Jelena Vermilion

Jelena Vermilion (She/Her) is the Executive Director of the Sex Workers Action Program (SWAP) Hamilton; is a trans-femme full-service sex worker, porn performer, and activist of almost a decade, who lives with disabilities. She has limited experience being incarcerated, being homeless, working outdoors and on the street, and as an undocumented migrant in the US. She has been featured in several national media outlets speaking about the decriminalization of sex work. She provides professional training and public speaking engagements for organizations, businesses, and educational institutions who wish to affirm the rights and dignity of sex workers. Notably, Jelena was an expert witness in the R v. Boodhoo case, a constitutional challenge to certain sex work laws in Canada.

Kennishia Boahene

Kennishia Boahene (She/Her) is a Ghanaian-Canadian woman who was born and raised in Hamilton, and she is the System Equity Officer for the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board. Her positive impact is evidenced through her social justice work and youth advocacy within educational institutions and the broader community. She believes education is most powerful when it is used towards the betterment of others. Kennishia is a 2021 Ontario Community Changemakers recipient and serves as President of the African Caribbean Cultural Potpourri Inc (ACCPI). Kennishia was a past ACCPI scholarship recipient and now proudly leads the organization which has awarded 300+ scholarships to African and Caribbean youth to date.

Dr. Kim Jones

Dr. Kim Jones (She/Her) is an innovative, trailblazing Chemical Engineering professor at McMaster University and Chair of the Ontario Network of Women in Engineering (ONWiE). Under her leadership, the proportion of women engineering students in Ontario has grown from 21% to 26%; McMaster’s first-year engineering class is 43% women. Dr. Jones guides collaborative outreach that reaches over 20,000 students per year and she shares her inclusion research and best practices with the community, including Engineering Deans and professional engineers to #MoveTheDial. This Engineer, Changemaker and EDI Champion extraordinaire is an outstanding mentor, teacher, and role model committed to ensuring women and non-binary folks of all ethnicities pursue and reach their full potential in male-dominated Engineering and STEM professions.

Sashaina Singh

Sashaina Singh (She/Her) is committed to making Hamilton better by working in partnership with diverse community members. She accomplishes this as the Office of Community Engagement Manager at McMaster University, and in various external roles where she leads, advocates, and advises on community-engagement and equity work. Sashaina gives back to the community both in her 9-to-5 job and in a multitude of ways of-campus as well. With a focus on social justice and equity, Sashaina fosters university relationships with diverse Hamilton communities to advance interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research, interdisciplinary education, and service partnerships. These partners include neighbourhood groups, antipoverty advocates, social service and health organizations, and city staff. Sashaina challenges people to think differently through her anti-racist and anti-oppression teaching.