Wol's seven years of experience in mental health, addictions, and harm reduction advocacy have equipped him to advocate effectively for himself and others. This experience has kept him connected to marginalized communities and deepened his understanding of their challenges. His commitment to championing their emancipation from situations beyond their control is rooted in empathy. Wol understands that systemic change requires large-scale institutional reform alongside community-building efforts driven by marginalized groups. To explore practical applications of his public and business administration studies, he participated in a policy writing competition and won an internship with the City of Edmonton, where he shadowed municipal governance. This experience led to his invitation to the city's anti-racism strategy planning meeting to provide a youthful perspective. Wol has also consulted on programming for Edmonton's proposal for a new African multicultural center. He received commendations from the Downtown Business Association and the Canadian Service Corps for his participation in community resilience-building initiatives. In his free time, Wol volunteers as a youth leadership team member at the Africa Centre, planning events for Black youth in Edmonton. He also manages a newly registered nonprofit resource for newcomers and is a graphic novel author/illustrator, rock climber, marathon runner, and occasional skydiver.

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!"

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 received her BA in Political Science and Indigenous Studies from the University of Winnipeg, reflecting her dedication to fostering a deep understanding of local history, colonialism, and alternative forms of governance systems. 

Jen was an Ambassador for Cohort 7 in the RISE program and returned to be a Mentor for C8. With two cohorts of experience behind her, she applied for the Winnipeg RISE program coordinator position and was welcomed onto the team as a permanent staff member. In 2023, Jen entered a new role as the RISE program manager (West) and continues to promote and maintain a supportive, creative, and playful working environment.

"I’m privileged to work for an organization that genuinely believes in the power of young people. The number of colleagues currently working at Apathy is Boring who were previous volunteers is inspiring. I am incredibly lucky to work and learn amongst so many talented people!”

Belinda was born and raised on Treaty 1 Territory, and is a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba, where she obtained a Bachelor of Social Work, and is currently registered and in good standing with the Canadian Association of Social Workers. Belinda has ample experience working with youth, having worked as a mentor and coordinator for the RISE program, and through a variety of roles in various sectors including health care and family services. Belinda has worked as a facilitator in multiple roles and is also well experienced with supporting people one on one having worked as a direct support professional for over 4 years. Belinda believes that community is intrinsic to everything we do and prioritizes building safer communities both within her personal and professional life. Belinda is passionate about youth led civic engagement and believes that youth have the power to create positive change within their communities, they just might not know it yet.

Jasmine is an advocate for peace, justice, and a recognized member of Alberta's Top 30 Under 30 for her commitment to reducing inequality worldwide. Known as a Digital Changemaker, she leverages her skills to create genuine impact by resolving tech challenges and addressing social issues.

Jasmine is empowered by empowering youth to become leaders and changemakers. She fosters inclusive spaces where everyone can develop the skills, confidence, and opportunities to contribute meaningfully. Her belief in the power of young voices to drive social progress drives her work.

With extensive experience in digital inclusion, equity, and gender equality, Jasmine aspires to nurture the next generation of leaders. She amplifies voices, inspires collaboration, and equips them with tools to shape a more equitable future. Jasmine remains dedicated to fostering transformative change through mentorship, education, and advocacy.

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!"

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!”

Tanisha is based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), first moving to the east coast to attend Dalhousie University and complete her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Law, Justice & Society. Fast forward many years, she has enjoyed integrating more closely into the cozy community that is Kjipuktuk. Having collaborated with various community-based non-profits, Tanisha values building community, acts of solidarity, and mutual aid.
In her free time, she enjoys telling everybody about her very adorable, chunky cat, going on very fast walks, and eating butter noodles.

“I’m endlessly grateful to work with such a compassionate, unique group that is the Apathy is Boring team! I’m constantly learning and relearning the many ways youth envision a more fruitful democracy and community they want to engage with.”

Ashley is a dynamic advocate for equity and inclusion, driven by a deep-rooted passion for social justice. With an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in French, she combines exceptional interpersonal skills with a keen analytical mind.

Having navigated diverse roles, from program coordination to policy analysis, Ashley brings a wealth of experience in building strategic partnerships and fostering community engagement. Her work in public health and social policy has fueled her commitment to addressing systemic inequities and promoting positive change at the grassroots level. Ashley is passionate about amplifying youth voices and believes in the power of youth to drive meaningful change.

"Joining Apathy is Boring felt like the next natural step for me. It's not just an organization—it's a movement. Apathy is Boring is youth-serving and youth-led, making it the perfect platform to drive intentional change. Together, I believe we can harness the power of youth engagement to shape a brighter future for generations to come."

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.”

Siya is a passionate youth advocate with over 10 years of experience working with young people to foster empowerment, education, and social change. A proud Vancouverite, Siya holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria. Throughout their career, Siya has been dedicated to building positive connections with youth, guiding them toward realizing their full potential in a rapidly changing world.

Committed to the idea that empowering youth is key to creating a brighter future, Siya is excited to engage with local youth through Apathy is Boring. With a deep belief in the transformative power of youth engagement, Siya continues to work toward building a more inclusive, informed, and active generation.

