Our Team
Belinda Campbell
Belinda was born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg Manitoba, which occupies the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji Cree, Dakota, and Dene people, and is the homeland of the Metis Nation.
Christale Terris
(She/Her)
Christale was born and raised in “Sudbury, Ontario” on the traditional territory of the Anishinabewake people. She is a settler, Métis, queer, who's aspiring to become an artist and loves community organizing. She began volunteering at a young age and learned quickly the value of community-oriented work for building a more just world and how status-quo narratives devalue this work.
To help her contribute to movements for collective liberation, Christale pursued a degree in Public Policy and Community Development at Concordia University. During this time she became deeply involved with student organizing, in particular the food movement, and learned invaluable skills that have helped her become who she is today. She is an experienced event planner, facilitator, and community cook, who loves working with others and watching them shine.
At the pace of a snail, she is currently pursuing a double major in Intermedia Art and Design. When she has nothing to do, she loves reading dystopic novels, roller skating, jumping in large bodies of water, and spoiling the people she loves.
"The child version of myself would be floored to know that I would one day have the chance to work at an organization that not only pays a living wage but shares some of my values for a more just and equitable world."
Darnell Jones
(He/Him)
While studying Community Recreation and Leadership Training (CRLT) at Dawson College, Darnell began working in community centers in Montreal. Over the years, Darnell has worked at Westhaven Community Center, Loyola Community Center and Tyndale St-Georges Community Center. Aside from his work in the community he has also kept himself busy teaching at the elementary, CEGEP and university levels. He is also a graduate of the Health and Physical Education program at McGill University.
Throughout the last 14 years in the field, Darnell has worked diligently on establishing and maintaining positive interpersonal relationships with youth, families, colleagues and community partners. After 10 years of experience at Tyndale St-Georges Community Center as the former Director of the Children, Youth and Families department, Darnell is excited for a new challenge!
“I am very excited to begin my journey at AisB because this opportunity allows me to continue to learn and develop both personally and professionally. Although this is a slightly new mission and clientele, my purpose remains the same: to help others by providing them with enriching experiences.”
Dena Anwar
Dena is a sucker for great branding and tends to literally swoon when that branding is tied to passionate and moving stories. Having studied International Management, Marketing, and Anthropology at her time in university she found a sweet spot for connecting visual aesthetics, compelling stories, and business strategies to be tied back to a human connection.
After working as a social media manager for multiple restaurants, she opened up her own Social Media & Content Creation agency where she worked with an array of businesses, always loving the personal connection. Craving an opportunity to expand and tap further into the power of social media for change and community building, Apathy is Boring was the perfect next step to her story.
"Joining the Apathy is Boring team is an exciting opportunity for me to use my storytelling and 'make it look pretty' skills with an organization making a highly needed impact on our culture as Canadian youth!"
Erika De Torres
(She/They)
Erika immigrated from the Philippines to Canada when they were six, becoming a Canadian citizen when they were 10. Since then, Erika developed a great interest in Canadian democracy and participates as much as they can. They completed an MA in Political Science at McGill University and a BA in Political Science from Simon Fraser University. Their MA research examined whether or not place of residence affects an individual's political preferences in Canada. They worked in higher education as a teaching assistant, research assistant, and supported a variety of academic departments.
Erika previously worked with a number of non-profits in Vancouver and North Vancouver. They facilitated workshops on anti-discrimination and anti-oppression, obtained grants and funds, organized conferences, festivals, concerts, workshops, collaborated with partner organizations and worked directly with youth and young people to support them.
"Apathy is Boring leads in youth empowerment using the model of Youth Led Democratic Innovation through its engaging programs. I'm so proud to be a part of an organization that puts action to words - working for youth, with youth, and it's by youth!"
Hayley Bhereur
(She/Her)
Hayley was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She loves all things communications, wellness and social media. She received a certification in Graphic design before moving to London, England and receiving a bachelor's degree in Fashion Communications from the Conde Nast College of Fashion and Design.
After graduating, Hayley took on a range of internships from Vogue, Glamour and ELLE all while growing her love and understanding for social media. When she is not working at Apathy is Boring, you can find Hayley training for a marathon, being silly on Tiktok or supporting her community.
“I was so excited to see that Apathy Is Boring was hiring a Social Media Coordinator. I couldn’t wait to take on a new challenge and bring my creativity and passion to the team. Apathy Is Boring has programs I wish I had when I was younger. I love their commitment to their mission and ethos and I am honored to be a part of the team.”
