Making a Difference with Action-Oriented Dialogue

Alpha joined the Mosaic Institute in 2015, where she manages UofMosaic, a national Fellowship Program that engages undergraduate students committed to global social justice. She completedher PhD in International Development at Oxford University, and herdoctoral research explored the engagement of young diasporans of Ethiopian origin in Ethiopian development. Alpha previously worked for The MasterCard Foundation, where she managed a portfolio of projects supporting education and employment initiatives for youth in sub-Saharan Africa. She also co-founded Young Diplomats, a non-profit organization that engages Ethiopian youth in Toronto through various mentorship-based initiatives.

Alpha is a photographer and she often uses her art as a tool for community engagement and cross-cultural dialogue. Alpha also holds an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies, a Graduate Diploma in Refugee/Forced Migration Studies, and a BA in Political Science and Criminology.

Ms. Duale is a Youth Outreach Worker at Midaynta Community Services, which primarily assists the Somali-Canadian diaspora. Her work focuses on poverty, racism and marginalization, which are a few of the major factors that influence youth to commit violence according to the provincially-funded Roots of Violence report. She works on identifying and counseling at-risk and marginalized Somali youth to help them reconnect with the services and institutions. Ms. Duale is also a key partner for ConGen Toronto in a program related to countering violent extremism, and is a central figure in community-based CVE efforts throughout the Greater Toronto Area. She is passionate youth outreach, intervention, high level civic engagement, and has built strong relationships with Somali-Canadian and Muslim diaspora leaders in order to better assist at-risk youth.

Diane Hill is a member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames First Nations community. Born and raised in Oneida, Diane understands the complex barriers that face First Nations youth in academic success and the education system. Currently Diane is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Scarborough in which she is pursuing a degree in a double major program of Health Policy and Sociocultural Anthropology. She is serving as the president of the Indigenous Student's Association, and this past year she was a speaker at 2016 TEDxUTSC her topic being Indigenous education. As well Diane sits on a university wide steering committee for the Truth and Reconciliation implementation at the University of Toronto, in which she provides insight into Indigenous student experiences.

Bernie M. Farber was appointed Executive Director the Mosaic Institute in 2015. Bernie is a native of Ottawa and a graduate of Carleton University. His long-spanning career in the not-for-profit sector includes the role of CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress (2005-2011) where he spearheaded multiple human and civil rights initiatives, inter-faith and inter-ethnic dialogues among Canada’s wide-ranging diverse communities including Rwandan genocide survivors, Darfurian survivors of the Janjaweed and the Canadian Roma community. He also worked at establishing closer ties with Canada’s multi-ethnic and faith communities as well as creating important connections to Canada’s Indigenous communities.

Most recently, Bernie has served as Senior Vice President of Gemini Power Corporation and CEO of the Paloma Foundation. In these capacities he worked in partnership with First Nations peoples towards economic development and community self-reliance in a way that respected both the environment and First Nations’ traditional values. With the Paloma Foundation he worked providing grants and educational opportunities for homeless youth shelter staff in the GTA. Bernie is a recipient of the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal, the Zaionz Award for Jewish Communal Service, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the St. John Provincial Commendation.