Lee is an interdisciplinary artist and communications professional with an obsession with all things art, food, and politics. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1 Land), They have since taken root in Montreal/Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang where they are an active organizer in Montreal’s Pan-Asian community. Lee’s work in all disciplines aims to question and elaborate on the intersection between politics and aesthetics. They are particularly interested in archives, histories of migration, and non-traditional forms of political engagement and community building. 

You can often find Lee biking around town or barbequing up a storm at their local park!

“Working at a youth-focused political organization like Apathy is Boring feels like a breath of fresh air! I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing team doing important work.”

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.

Ash is the Director of Communications & Strategic Engagement at Apathy is Boring. Originally from small-town Québec and now based in Montréal, she’s a Concordia Cultural Studies alum who’s long been fascinated by the power of words and their impact. With over a decade of experience in storytelling, brand strategy, and community building, Ash leads the charge in shaping how AisB connects with youth across the country.

Her career has spanned the nonprofit, education, and health sectors — always with a focus on purpose-driven work. Ash brings a strategic lens to everything from campaign planning and media outreach to cross-team collaboration and audience engagement.

A lover of music and the messy magic of creative expression, Ash is passionate about using communications to spark conversation and inspire action.

"To me, strong communications isn’t just about messaging — it’s about creating moments that really move people. That’s why I’m so proud to help get the word out about Apathy is Boring and the amazing work our team does."

Sydney is the Research and Evaluations Lead at Apathy is Boring. Following her degree in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, she has worked in both clinical mental health and addictions and non-profit social sciences research. Her clinical research has examined concurrent mental disorders and substance use, with an emphasis on sleep rhythms.

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. 

Sana first came to Canada from Iran with a head full of dreams and a passion for exploring her new life. She has been a labour organizer on the West Coast of Canada, leading strikes, unionization campaigns, and more. Sana has also led grassroots training campaigns in both the US and Canada, training numerous young people to become organizers, drive positive changes in their communities, and bring people together.

"I am a firm believer in collective power, and I’d like to share a quote from the famous Persian poet Saadi's work, Gulistan (The Rose Garden):"

Human beings are members of a whole,

In creation of one essence and soul.

If one member is afflicted with pain, 

Other members uneasy will remain.

If you have no sympathy for human pain, 

The name of human you cannot retain."

Xandria is a first generation Guyanese-Canadian who has a passion for connecting with their local community on unceded unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory (Ottawa). Their work has focused on equity and access to the outdoors, arts, culture, and opportunities for racialized and marginalized communities across the city. 

As a forever student, Xandria advocates for learning in as many ways possible; whether that be through community conversations, journaling, creating art, attending workshops, or spending time alone. They aim to encourage youth changemakers to try and develop as many strange skills they are interested in. 

Xandria has a background in studying Political Sciences and Gender Studies which informs an intersectional view into their work. Outside of work you can catch Xandria spending as much time outdoors as humanly possible, at their local library, or enjoying food with friends.

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.”

Mariam Salaymeh (she/her) is the RISE Coordinator for Apathy is Boring in Montreal. Born in Kitchener to Bulgarian and Palestinian parents, she studied anthropology, linguistics, and communications. Fluent in a few languages, Mariam has lived in Montreal, Prague, and Tokyo, and tries to bring a global perspective to local community projects.

She recently served as City Manager for the DEVlabs project, organizing national summits in four cities and overseeing youth-led initiatives based on community-gathered data. Mariam has a background in broadcasting from CKUT 90.3 FM, where she also serves on the board, along with the board of the Musée des Ondes Emile Berliner in Saint-Henri. She is a strong advocate for refugee rights, reliable transit, Indigenous Reconciliation, public green spaces and community initiative funding. In her spare time, she enjoys tennis, music and cheering for the Raptors.

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.

Tayyaba "Tubz" Shahzad is a multifaceted non-profit professional with 8+ years of experience empowering youth. As a job coach and employment liaison, she mentors and motivates young individuals. With a versatile skill set and adaptability, Tubz seamlessly navigates various roles, driving leadership and amplifying others' work. With experience in grant writing, facilitating arts workshops, and hosting community, Tubz manages her collective, Weaving Threads, which provides arts-based programming for QTBIPOC youth.

Holding a BA in Political Science and Criminology, Tubz uses her knowledge to support young entrepreneurs tackling social justice causes. She brings energy and a collaborative approach to her work, believing in uplifting others alongside herself. Outside of work, Tubz enjoys many hobbies including scrapbooking, reading, and traveling.

Born in Ontario, with deep Cape Breton roots, Raine found their home in Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) when attending university. With over 9 years of experience in facilitation and the non-profit sector, Raine has seen the impact that genuine youth engagement has and believes in storytelling as a powerful way to foster connection and create change.

Outside of work, Raine can be found leading 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion workshops, running a Queer youth mental health leadership program, & outdoors actively moving and exploring the world around them!

Raine has a Bachelor of Community Development and Environmental Studies and a Master's of Social Justice and Community Engagement. Values-driven with a down-to earth approach, Raine centres community, justice, and connection in all that they do. They are a firm believer that, “the first step in creating change is by daring to do our work differently and actively creating the communities we dream being part of.”

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”

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!”

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?"