This month, we also introduce you to Adaoma Chinyere Patterson – President of the Jamaican Canadian Association, Manager of Poverty Reduction Initiatives at the Region of Peel, and DiverseCity Fellow Alumnus. Learn more about her leadership accomplishments, what he feels are pressing issues in our region, and why inclusive leadership matters.
I was born in … Winnipeg
And I currently live in …Brampton
Diverse leadership is important because…we get the best possible outcome when everyone is included in decision making.
The issues in our region that keep me up at night are…growing inequality especially among racialized and marginalized people – this sense that people are working so hard and yet cannot get ahead because of barriers many decision makers are not yet willing to fully acknowledge. I worry about the short and long term impact this will have on our communities especially children and youth.
My greatest city-building accomplishment to date is …running in the 2015 federal election. It enabled me to meet and engage many people who are not normally part of the political process, who often feel excluded or that politics and elections do not matter.
One thing I do to ensure I continue to grow and develop as a leader is…stay connected to people who are not often heard. I strongly believe people in positions of power and influence need to stay grounded in the reality of life that most Canadians face daily. Policies, programs and initiatives can only be effective if they are rooted in the reality of the people they are intended to support.
To me, an inclusive city/region/GTHA looks like…a region whose leaders reflect its population, that provides economic and social opportunities for all its citizens, that is easy to get around and that acknowledges and works to eliminate systemic barriers faced by some of its members.
Filed Under: Faces of ELN