What London Can Be

This week on What London Can Be, Diane talks to Vijay Venkatesan, our Vice President of Finance & Operations, and Michelle Foote, Director of Finance and Operations at United Way Elgin Middlesex and a volunteer on LCF's Social Finance Committee, about LCF's Social Impact Fund.

This week on What London Can Be, we talk to Tuhin Jajal, Executive Director of the London Family Court Clinic, about their latest initiative to support victimized and at-risk children in London, Beacon House.

We're joined by Scott Courtice, Executive Director of the InterCommunity Health Centre, to talk about their role in tackling London's homelessness crisis, and the plan for our whole community to tackle this problem together, born from the homelessness summits held over the past few months.Episode Length: 23:23

We revisit March's Vital Conversation on Food Security with Nancy Buchanan, Family Social Worker at Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, Sarah Stern, Leader at Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security, Jane Roy, Co-Executive Director at London Food Bank, and Becky Ellis, Executive Director at Urban Roots London.

As March is Epilepsy Awareness month, we spoke to Sandra Pidduck, an educator at Epilepsy Southwest Ontario, to find out a bit more about about their work helping people living with epilepsy to overcome some of the barriers they might face.

Ahead of International Women's Day on Wednesday 8th March, we speak to Brescia's Dr. Peggy O'Neil about her work at the United Nations for women all over the world, and why it's still important that Canada has a women's-only university right here in London.

With February being Black History month, we spoke to Carl Cadogan, Chair of the London Black History Coordinating Committee, about what Black History Month means to him and why it's important to educate people on the history of black people in Canada. Carl tells us about some of the events still to come this month, and shares some history about the London Fugitive Slave Chapel.

Following the Mayor's announcement of the $25 million Heath and Homelessness Fund For Change donated by an anonymous family to tackle homelessness in London, we catch up with Chuck Lazenby, Executive Director at the Unity Project, about what it could all mean for the city and the sector as a whole.

This week we revisit our panel discussion where our guest speakers discuss the main issues facing the environment and what Londoners can do to help tackle them. Guest speakers include Dr. Franco Berruti from Western University's Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Teresa Hollingsworth from The Upper Thames River Conversation Authority, and Nicole Karsch from London Environmental Network. Moderated by environmental journalist and LCF Environmental Advisory Committee member, Mary Ann Colihan.

In our first episode of 2023, Diane speaks to Andrew Fleet, Executive Director of Growing Chefs! Ontario, about the innovative work they're doing here in London to make systemic changes to Ontario's food systems and education. Episode Length: 31:00

In this special holiday episode, we take a brief look back at some of the reasons our guests have given us to be positive for the future of London. From everyone at London Community Foundation, we hope you're enjoying this holiday season, and we look forward to bringing you more insights from changemakers in our community in the new year.

This week on What London Can Be we speak to Mariyam Zaidi, Director of Services at Sakeenah Canada, to discuss the innovative work they do in London and across Canada trying to support Muslims where mainstream services let them down, as well touching on anti-Muslim racism in London.

This week on What London Can Be, Diane speaks to Vital Signs Committee members Mary Ann Colihan and Dr. Jerry White about all things Vital Signs, including why it's so important to LCF's work, and why now is the right time for London to focus on investing in the environment.

With the FIFA World Cup starting on Sunday, what better time for us to talk to Bill Smith, Executive Director at London Sports Council about the KidSport London program, and why children taking part in sports is an important tool for encouraging London to become a friendlier, more inclusive community.

In this week's episode of What London Can Be, Matthew Sereda, Learning Coordinator for Equity and Inclusive Education at Thames Valley District School Board, Michael Ciccone, CEO and Chief Librarian at London Public Library, Dorothy McKay, Primary Teacher (grades 1/2) at Chippewa Public School, and Ted Gorski, Executive Director at Investing in Children, join us for a Vital Conversation about Racial Equality. Moderated by Dr. Jerry White, Chair of LCF's Vital Signs Task Force.

In this week's podcast, Diane speaks to Executive Director of St Leonard's Community Services, Michael Oates. They talk about all things St Leonard's, including partnership working, the effect of social housing on the wider community, and the importance of second chances.

Host Diane Silva is joined by Nancy Buchanan and Jocelyn Zurbrigg from Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC), to talk about the $135,000 Community Vitality Grant to support a project addressing food insecurity amongst Indigenous communities.

