder and Executive Director of WomenattheCentrE, also known as the Women's Centre for Social Justice. Nneka discusses how she came to Canada, how she co-founded WomenatthecentrE, and how female survivors of domestic violence are coping with the current pandemic. Catch up on all our previous Spotlight Series here: https://skillsforchange.org/sfc-connect/

Director Sampada Kukade is joined by Dr. Wendy Cukier, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Strategy at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University and Academic Director of the Diversity Institute. Wendy discusses her upbringing in the GTA with civil rights activist parents, how she went about forming the Diversity Institute, and how new entrepreneurs are dealing with the pandemic.

Anti-Black Racism as a Public Health Crisis - August 4, 2020 - Spotlight Series by Skills for Change

We've taken an extended break but we're back with all new episodes of our Connect Series. This week, Sampada Kukade sits down with Patrick Maccarone, Stakeholder Relations Specialist at Paragon Testing Enterprises. Patrick speaks on his upbringing in a half-Canadian/half-Italian family, how he got started with Paragon, and its partnership with Skills for Change.

Director Sampada Kukade has an in-depth conversation with Amanda Fernandez, Founder of Inclusifyy that specializes in Diversity Inclusion Consulting. Amanda discusses her upbringing of immigrating to Canada in Grade 9, how Inclusifyy was born from her years in school and what companies are doing right and wrong when it comes to diversity training.

Director Sampada Kukade sits down with Mohinder Grover, a long-time mentor for Skills for Change to discuss his experience immigrating to Canada as a student, living on a scholarship in the 1970s in Saskatchewan, how his career influenced his mentoring style, and why he loves to help Skills for Change. Hosted by Sampada Kukade Edited by Perry Jackson For previous episodes, please visit our website: https://www.skillsforchange.org/podcast-by-skills-for-change

Director, Employer Engagement & Partnerships and Program Marketing Sampada Kukade sits down with Dean Delpeache, Sr. Manager of Talent Acquisition at FIIX Software to discuss HR recruitment, being raised as a first generation Canadian, how he got into HR, how FIIX supports Skills for Change and why believing your experience is valid in Canada when finding work as a newcomer.

For our latest SfC Connect Series, Director Sampada Kukade speaks to Mridula Nair from our Employer Engagement team to talk about employer services during COVID=19, Mridula's journey from immigration to employer liaison at Skills for Change.

Associate Director Sampada Kukade speaks to the Chair of the Board of Directors at Skills for Change to discuss how he immigrated to Canada, his upbringing, and spoke on how we're adjusting to the pandemic.

In the latest SfC Connect Series, Associate Director Sampada Kukade sits down with ELT Instructor Josee Gillette to discuss language programs and teaching under the pandemic and what she's learning from her students.

For our latest SfC Connect Series, Associate Director Sampada Kukade speaks to Nadisha Berry and Alyssa Guida from our Human Resources Department to talk about wellness initiatives and how HR dealt with the pandemic and the human elements of human resources.

Interview with Nicoleta Verdes, Settlement Outreach Worker. Nicky shares about the Settlement, Counselling, and Support Services that she facilities for newcomers, immigrants and Canadian permanent residents. Nicky also shares how she first got involved with Skills for Change as a client 13 years ago. Learn more about Settlement Services: http://skillsforchange.org/settlement Questions about services? Contact Nicoleta Verdes at nverdes@skillsforchange.org or call her at 416.658.3101 Ext. 232

Surranna Sandy, CEO of Skills for Change discusses leadership in times of crisis with Sampada Kukade, Associate Director of Marketing and Partnerships. Surranna Sandy shares how Skills for Change has embraced new technology during this pandemic, maintained effective communication in remote working work environment, and how she has been supporting her staff in difficult transitions, and how her staff members are innovatively serving vulnerable communities during these challenging times.

Nelson Briceno, Skills for Change's Information & Referral Counsellor shares about employment services offered to jobseekers, newcomers, and immigrants. Nelson shares how his team is delivering modified services in today's challenging times.

Vijay James who coordinates the Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub, a pre-incubator program for Canadian newcomers to start a business, shares how the pandemic had led to changes in the program delivery. The Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub focuses on the entrepreneurial spirit of newcomers and assists in breaking down barriers by helping them to successfully establish a business and/or obtain employment. Additionally, the Entrepreneurship Hub (eHub) is available to all participants as a free co-working space for start-ups that require the space to establish and/or work on their businesses. Learn more about the program here: https://skillsforchange.org/e-hub/ Email: ehub@skillsforchange.org

We are pleased to launch a new series to connect our community to our programs and services. For this webinar, our Associate Director Sampada Kukade, interviews Narges Khazraei about the mental health and emotional wellbeing supports, and counselling services that she provides for newcomers and immigrants.