Alright, Now What?

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Elia Lauzon from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, whose work and experiences reflect the power of community and intergenerational leadership.In our conversation, Elia speaks with Alyssa Carpenter from the Canadian Women’s Foundation about growing up in a remote northern community and how youth leadership opportunities helped expand her sense of what was possible for her future.We’ll also hear how the women and community leaders who came before her helped create pathways for the next generation, and why building stronger communities requires showing up for one another, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities collectively.

Jenna Barnable is an award-winning, Disabled changemaker from Newfoundland and Labrador, now based in Nova Scotia. As a disability inclusion advocate and anti-ableism educator, she calls for Disabled, chronically ill and neurodivergent women, girls and gender-diverse people to be protected, respected and empowered. She’s passionate about advancing disability and gender justice by amplifying authentic Disabled representation in leadership and media.A compelling storyteller with an approachable East Coast touch, Jenna aims for every conversation, podcast interview, digital content series and learning session to empower Disabled self-advocates and supportive community allies. She creates critical anti-ableist, feminist content from her podcast and social media series, to speaking events and free community educational resources. Her work spotlights how interlinked systems of oppression (like colonialism, capitalism, patriarchy, racism and ableism) directly harm Disabled women, girls and gender-diverse people.Jenna’s combined Disabled lived experience, feminism and expertise in business, communications and DEI offers a unique perspective often sought by Canadian organizations, post-secondary institutes, governments and media. She mentors Disabled youth and peers, particularly in rural and remote places where disability and gender justice support is crucial for change.

Today, we're joined by mental health leader, storyteller, and executive director of Unsinkable, Hailey Hechtman. Hailey is a passionate advocate for person-centered, lived experience-driven programming. With over a decade of leadership in the nonprofit sector, Hailey has dedicated her career to building more connected, compassionate systems of care. She founded the Yukon Distress & Support Line in 2014, led interagency disability inclusion efforts across Northern Canada, and championed inclusive employment initiatives rooted in dignity and accessibility. As the Executive Director of Unsinkable, a national mental health storytelling organization founded by Olympian Silken Laumann, Hailey leads the evolution of a unified, scalable storytelling model that centers lived experience as a driver of connection, insight, and change. Through guided storytelling, amplification, and community engagement, Unsinkable supports individuals and organizations to engage with mental health in more human, relational ways. Hailey began her journey with Unsinkable as a storyteller, sharing her own experience before stepping into leadership.She is committed to elevating underrepresented voices, nurturing sector collaboration, and creating safe, stigma-free spaces for reflection and healing. Hailey’s work is grounded in the belief that when stories are heard with intention, transformation becomes possible, for individuals, communities, and systems alike.

Selam Debs is a Black Ethiopian woman, an antiracism educator, an anti-oppression coach, a social justice advocate, a student in dismantling anti-Black racism, an accomplice in dismantling anti-Indigenous racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, and an advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ & disability rights through an intersectional lens.She is the creator of the Antiracism Course and has facilitated workshops and trainings for organizations all across Canada. Selam is a yoga and meditation instructor, a restorative yoga teacher trainer, a holistic life coach, and a reiki master. First and foremost, Selam is a mother of a 20-year-old son. She is also a singer, songwriter, poet, and practitioner of self-acceptance, self-love, and radical compassion.Selam’s antiracism work is rooted in the understanding that we must acknowledge and identify the insidiousness of racism before we can dismantle harmful beliefs and systems. The process of undoing, unlearning, and re-educating is necessary to embark on and support the healing journey for equity-denied communities.

In this special bonus episode, Mitzie Hunter, President and CEO of the Canadian Women's Foundation, is joined by Madame Diana Fox Carney, an economist and climate expert whose work has taken her from Africa to the UK to here in Canada, and whose career has focused on tackling some of the biggest challenges of our time. Diana has spent years working at the intersection of climate action, economic decision-making, and social impact, and brings a perspective that's both global and deeply human. Her work pushes us to think differently about leadership and about how we build systems that truly work for people.