Irmak Taner
(She/Her)
Irmak was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and has been living in Montreal for the past 10 years. Her curiosity about people, individually and collectively, led her to a degree in Psychology and International Development Studies at McGill followed by a graduate degree in Anthropology at Concordia. She believes in the power of community organizing and as an aspiring artist she is always looking for ways to bring arts into action.
She has worked in various academic and non-profit contexts organizing workshops and events, bringing people together and facilitating connections. In her free time she likes to experiment with up-cycled crafts and lay down at parks.
“When I first got involved in Apathy is Boring as a volunteer a few years ago I was just so impressed! The positive energy, the empowering spirit and the capacity for change that Apathy is Boring brings forth for youth is infectious and I am so thrilled to be part of this family”
Jacqueline Sultan
(She/Her)
Jacqueline is a true lover of communications. Fascinated by storytelling and human interactions from a young age, she studied Sociology and Communications at Université de Montréal and Public Relations at Université du Québec à Montréal. After spending many years in leadership roles in the corporate world, Jacqueline decided to steer her career towards non-profit and community work and has never looked back!
In 2021 she materialized a long standing dream of helping BIPOC entrepreneurs start their own business by opening her communications agency Ad Meliora Communications.
"Working with a group of engaged individuals for an organization that talks the talk and walks the walk is the purest sense of professional accomplishment."
Jennifer Block
(She/Her)
Jennifer was born and raised in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 Territory, the homelands of the Anishinaabe, Dene, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Metis Nations. She was an Ambassador in Cohort 7 of the RISE program and later returned to be a mentor for the next cohort.
Jennifer obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Indigenous Studies from the University of Winnipeg. In pursuing these majors, she wanted to investigate how gender inequality had become encoded in political institutions and normalized in the public mindset. In her research, Jennifer was honoured to be mentored by Anishinaabe leaders and scholars who identified gender inequality as a colonial tool used to displace and disorganize Indigenous governance systems. These scholars influenced Jennifer’s research towards studying how colonialism has and continues to impact gender expression and identity throughout “so-called” Canada. Since graduating Jennifer’s professional, personal, and academic ambitions continue to focus on challenging colonial norms and her own privilege on Treaty 1 Territory.
Jennifer spends a lot of her time outdoors. If she’s not at home with her two cats, you can find her on the beach, the tennis court, or the middle of nowhere.
"I can't wait to support youth in recognizing their power and mobilizing this power into meaningful change for individuals and communities!"
Molly McKenzie
(They/Them)
Molly was born and raised in so-called Vancouver on unceded Musqueam, Coast Salish, and Tsleil-Waututh land, and currently resides on unceded Kanien'kehá:ka Traditional Territory.At McGill University they pursued a degree with a first-class honours in Gender, Sexuality, Feminist, and Social Justice Studies and a double minor in Religious Studies and Indigenous Studies. Throughout their years living in Tiohtià:ke, Molly has been passionate about creating community resources centering anti-oppressive values and making
nuanced, theoretical subjects accessible and easily understood beyond academic spaces. They are so excited and grateful to be a part of the AisB team and the tangible change they are making!
In their free time, you can find them on stage or in the audience in Montréal’s theatre community, lounging in the park, or playing with their cat, Squiggle.
Omi Rodney
(They/Them)
Omi was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica and came to Canada as an adolescent. During their time as an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo, they became passionate about community-based and student organizing. Through their experience working with students and in the community and working in student politics, they gained skills in managing the logistics and finance information to help bolster student run, mutual aid campaigns.
Rea-Anna Walters
Rea-Anna is a Jamaican-Canadian who grew up in Central Alberta. Her lived experience inspired her to pursue the study of why people do what they do and she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Science in 2017. She went on to work with marginalized youth in the foster care system where she found her passion for youth development, community organization and civic engagement. She then joined RISE as an ambassador and devoted that passion to creating a community project, which inspired her to continue with A is B as a mentor and now coordinator.
In her spare time, Rea loves to direct creative projects and share the stories of the folks in her community. She shared that she's happy to find an organization with values and aspirations for community engagement that align with hers and is excited be on a journey that leads to a more activated, engaged and educated society.
Rebecca Simiyu
(She/Her)
Rebecca was born in Kenya, raised in Switzerland and Winnipeg, and relocated to the Vancouver area in 2021 after graduating from the University of Manitoba where she studied Politics and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Rebecca has previous experience working with Apathy is Boring as a mentor for RISE in Winnipeg, as well as experience working in the photography field, which is one of her many hobbies. Other hobbies include playing guitar, running, listening to music, and learning about interior design.
“I’ve always admired what Apathy is Boring does and I feel extremely privileged to be here. Being in a leadership role is new to me but a challenge I am more than ready for. This position is a perfect medium where I get to put my skills and what I’ve learned in life and education to use and also have room to express my creativity.”
