KEEP GROWING!

Known in the community as Dawnmarie, I have now returned to my youthful name, Dawn — a new dawn for me and my work. With the support of leadership opportunities, I grew into who I am today—a warrior.

For a long time, life was about surviving. Experiencing violence growing up led me into relationships that mirrored that pain—and after fleeing, I found myself facing poverty, homelessness, and the weight of deep instability. I moved through systems meant to help, but instead they often made things worse.

Everything began to shift when I connected with a community organization called Working for Change. With the right support and guidance, I was able to rebuild my life. It was here that I met one of my greatest mentors, the late Pat Capponi — an Order of Canada recipient and a powerful advocate for mental health and poverty issues in Canada. As the lead facilitator of the program, Pat played a critical role in shaping how I see leadership and advocacy.

After graduating from the Voices from the Street leadership program, I went on to manage and run it for over 10 years, guiding others and providing leadership training within the City of Toronto for organizations and peer supporters. I also often speak publicly on systemic barriers and on oppressive structures that must be challenged for systemic change.

I’ve walked this journey myself—through challenges, breakthroughs, stumbles, and triumphs. Now, as I pivot my career due to health issues, I am blending everything I’ve learned—storytelling, advocacy, and facilitation—with animation. My goal is to create animated leadership lessons that teach, heal, and resonate.