A global citizen born in Asmara-Eritrea, Arsema’s passion lies in her commitment to people-centered, process-driven community development which she identifies as the intersection of identity, civic action and sustainable economic opportunity. With love and integrity, she advocates for and contributes to creating opportunities for marginalized populations and facilitating access to fundamental resources and support.  Using an asset based, equity framework, Arsema has worked closely with people of diverse backgrounds and with varying realities to collectively affect systemic change at the policy and grassroots levels.  

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As the Director of Programs and Partnerships at Canada’s largest social housing provider, Toronto Community Housing, Arsema brings a strong commitment to public service and equity, overseeing initiatives that improve tenant outcomes, enhance service delivery, and build sustainable collaborations.  She provides visionary leadership to a multidisciplinary team, aligning program strategy with corporate priorities and community needs. 

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Arsema credits the AfriCan Food Basket for paving her path into the local food movement and the critical work of Food Justice and Food Sovereignty.  She has contributed as an urban farmer with the UJAMAA Farm Collective and served on the Toronto Food Policy Council, City of Toronto’s Black Food Sovereignty Advisory Circle and as a Board Director at FoodShare Toronto.  Arsema is delighted to contribute to the collective reimagining of food systems, rooted in Africentric values, that will better serve people of African descent across Canada.

Grounded in family, faith and community, Arsema finds joy in travelling, connecting across cultures, raising her brilliant children and honouring the legacy of her late brother Nahom.

Cecile is the Founder & Chief Transformation Strategist at the Leadership Coaching Centre. She has over 22 years of expertise as a distinguished confidence coach & mentor, helping 1,000+ professionals & aspiring entrepreneurs unleash their unique strengths, pivot with purpose & craft legacy careers.

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The life lessons from her father deeply inspire her approach. His guiding principles of kindness & respect shaped her holistic approach to leadership, where personal well-being & professional achievement converge, empowering others not just to succeed, but redefine success on their own terms. She balances authority with compassion, cultivating a leadership style as human-centric as it is dynamic. This not only guides her interactions but shapes the empowering and inclusive environments she is committed to creating.

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Cecile doesn’t only focus on her own career as a coach and mentor. She actively volunteers in various community programs and activities and serves on Nonprofit Boards. She willingly offers free workshops, which are aimed at guiding youth in at-risk communities. She is also a mentor to many young adults in the Toronto area.

 

Cecile’s value proposition is her unique creative flair she brings to everything she does, her ability to lead authentic dialogues, and her genuine love and understanding of people.

Sheldomar believes communities thrive when they hold the power to shape their own futures. As a food and environmental justice advocate, he is passionate about creating spaces where BIPOC voices lead in reclaiming food sovereignty, land justice, and the right to heal.

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His work centres on community power through advancing Black Food Sovereignty in Toronto, supporting youth-led food systems change, and exploring how land connects us to culture and resilience. He aims to bridge generations, traditions, and visions for a more just world.

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He has held several positions, including co-chair of the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council, board member of the Black Youth Farming Collective, and member of the Black Food Sovereignty Alliance, before becoming a board member. For Sheldomar, food, land, and healing are threads of the same line of reclaiming autonomy and rewriting narratives.