2025 Cohort

As founder of The J Healthcare Initiative, Atika works alongside people who use drugs to transform substance use healthcare through evidence-based policy and experiential learning. Her perspective as a first-generation immigrant informs collaborative approaches that have reached 174,000 college students and influenced policies affecting 7 million people.

Recognized as a BC Business 30 Under 30 honoree and Novartis Reimagine Health scholar, Atika established North America’s first women’s virtual overdose prevention circle. Her contributions include supporting the historic inclusion of “harm reduction” in UN resolution and published a parliamentary policy brief on the toxic drug crisis that gained over 75 co-signatories. Through The J Healthcare Initiative, she continues to build bridges between lived experience and healthcare policy.

Halena Seiferling was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan (Treaty 4 Territory and the homeland of the Métis) with a passion for understanding how the world works. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts Honours in International Development from the University of Regina, followed by a Masters in Public Policy from Simon Fraser University. For over 10 years, Halena has been based in the Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia (unceded Coast Salish land) and has worked in projects advocating for living wages and fair labour standards, electoral reform, civic engagement, and climate justice. Halena is currently Executive Director of Living in Community (LIC), a non-profit and charity educating and advocating for the rights and needs of sex workers. Halena is also a dancer and artist, and she sits on the Board of the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition.

Ishag is an advocate for social democracy with a passion for promoting human rights, refugee integration, and civic participation. With a Bachelor of Science in Economics, Financial, and Banking Studies, he focuses on addressing social justice issues, including equitable resource distribution and access to education and healthcare. As an Environmental Program Coordinator with LGL, Ishag developed and implemented educational programs that promote sustainability and environmental awareness. He also works with refugees and asylum seekers, educating them about their civil rights and advocating for their integration into Canadian society. His commitment to social change is reflected in his participation in leadership in programs such as Journeys to Active Citizenship and Build Leads, where he empowers newcomers to engage in civic activities. Through his work, Ishag aims to bridge societal gaps and create an inclusive community for all.

Jorge has been working in the BC Premier’s Office since 2021, contributing to key outreach initiatives and providing support to two Premiers. During the 2024 BC election, he worked on the Leader’s Tour. He now serves as Manager of Outreach & Stakeholder Relations, where his focus is on building relationships with communities historically excluded from decision-making and ensuring their voices are heard in shaping public policy. Prior to his work in government, Jorge spent time as a coordinator, facilitator, and coach in his community, focusing on youth programming.

Born and raised in East Vancouver, Jorge is the proud son of immigrant and refugee parents. He credits his family’s experience and community for shaping his worldview and his passion for social justice, community building, and progressive politics. In his spare time, Jorge enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing soccer, going to concerts, and learning languages.

Justin Kong is a labour and community organizer, educator and activist. He has been involved in workers rights, racial justice, migrant rights and social justice organizing with immigrant communities in the Greater Toronto Area for a number of years. Justin grew up in Scarborough and continues to live there today with his family. In addition to work in grassroots, labour and community organizing Justin has also ran, managed and volunteered on electoral campaigns at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. In his free time Justin enjoys spending time in nature and eating good food with friends and family.

Lauren Castelino is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker committed to advancing equity and climate justice. She founded the Green Career Centre, a nonprofit that prepares underrepresented youth for careers in sustainability.

Her work focuses on building inclusive green economies by developing programs that support young women, newcomers, and BIPOC communities in navigating green job preparation and professional development. Through the Green Career Centre, she has led research on employment barriers, hosted green career events, and developed innovative tools like the Wage Subsidy Matching Tool, which has connected thousands of youth to funding opportunities.

A skilled fund development professional, Lauren has secured over $3.1 million, helping create green jobs, environmental events, and community spaces. In her master’s degree she researched philanthropy’s role in youth- and racialized-led climate justice movements, contributing to a historic $405 million commitment to combat climate change from nine Canadian funders.

Meredith O’Hara lives and works in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia), the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. She currently works as the Communications Lead for Nova Scotia’s NDP. With a background in journalism, communications, fundraising, and nonprofits, Meredith is inspired by people and their stories and is dedicated to building community and a more just and democratic society for everyone. 

In previous roles with local charities and non-profit organizations, Meredith has helped create leadership and networking opportunities for young people who are committed to community development in Nova Scotia. Her past volunteer work on heritage preservation supported climate change action and coastal protection efforts. 