Rhea Gupta
(She/They)
Rhea was born and raised on unceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory in Ottawa, Ontario but now lives and dreams in Kjipuktuk/Halifax on the unsurrendered and unceded of the Mi’kmaq people.
Rhea’s love for understanding how the natural world works led them to obtain their Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ottawa. While being involved community work, over the years, their priorities shifted to diving deeper into understanding the systems, policies, and how folks in the community can re-imagine and tailor resources to fit their needs. When not working, Rhea is likely painting, playing the switch, reading, or outside wandering looking for cats in windows.
“I began my involvement with AisB as a RISE ambassador and was very grateful for the mentorship I received. This experience set me on a new path where I got to witness and support young people in leadership positions and seeing them as the change-makers, not tomorrow, but today. I am very grateful to be working at an organization that prioritizes young people’s growth, education, and empowerment and that also pays a living wage!”
Sam Reusch
(She/Her)
Sam is the Executive Director of Apathy is Boring. Since 2017, she has served on the leadership team at Apathy is Boring, contributing to the strategic development of programs, content, and activities through her work as the head of Impact and Development before transitioning to Executive Director in August 2020.
A passionate advocate for democracy and civic engagement, Sam is a respected commentator and educator who believes that the energy, insight, and innovative spirit of young people are critical to building a stronger and more equitable society for us all. Sam has worked with countless partners across Canada to support the development of positive engagement practices and provide insight into new understandings that young people bring to change-making, inclusion, and movement-building. She is the co-author of Together We Rise, a report which advocates for the adoption of youth-led democratic innovation as a model for expanding our current conception of democratic engagement towards a more holistic understanding of how change happens.
Sam is a proud Montrealer and alum of Concordia University, where she studied Anthropology, specializing in the intersection of identity, politics, and community. You can often find her catching up on current events while dreaming up her next culinary adventure and waiting for warmer weather. You can also reach her @samreusch on Twitter and Instagram or by email at [email protected].
“I see true democracy as an ongoing conversation, a discussion about what kind of country, province or community we want to live in. What I love about Apathy is Boring is that we are working to make sure that young people feel that they can have a voice in that conversation and that our collective solutions can build bridges for all Canadians.”
Sarah El Hassani
(She/Her)
Sarah was born in Amsterdam and moved to Canada when she was 16 years old. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Law and Society from Concordia University and is a certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).
Sarah is passionate about helping others, having volunteered at agencies that help children with learning disabilities, and encourage people to get the flu vaccine. She has also worked as an intake counselor opening new files and helping people in crisis.
“When I heard I got the chance to join Apathy is Boring, a small spark lit up within me. Finally, I can be part of an amazing team and help them with their mission — which also became mine. AisB is full of wonderful surprises, and every day, it amazes me even more!”
Shah Faisal Shah
Shah was born and raised in the culturally vibrant city of Kabul before making a life-altering decision to move to Toronto in June 2022. His academic portfolio boasts a Master's Finance and Accounting, honed at the prestigious University of London and a CPA.With a career spanning 14 enriching years, Shah dedicated 9 significant years of his life to serving the United Nations. His journey in the UN culminated in a commanding role as the Chief Operating Officer, where he strived to foster peace, uplift marginalized communities, and encourage international cooperation.
Throughout his professional path, Shah has always been driven by an unwavering commitment to service and humanity.
He has worked tirelessly in regions of conflict, served on the frontlines of global crises, and always sought to make a significant, lasting impact on the world.Shah's contributions extend beyond his professional accomplishments. He's known to give back to the community through volunteering at various local organizations, promoting adult literacy, and advocating for refugees' rights. His humility and humanitarian spirit have made him a beacon of hope in the lives of many.
Shah's journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to service, his deep passion for fostering peace and equality, and his boundless commitment to making the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.
Stephanie Yee
(She/Her)
Stephanie is a settler, artist and community worker living in Kjipuktuk (Halifax) the unceded and unsurrendered ancestral land of the Mi'kmaq people. Since moving to Kjipuktuk in 2008, she has found a sense of self through engaging in a network of communities devoted to reflection, learning and the building and maintaining of relationships. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from NSCAD University where she focused on nonverbal communication. Her career in the arts has allowed her to travel across North America to create space for dialogue on the intersections of gender and race. The aim of her work, both artistic and not, is to present accessible entry points to lesser known concepts and perspectives.
She has an affinity for disco, dancing and food made with butter.
"I'm still in shock that an organization like Apathy is Boring exists, let alone that I get to work for it! Everyday I see new ways my colleagues reach out to support one another. I truly believe in the programming because it is carried forward by folks who consistently ask themselves, "How can we make things better for everyone?"