Esther is a trauma informed care counsellor, a guest lecturer and a trainer on gender-based violence, diversity, equity, inclusion, human rights and social justice. Her work is grounded in an integrated anti-racist/anti-oppression, and feminist analysis, a holistic approach in which a person's lived experience and realities of life are not fragmented and divided. Esther has been working in the human services field for over 30 years. She is a mentor and mother to many. She has a BA (Hons) in Sociology/Anthropology and Women’s Studies, Trauma Informed Care Counselling Certification, and an MBA.Esther is honoured to be selected by the CWF in 2025 as a delicate to United Nations Conference in New York. She was also selected in 2019 by the WAGE to represent Canadian Women at the International Conference in Vancouver, B.C.Esther is the founder of the Women’s Committee of Durham Region (WCDR). She is also one of the founding members of the Redwood Shelter for Assaulted Women and Children, Toronto, the former past Vice President of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH). She co-authored “Creating Inclusive Spaces for Women; a Feminist, Anti-racist/Anti-oppression Training Manual”, for organizations working in the field of gender-based violence. As the VP of OAITH, she and some directors delivered intersectionality of gender-based, anti-racist and anti-oppression training to all OAITH member agencies across Ontario. Esther is a Provincial Resource Group Member for the Western University Violence Against Women Learning Network; Past Seneca College Social Service Workers, Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Committee Member, Advisory Member Black Health Matters, Dalla Lama, School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Co-Chair, City of Barrie Anti-Racism Task Force, Advisory Committee Member, Metroland Media, Member Banker Ladies Council, Collective Diaspora Steering Committee Member, and many others. Esther is a co-author for a book “Help Her Recover”. She is a recipient of several professional and Community services awards.Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.Facebook: Canadian Women’s FoundationLinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s FoundationInstagram: @canadianwomensfoundationTikTok: @cdnwomenfdn

Paul Taylor is an anti-poverty activist, teacher at Simon Fraser University and has led four nonprofit organizations, including FoodShare Toronto, where he was the Executive Director from 2017-2023. He ran to be Member of Parliament in the federal riding of Parkdale-High Park in 2019 and again in 2021, when he lost by a mere 1,700 votes.He has written several op-eds on leadership, the non-profit sector and various social issues. In 2020, Paul was named one of Toronto Life’s 50 Most Influential Torontonians, was awarded the Top 40 under 40 in Canada, and voted Best Activist by the readers of Now Magazine. He is the co-founder and co-managing director of Evenings & Weekends Consulting.Paul’s experience includes Executive Director roles at Second Base Youth Shelter, Gordon Neighbourhood House and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House. He has also chaired the British Columbia Poverty Reduction Coalition, served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the Metro Vancouver Alliance and as Vice-Chair of Food Secure Canada.When not at work, Paul is almost always found in the kitchen, on his bike, in a good book or at a local protest.Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.Facebook: Canadian Women’s FoundationLinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s FoundationInstagram: @canadianwomensfoundationTikTok: @cdnwomenfdn

Today we are joined by host Alyssa Carpenter from the Canadian Women’s Foundation. In this episode, Alyssa sits down with Jolene McDonald, an Indigenous wellness practitioner and the founder of a healing business that weaves together yoga, Reiki, life coaching, and community facilitation in the North. Together, they explore the power of grassroots care and small, practical ways to begin reconnecting with your own self and your community.Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.  Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation  LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation  Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation  TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn  

Today, we’re joined by award-winning journalist Jana Pruden, whose reporting shines a light on gender-based violence and how these cases move through our justice system. Jana shares how her work in court reporting led her to focus on intimate partner violence, and why telling these stories accurately and ethically matters so much. We’ll explore the responsibility journalists carry in an age of misinformation, and the power of storytelling to help us understand what is really at stake. And finally, Jana leaves us with practical ways we can all support facts-based journalism and stay engaged in building change. Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.  Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation  LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation  Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation  TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn  

With Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty CosmeticsJenn Harper is an award-winning social entrepreneur and international speaker. She is the trailblazing founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics—a brand that has gracefully painted the ideals of sustainability and inclusion onto a global canvas. From its inception in 2015, Jenn has nurtured Cheekbone Beauty into a B. Corp Certified force, now gracing the shelves of Sephora Canada and 550 JC Penney locations across the USA.Jenn's journey with Cheekbone began as a digitally native, direct-to-consumer brand that took pride in its commitment to reducing environmental impact and supporting Indigenous communities. Her formidable leadership made sure Cheekbone stood out not only for its stunning products but also for its ethical backbone. It became a symphony of transparency, philanthropy, and support for women and youth. To date, over $250,000 have been donated to philanthropic causes, testament to Cheekbone's core values.Cheekbone's prestige has been hard-earned. In 2019, Jenn Harper made a confident appearance on Canada's Dragon's Den, the nation's equivalency of Shark Tank. While she turned down offers, her unwavering resolution steered Cheekbone towards exponential growth. Jenn's tactical negotiations led to expansive contracts with major retailers in North America, shining a beacon of inspiration for Indigenous women by placing an Indigenous CEO-led brand on equal footing with global industry giants.Jenn Harper stands as more than a CEO; she is a voice for entrepreneurship, exerting influence on topics that are reshaping the business landscape: social entrepreneurship, empathy, representation, inclusivity, and sustainability. Regularly sought after for her insights, Jenn weaves her narrative as both a woman and a representative of Indigenous peoples in North America, substantiating the importance of these values in today's business ecosystem.The accolades accruing to Jenn's name bear the weight of her achievements. In 2022, she was listed among the 100 Women of Influence by Entrepreneur Magazine—a list graced by the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. In 2023, Jenn was conferred an Honorary Doctorate degree from the Goodman School of Business at Brock University. This honorary degree recognized her unwavering dedication to community betterment and adamant endeavors in championing sustainability. In November of 2024, Jenn Harper was also named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.Jenn Harper, with Cheekbone Beauty, brings forth a narrative of passion, resilience, and authenticity. Her biography is not just about the ascent of a brand; it's the story of a vision brought to life, of barriers broken, and of a future envisioned where commerce and charity coalesce seamlessly, all painted with the strokes of an eco-friendly brush.Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.  Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation  LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation  Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation  TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn  

With Kimberley Okafor, researcher and advocate for maternal health equityKimberley Okafor is a dedicated researcher and advocate for maternal health equity, currently pursuing a Master of Science in Management (MScM) at Toronto Metropolitan University. As Vice-President External for her MScM cohort and an active member of the Black Researchers Initiative to Empower (BRITE), she is committed to addressing systemic challenges in maternal care globally. Her research explores the intersection of maternal health and social inequities, aiming to transform healthcare systems and promote culturally competent, equitable care. Through her work, she strives to influence policies that drive meaningful change in maternal healthcare.Connect with Kimberley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-okafor/Please listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.  Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation  LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation  Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation  TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn  

With Alex Valoroso, Gender Equity Advisor Alex Valoroso is a Gender Equity Advisor and consultant specializing in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategies, with a particular focus on gender and disaster. She helps organizations build more inclusive workplaces, services, and systems by applying a feminist, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered lens.Alex holds a Master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management and has completed specialized training in intersectional analysis, GBA Plus, and addressing gender-based violence in emergencies. She has worked in research, academia, government, the non-profit sector, and the private sector, and currently sits on the board of the Canadian Journal of Emergency Management.Through her work, she brings a deep understanding of systemic inequities and their impact during times of crisis, and has supported organizations across Canada, the Caribbean, East Africa, and Latin America.Learn more and connect with Alex:Website:  www.valorosoconsulting.comLinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/avalorosoPlease listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor.  Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation  LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation  Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation  TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn  

With Suzie Dunn,  Interim Director of the Law and Technology Institute and an assistant professor at Dalhousie University’s Schulich School of Law.Suzie Dunn's research centers on the intersections of equality, technology and the law, with a specific focus on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and social media. She is a research partner on a four-year SSHRC funded research project on young people’s experiences with sexual violence online, DIY Digital Safety. She is also a Senior Fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, and a member of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund technology-facilitated violence committee.Suzie Dunn's Bluesky handle: @suziedunn.bsky.socialPlease listen, subscribe, rate, and review this podcast and share it with others. If you appreciate this content, if you want to get in on the efforts to build a gender equal Canada, please donate at ⁠canadianwomen.org⁠ and consider becoming a monthly donor. Facebook: Canadian Women’s Foundation LinkedIn: The Canadian Women’s Foundation Instagram: @canadianwomensfoundation TikTok: @cdnwomenfdn X: @cdnwomenfdn