This week, Diane is joined by Aaron Clark from St Joseph's Health Care London and Fraser Maguire from London Police, to find out more about the Community Outreach and Support Team, a collaborative project that supports people struggling with addiction and poor mental health which, recently received a $138,000 Community Vitality Grant, from LCF.

**Content Warning** In our latest episode of What London Can Be, Diane speaks with Al Day, Executive Director at N'Amerind Friendship Centre, and a member of the Oneida Nation Council of Chiefs, about the history of anti-Indigenous racism in Canada, modern day racism in London, and what the recent visit to from Pope Francis does and doesn't mean for the journey towards truth and reconciliation. Episode Length: 49:22

We've talked a lot about the power of unrestricted giving in this season of What London Can Be, and this week, Diane is joined by Janine Langley, Executive Director at SARI Therapeutic Riding, to talk about how unrestricted funds helped them come out of the pandemic in a strong position.

Today Diane is joined by Season Bieronski, Manager of Housing Services at London Cares Homeless Response Services, to discuss the Community Vitality Grant which will help them open up a first of its kind 24/7 permanent supportive housing service for some of the most vulnerable housing-deprived people in London.

In this week's episode of What London Can Be, Al Day, Executive Director of N'Amerind Friendship Centre, LCF Social Finance Committee member Dollar Luo, and Ayo Owodunni, a diversity and inclusion trainer who hosts The Immigrant View Podcast, join us for a Vital Conversation about Racial Equality.

**Content Warning** This week on What London Can Be, host Diane Silva is joined by gender-equity consultant and public educator Dr. AnnaLise Trudell, Manager of Prevention Education & Research at gender-based violence shelter and sexual assault centre, Anova. AnnaLise shares her knowledge on a range of gender issues from preventing sexual assault through education, to the impacts of Depp vs Heard and the overturning of Roe v Wade.

This week Diane is joined by grants committee member and long time LCF supporter Clint Wilson, and our president and CEO Martha Powell, to discuss the importance of legacy and unrestricted giving. We discuss Clints journey with LCF and how volunteering with us has helped inform his giving and increase the impact he's making.

This week on What London Can Be, we revisit our first Vital Conversation event of the year; a panel discussion where our guest speakers discuss the unique housing challenges faced particularly by Indigenous, newcomer, and racialized communities. Hosted by chair of the LCF Vital Signs Committee, Dr. Jerry White, we're joined by; Andrea Jibb, Director of Community Planning at Atlohsa Family Healing Services, Mariyam Zaidi MSW, RSW, Director of Services at Sakeenah Homes, and Dr. Valerian Marochko, Executive Director at Cross Cultural Learner Centre.

This week, our host Diane Silva is joined by Dr. Abe Oudshoorn, Associate Professor at the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University. A registered nurse who worked with homeless people in London, Abe has a strong knowledge of the history of homelessness in Canada, and in this episode he and Diane discuss how we've arrived at the housing crisis we see in London today.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Janet Tufts, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area. Last fall, Big Brothers Big Sisters was granted $51,056 through LCF's Community Vitality Grant program. This grant will help support the creation of a new volunteer coordinator position which will help address the volunteer intake bottleneck and eliminate the waitlist of children in need of a mentor, which is especially important amid the stress of the pandemic. Listen and learn more about how Big Brothers Big Sisters is positively impacting the lives of so many children in our community.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Rick Frost, former CEO of the Winnipeg Foundation. As foundations are being challenged to raise disbursement quotas and boost charitable spending during these times of great need, Diane and Rick discuss equitable philanthropy, the power of endowment and the opportunity that lies ahead for the future of philanthropy and foundations.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Timothy Tuckey, Executive Director of Youth Centre for Change (YCFC) - a residential treatment facility for male youth between the ages of 12-18 who have demonstrated problematic sexualized behaviours. Join Diane as she learns more about YCFC, the impact of their work and why treating the youth they serve is so important. To learn more about YCFC visit, ycfc.ca