Sydney Penner
Recently, Sydney conducted a sleep study in a psychiatric in-patient population and founded a mental health knowledge translation podcast that was presented at the Michael Smith Health Research Putting Patients First conference and was featured by the Canadian Psychology Association. In the non-profit sector, she has led studies examining the intersection between disability and workplace health and wellness, and emerging trends in Canada's young workforce.
She is passionate about Participatory Action Research (PAR) and interdisciplinary methods, and community-based knowledge translation and mobilization.
Tanisha Garing
Terry Wilkings
(He/Him)
With formal and informal training as a community and political campaigns organizer, Terry cut his teeth organizing the public in support of the have-nots. He has professional experience in the private and public sector, non-profits, and organized labour. By taking a historical perspective on today's myriad societal issues, Terry remains optimistic that we can meet the moment with more everyday people getting involved in our democracy. No problem is too big or complex. As program lead, he’ll share his insight on advancing positive change while learning from a new generation of social actors.
“The Build Program aims to cultivate political agency from under-engaged youth in our communities. Apathy is Boring is well placed to deliver on this ambitious goal through the relationships it has fostered among ambassadors, partners, and community organizations. I'm very happy to help launch a project with such an amazing team!”
Tomi Ajele
(She/Her)
Tomi holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Mount Royal University and (almost) a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.
While working in corporate communications roles, Tomi ventured into the world of freelance writing and began to explore advocacy through stories. This led to her publishing several personal essays and opinion pieces in the Huffington Post, the CBC, and a variety of other national outlets. In October 2020, Tomi and a group of artists launched Afros In Tha City Media - a collective dedicated to amplifying Black voices in Mohkínstis (Calgary).
Tomi’s work with Afros In Tha City grew her passion for advocacy and increased her desire to align with organizations that were in pursuit of a more equitable tomorrow. Tomi believes that positive change happens by amplifying the voices of those who have been systemically silenced, which is why she feels honoured to be part of the Apathy is Boring team.
“Apathy is Boring is telling young people and marginalized people that our voices matter. It's eliminating barriers to democratic participation and ensuring that those who are often silenced and overlooked get a say. I feel so incredibly grateful to be a part of that.”
Yasmine Izmeth
(She/Her)
Yasmine is a Sri Lankan Malay-Canadian who was raised in different parts of the GTA. Her curiosity, travel experiences, and academic foundation led her to pursue a degree in International Development at McGill University. She dove straight into community projects and advocacy where she learned about different languages of community collaboration and youth capabilities of changing how inefficient systems run. Yasmine's interests lie in anti-sexual violence advocacy, women’s empowerment, and newcomer integration.
Her love of design, creativity, and big picture thinking carries her into makeup artistry, modelling, and community engagement in Montreal and Toronto.
"You can see evidence of Apathy is Boring’s youth-led, BIPOC-focused, low barrier entryways to community engagement across its programs and platforms. I’m happy to be a part of a team that practices what it preaches."
Our Board of Directors
Aiden Cyr
Aiden holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University majoring in Community, Public Affairs, and Policy Studies and a second major in Political Science. Aiden is a community leader and activist who has traveled across Canada and the world speaking on issues including Indigenous rights, climate change and gender-based violence. Aiden was an honorary recipient of the US Embassy Scholarship for a two-week expedition to the Canadian and Greenlandic Arctic where he fostered important bilateral connections amongst youth seeking to practically address climate change.
Aiden was a facilitator for an Indigenous Youth Mental Health Summit where he raised awareness about eco-anxiety and climate change as barriers to well-being. He continued his climate-related advocacy as a member of the Climate Action Cohort with whom he traveled to COP25 in Spain. Recently, he was an Indigenous Innovation Initiative Fellow with Grand Challenges Canada. Aiden believes in the wisdom and transformative power of community and is driven to help overcome the barriers to meaningful political engagement.
Alexis-Carlota Cochrane
Alexis is a passionate educator, activist, and communications strategist, actively working to build community, mobilize knowledge, and deconstruct oppressive systems. She is skilled in digital communications, accessibility strategies, youth engagement, and social justice. As a Peruvian-Canadian, she is heavily immersed in Latinx activism, as well as mental health advocacy and LGBTQ2S+ rights.
Alexis is currently pursuing a PhD in Communication, New Media and Cultural Studies from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She also acts as the UofMosaic Program Manager, a Mosaic Institute university and college-level fellowship program that provides young changemakers with professional and personal growth opportunities, and helps them to collaborate on youth-led projects to dismantle prejudice on campuses across Canada. She currently works and learns on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabe (including the Mississaugas of the Credit) and the Huron-Wendat.
