Our Team

Our team is structured so young people are empowered as leaders both inside and outside of 4Rs; we are working to create an environment where youth are valued and nurtured as decision makers and leaders. Because of this, our organization is run and led by young people, while being supported by a network of national partners and adult allies.

Steering Committee

Aldeli Alban Reyna

YWCA Canada

“My favourite R (of the 4Rs) is Reciprocity because it speaks to the need for mutual collaboration and solidarity. Reconciliation, respect, and relevance go a long way when there is a shared responsibility!”

Aldeli Albán Reyna is a young afro-Peruvian and mestiza storyteller and activist from Montréal. She holds an Honours Bachelors Degree in Women & Gender Studies, Spanish and Italian from the University of Toronto. Her passion for social justice, equity and learning stems from a long history of community engagement work, lived experiences, and a desire for social change. As YWCA Canada’s Projects & Research Coordinator, Aldeli works on violence prevention campaigns, facilitates young women’s leadership initiatives, sits on the 4Rs Steering Committee, and manages Spanish-speaking projects. She is also the Outreach Coordinator for the Feminist Art Conference and the Board Secretary for MUJER.

Andrea Anderson

National Association of Friendship Centres

“My favourite R of the 4Rs is RESPECT because in the Aboriginal culture respect is very important, especially when learning from our Elders. Having respect taught me to be patient, caring, open to new opportunities and it helps me live my life in a more traditional way.”

Andrea is an Inuk female from Makkovik, Nunatsiavut studying her masters in physiotherapy at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is currently the youth executive for the National Association of Friendships centres (NAFC). NAFC is a grass roots aboriginal movement that provides programs and services to the urban aboriginal population of Canada.

Laurel Carlton

Community Foundations of Canada

“My favourite ‘R’ is Respect because it provides a foundation for a strong and health relationship. Demonstrations of respect reflect that we value eachothers’ beliefs, traditions, and experiences; and honour indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians’ rights, dignity, and shared humanity.”

Laurel is Director of Leadership Initiatives and Governance at Community Foundations of Canada, and she enjoys learning about the many realities in Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast. She lives in Ottawa where she spends time with her family, dances, knits wacky socks, and adventures outside.

Mitchell Case

Métis Nation of Ontario

“My favourite R is Respect, because with out that we can’t reconcile. That’s the one that is missing from everything, if there was respect exchanged with us from the beginning we wouldn’t see such a need for healing in our communities.”

Mitchell Case is a proud Métis Youth from the Historic Sault Ste. Marie Métis Community. He has served as Youth Representative in his community since the age of 16, regional Youth Representative from the age of 19 and elected President of the Métis Nation of Ontario Youth Council in 2012. Mitch is a recent graduate of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and Algoma University where he studied Anishinaabemowin and History. Currently he is the Anishinaabe Studies Program Coordinator at Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig where his main area of focus is education and working to create a fully inclusive education system for Métis, First Nation and Inuit students in Ontario schools. He volunteers in local schools as well as colleges and universities across the province where he is invited to talk about Métis culture, history, traditions, rights and contemporary issues. He also works in First Nation and Métis Communities around North Eastern Ontario sharing his traditional Métis spirituality and culture with young citizens and students who are looking to connect with their heritage.

Samantha D’Andrea

Big Brothers Big Sisters Canada

“My favourite R is Respect, because it is the basis for any open productive conversation. We must respect each other and ourselves enough to have an open dialogue that is essential to us growing as a society.”

Currently a student at Osgoode Hall Law School with a Civil Law Degree from the University of Montreal, Samantha D’Andrea was born and raised in Montreal from Italian descent and is trilingual. She has been a proud member of the 4R Movement since 2013 and member of the steering committee since 2015. Volunteering for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the West Island for the past four years led her to the 4R movement in its building stages. Being a part of the growth and creation of the 4R movement and helping Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people in cross-cultural dialogue has been a passion.

Kate Elliott

Métis National Council

“My favourite R is respect because it is something for every person to strive for.”

Tansi! My name is Kate Elliott and I am Métis. My family comes from Selkirk Manitoba but I grew up on Coast & Straight Salish land on Vancouver Island. I am passionate about Métis health and I have been involved in youth programming on the local and provincial level. I am currently attending the University of Saskatchewan to pursue a degree in Medicine.

Jerica Fraser

Indigenous Peoples’ Association of Canada

“Reciprocity because it is the foundation of a good relationship!”

Jerica Fraser is a Haudenosaunee (Kanien’kehá:ka) educator in Hamilton. She is the teacher of the SHAE program that stands for Strengthening Hamilton’s Aboriginal Education. Outside of teaching, she is the Indigenous Content Specialist for TVO and continues to write and collaborate on Indigenous-focused curriculum and workshops across Ontario. She has her Master’s in Education with a focus on social justice and Aboriginal health studies. She has a passion for working with youth and organizations to create a better future for Indigenous peoples.

Jesse Johnson

National Association of Friendship Centres

“My favourite R (of the 4Rs) is reciprocity because I believe it is the core of the other 3Rs.”

Jessie Johnson is the sixth of seven siblings in a family that lives and honours traditional Cree culture. She comes from High Prairie in Northern Alberta, and is part of the Woodland Cree people. She embraces traditional teachings and her main goal is to live an honourable life. Growing up straddling both the urban world and Indigenous world, Jessie understands the importance of balancing identity in both worlds. Her intrinsic ties to the Woodland Cree culture and value system are what keep her balanced in her life, work and education. With a dedication to working hard for all people, there is no denying her inevitable and positive leadership for today’s youth.

Raven Lacerte

JW McConnell Family Foundation

Raven is a youth rep for the 4Rs Youth Movement representing the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. She is looking forward to being a part of the 4Rs team.

I am a 21 year old Carrier woman from the Lake Babine Nation in Central British Columbia. I was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, and a visitor on the Lekwungen and Wesanec territory for my whole life. I am currently in my last semester of the Indigenous Studies Program at Camosun College and moving on to UVIC for a Bachelor’s Degree. In 2011, me and my father Paul Lacerte, the executive director of the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, started the Moose Hide Campaign that is working towards ending violence towards women and children.

Shazlin Rahman

Inspirit Foundation

“My favourite R (of the 4Rs) is Respect because it’s the foundation for any relationship. When we have respect for one another, we can continue being friends no matter how we disagree with one another.”

I’m a Muslim from Malaysia and I now call Toronto home. Professionally, I’m the Communications Coordinator at Inspirit Foundation, a national grant-making organization that supports young people in making change on issues of prejudice and discrimination. Less professionally, I’m an occasional free-lance writer, seasonal food blogger and full-time explorer of food from different cultures. My life is guided by my faith and it calls me to live humbly and be kind to others. Living in Canada that means supporting Reconciliation and being involved with 4Rs.

Shequita Thompson

Pathways to Education

“My favorite R (of the 4Rs) is Reciprocity. It acknowledges that authentic sharing needs to happen and it’s part of a process.”

Shequita Thompson has been working to support youth for the past nine years. Currently, she works as the ReACT youth program coordinator at METRAC Action on Violence, and as program director for Words of Wisdom, a program using literacy to facilitate deeper conversations about identity, self-love and self-esteem in the Regent Park community. With ReACT, she creates and facilitates violence prevention trainings for youth and social service providers who work with youth. Most recently, she traveled to Ghana to participate in a knowledge exchange with young women and girls globally, and develop collaborative strategies to end gender-based violence. She holds an Honors BA from the University of Toronto with a specialization in Sociology and Gender Studies.

“I am, because we are” – Ubuntu, African Proverb