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Courtney Coqu, Institutional Worker and Counsellor at the John Howard Society about breaking the cycle of post incarceration homelessness. The John Howard Society recently received a $300,000 for this program which will help those leaving the criminal justice system access supports and find long-term housing. Take a listen and learn more about how the John Howard Society is fostering hope and creating a sense of belonging in one of our community's most underserved and often ignored populations.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Amanda Kennedy, Founder of Yotuni Social Enterprise and Michelle Kanter, Executive Director of Carolinian Canada about the Community Healing Gardens Project a recipient of a $200,000 Community Vitality Grant. The Healing Gardens Project is a social enterprise that will employ Indigenous Youth to create gardening kits to be sold to community members – enabling land-based wellness and learning at home with Indigenous food and plants.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Joe Ganselves, Coordinator of the JobWorks and PATCH programs at Hutton House Association for Adults with Disabilities, about the Cavendish Community Food Hub project – a brand new, accessible urban farm to be located in the Kensington Village area of London and recipient of a $230,744 grant through LCF's Community Vitality Grant program.

In this brand new episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Thames Valley District School Board Chair Lori-Ann Pizzolato and Trustee Corrine Rahman about some of the challenges facing our community's education system brought forth by the pandemic – and how the Board has faced them head-on.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Dr. Jerry White, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Western University, LCF Board Member, and Chair of LCF's Social Finance and Vital Signs Committees about this year's Vital Signs report. LCF's Vital Signs report aims to create awareness of pressing social issues in our community. Going beyond identifying the issues, Vital Signs 2021: Be the Change hopes to inspire action and provide the community with some of the tools and resources needed to begin creating change. https://www.bethechangelondon.ca/

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Dr. Prachi Srivastava, Associate Professor in the area of global education at Western University, member of the World Bank Expert Advisory Council on Citizen Engagement, and contributing author on two Science Briefs of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table on education. Dr. Srivastava also leads the COVID-19 School Dashboard, an open-access site that visualizes COVID-19 school-related cases throughout Ontario with equity-related school information.

In this Vital Conversation episode of What London Can Be, we revisit talks given by Dr. Javeed Sukhera, incoming Chair of Psychiatry at the Institute of Living (IOL) and Chief of Psychiatry at Hartford Hospital, and Blair Henry, Harm Reduction Case Manager at Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, about compassion, prejudice, and the importance of connection to health and well-being at Vital Conversation: Be Healthy in 2019.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Benjamin Hill, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Western University and Chair of the Middlesex London Food Policy Council (MLFPC), about London's food system, food security, and the MLFPC's work in the community.

In this Vital Conversation episode of What London Can Be, we revisit a talk given by Brian Salt, founder and President of Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre, about awareness of environmental issues, being conscious of our impact on nature, and doing our part to save lives at our Vital Conversation: Be Green event in 2019.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva continues her conversation with Raymond Deleary, Executive Director of Atlohsa Family Healing Services, discussing the discovery of the unmarked graves near the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Tk'emlups te Secwepemc, Kamloops, British Columbia. We are incredibly grateful to Raymond for taking the time to chat with Diane and share his thoughts and feelings during this difficult time for him and his community.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Stephen D'Amelio, President of Pride London, about this year's Pride London Festival and the LGBTQ2+ community here in London and Middlesex County.

In this special edition of What London Can Be, we revisit a talk given by Ryan Hooey from CNIB at LCF's Vital Conversation: Belonging, on March 6, 2019.

In this episode of What London Can Be, our host Diane Silva speaks with Skylar Franke, Executive Director of the London Environmental Network, about the environment, sustainability, and what groups and organizations are doing to keep our Forest City green and thriving.

In this episode of What London Can Be, Diane Silva speaks with Sh. Aarij Anwer, Interim Imam and Islamic Education Coordinator at the London Muslim Mosque, about Islam, Ramadan, London's Muslim community, and how the Mosque has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode of What London Can Be, Diane Silva speaks with Sylvia Harris, Project Developer at Indwell, and Greg Playford, member of LCF's Board of Directors and Housing Action Committee, about the Vision SoHo Alliance and the new mixed-use, affordable housing development proposed for the Old Victoria Hospital Lands in South London.

In this special edition of What London Can Be, we revisit a talk given by Marci Allen-Easton at LCF's Vital Conversation: Be Equal on December 4, 2019.

In this episode of What London Can Be, Diane speaks with Arielle Kayabaga, Ward 13 Councillor for the City of London, about race, advocacy, and Black History Month.

In this first episode of What London Can Be, Diane speaks with Andrew Chunilall, CEO of Community Foundations of Canada, about community foundations, equitable philanthropy, and the future of the Foundation movement.