Almeera Khalid
Almeera specializes in advocacy, engagement and policy. She has worked at the international level to advance gender policy in the G20. Almeera has been an advisor on youth engagement to the board of Amnesty International Canada and has worked to identify new ways to engage young people in campaigning, activism, and communications. Additionally, she has trained youth on governance and advocacy. She is interested in spaces of gender, tech and policy and is pursuing its intersection as a graduate student at the University of Oxford. As a board member, she hopes to leverage her experience to support young people entering and thriving in spaces of power.
Brooks Roche
Brooks is an advocate for inclusive health and social systems with over 20 years of lived experience with Type 1 diabetes. Brooks is a member of the Prime Minister's Youth Council, and currently works with Diabetes Canada as Manager of Patient Knowledge & Connection to build skills, awareness, and community for those impacted by chronic illness. Leading a wide range of advocacy, fundraising, and awareness-raising campaigns, Brooks has aided in expanding and securing millions for federal and provincial health supports, establishing in law a national diabetes strategy, and pushing for stronger financial supports for Canadians living with disabilities. His actionable, human-centric approach to systems change focuses on improved quality of life, including interventions to provide deeply affordable housing, preventative health technologies, and - of course - opportunities for impactful, innovative democratic engagement.
Brooks holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies in Architecture from Dalhousie University. He is currently living, working, and playing in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island) on unceded Mi'kmaq land.
Danny Luong
Danny is currently an M&A analyst in the Infrastructure practice at Deloitte. Previously, he was an auditor in the large enterprise sector with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.
Born and raise in Montreal from Vietnamese parents, Danny got into playing badminton at a young age. That led him to the Carabins badminton team at Université de Montréal. There, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting and a graduate’s diploma in public accounting at HEC Montreal.
Danny is very curious about the Canadian political space and hopes to bring this curiosity to fellow young Canadians. He is also the treasurer of the board of My Mental Health Matters, a non-profit organization focused on educating youth minorities on mental health.
Dave Meslin
Dave is the Creative Director of Unlock Democracy Canada. A passionate transpartisan political disruptor, Dave has spent the last twenty years as a political biologist, exploring the strange and mysterious worlds of protest movements, party politics and non-profit organizations. His TED talk about apathy has more than 1.9 million views and his 90-second video clip from the 2015 Canadian election coverage using colourful stacks of Lego bricks to explain how our voting system fails us, has over 2.5 million views on Facebook alone.
Dave’s best-selling book, Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up, is a roadmap for change and a cure for cynicism. His thesis is simple: We’re stronger and smarter when we’re all involved. By replacing cynicism with a culture of participation, we can re-imagine our role in the world and the possibilities of the future.
Habon Ali
Habon Ali is a Schwarzman Scholar who studied global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
She is a systems thinker and connector who has been recognized as Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women. Habon holds a MSc in Global Health from McMaster University and graduated as Valedictorian from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelors of Science. She advised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for over two years while creating Canada's first National Youth Policy and developing Canada's Service Corps.
Most recently, she has furthered social innovation projects at MaRS Discovery District, Opportunity for All Youth, Apathy is Boring, and Grand Challenges Canada. Habon provides strategic advice to the Future of Canada Project at McMaster University which supports interdisciplinary research projects that will allow Canada to lead through challenging and uncertain times
Rosalie Nadeau
Rosalie is currently the Head of Research at DataSciences, a Montreal-based consultancy firm that specializes in political campaigns in Canada and abroad. She holds a Master’s degree in political science from McGill University where she researched intergenerational differences in support for democracy. She then worked as a political aide for one of Quebec’s main political parties, working in a constituency office and facilitating exchanges between citizens and their elected officials. She was also involved on the ground in the 2018 Quebec provincial elections.
Rosalie loves elections, campaigns and political trivia, and believes that her generation cares and knows more about politics than they think.
Terence D'Souza
Terence is a community builder, passionate about how young people can meaningfully engage in and transform democracy. He currently works in Public Affairs at Rideau Hall (OSGG), serving Her Excellency Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada, where he contributes to the office’s media relations and public engagement. He is also pursuing his undergraduate degree in Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Ottawa.
Previously an intern at Apathy is Boring, Terence was inspired by democratic innovation. He has worked on projects empowering youth leadership in areas like community development, employment and education, with organizations including Taking IT Global, the Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity and Together|Ensemble. He also co-founded and serves as the Managing Director of Young Ontarians United, a youth-led research group that amplifies young Ontarians’ voices.
His work has only reinforced his firm belief that there is nothing more important than building an informed and engaged generation of young voters.