Meredith is committed to progressive change built around gender equity, diverse voices, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic fairness.

Oghenerukevwe Erifeta is the first born daughter to a Nigerian household, and is currently living in Canada. Her early exposure to leadership within her family taught her that leadership is primarily about responsibility and service. She holds diplomas in Liberal Arts and General Science, and is a final-year student pursuing both a BSc and a BA. She has found a strong purpose in the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in academia and beyond. 

Getting into the student movement, Oghenerukevwe has advocated for policies addressing the intersectional challenges that students as well as all members of the community face, such as food insecurity, the housing crisis, rising unemployment rates, and more. She has also advocated for improvements in the post-secondary education sector and immigration systems. Finally, organizing and volunteering to create events and services that foster community development and engagement have been a huge priority for her. 

Through roles like volunteer and mentor with the Ambassador Leader Program at the University of Regina, Vice President External at the University of Regina Student Union, and currently, Regional Lead for Saskatchewan at the Canadian Federation of Students, Oghenerukevwe aims to create systemic change that benefits both students and the broader community. She has learned a great deal in her work so far, and is extremely honored and excited for all she will be opportune to learn through the Emerging Leaders program at the Broadbent Institute.

Rachel Cairns is a Toronto-based actor, writer, and self-proclaimed “maker of things.” She is currently immersed in what she calls her “abortion beat,” creating work that explores reproductive justice. Her solo show, Hypothetical Baby, which examines the practical and existential considerations in deciding to become a parent (or not), recently completed its second Toronto production and earned The Globe and Mail’s Critic’s Pick. The play is a companion to her podcast, Aborsh, which delves into reproductive health and choice across Canada, and has been recognized by Planned Parenthood Toronto’s Choice Award. Rachel is now adapting both projects into a narrative non-fiction memoir with ECW Press. Beyond her creative work, she teaches at George Brown’s School of Media and Performing Arts and directs audiobooks for Penguin Random House—a job she considers the ultimate life hack, to have figured out how to have someone read you stories for a living.

Simone is the coordinator of the collective Les Fruits Défendus, a non-profit organization aimed at using citizen mobilization as a lever to promote access to fruits and tree products available locally. Through urban gleaning activities and the valorization of local trees, the initiative puts into practice the creation of new commons centered on decommodifying food and collective action to defend the right to food for all. Simone holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from McGill University. She also worked as a community organizer in the Parc-Extension neighborhood for several years and remains actively involved in the community, notably through her involvement with the Parc-Ex Curry Collective and Brique par Brique. She is also a pépiniériste and arborist at the Verger-Pépinière Bord-du-Lac, a diversified and agroecological orchard.

Stacey Gomez is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Migrant Worker Rights Nova Scotia. Since 2021, the Centre has provided outreach, rights education, support services, and community-building initiatives to over 6,000 migrant workers across the province. Under Stacey’s leadership, the Centre has worked alongside migrant workers to achieve significant victories in healthcare access, labor rights, and workers’ compensation.

Stacey has a background in frontline service provision, grassroots organizing, advocacy, and communications. She has supported survivors of sexual violence, coordinated anti-deportation campaigns to keep migrant families together, and fostered solidarity between communities in Guatemala and the Maritimes in the pursuit of justice. She has also coordinated a national coalition advocating for Canadian policies in Latin America which are grounded in human rights.

A first-generation university graduate, Stacey holds an MA in Development Studies from York University.

Yussuf Hussein is a community organizer and policy advocate currently serving as senior advisor to Councillor Chris Moise on Toronto City Council.

Growing up in Canada’s largest public housing community, Yussuf understood the importance of advocacy and community organizing. Yussuf is now putting his lived experiences and public policy know-how to advance affordable housing, community-led public safety, and civic engagement.

Before working at City Hall, Yussuf organized with Progress Toronto, where he led grassroots voter mobilization efforts and advocated for tenant protections, workers’ rights, and public investment in underserved communities. In his current role at City Council, Yussuf works to get more affordable housing built, expand community spaces, and push for progressive policies that centre the voices of those most affected by government decisions.

A graduate of York University, Yussuf holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies. Through the Emerging Leaders Program, he looks forward to deepening his leadership skills and building the networks necessary to continue driving systemic change in Toronto and across Canada.