ANTHONY SIMAS: Accessing CommUNITY - with heART

Anthony Simas is Toronto born and raised and wears many hats – with roots in athletics and work as an electrician, Anthony’s life changed after enduring a spinal cord injury during a getaway at his family cottage, leaving him a quadriplegic. His MO, turning negatives into positives, is fueled by sharing his story with others, where he is able to be a voice for others who live with disabilities, eradicating stigmas that surround their lives to remove the dis and capitalize ABILITY. We discuss disability awareness, wheelchair tips, mindfulness, the communities he has cultivated and those he thrives in through his big contributions.

DANIELLE GRISCTI: a CommUNITY Catchup about support on two wheels

Danielle Griscti is a real gem in my life, and for those who know her and are in the chat, I’m sure you feel the same. She’s the Founder and Creative Director of her own photography brand and company, Fixed In Silver, a talented writer and music journalist – which is where I met her via Hellbound.ca. She’s been an Outreach Coordinator, a Youth Worker, involved in serious roles in the Tech Industry, and is an active volunteer, always helping others. AsShe is actively involved with The Bike Brigade, made up of over 600 volunteers, and is completing hundreds of FoodShare box deliveries, prepared meals, and grocery shopping for vulnerable individuals all over Toronto. Beyond all this and more, she’s an awesome being and that’s why she joined us on CommUNITY Catchup, so let’s bring Danielle into the Fold.

NABEEL PERVAIZ: (high)lighting the commUNITY from his lens

In this episode of The Fold Podcast, Toronto-based Photographer and CommUNITY cultivator Nabeel Pervaiz unfolds to share insight about his life and career to date, the inspiration that drives his work, being rooted in many communities, and the inherent values and intention he has to shape them with conscious compassion and fresh ideas.

SUPERDRAMAGO!: A CommUNITY Catchup on Artistry, Change, Compassion and Action

SUPERDRAMAGO! shares perspective, resources and insight after the JUSTICE FOR REGIS RALLY, as well as supportive tools, including his latest track, When You Smile. He waxes poetic on the power of community, his collaborations with local artists and collectives, his experience as an essential frontline worker and how that has impacted him at this time, and how he is carrying a torch powered by resilience, mastery and triumph, passed through family lineage, shaping the incredible person he is today.

SYZYGY TORONTO: A CommUNITY Catchup on pause, transitions, and evolution

Syzygy Toronto Co-Founder, Marijke Large (shoutout co-founder Kailah Bharath!) hopped on the line from California to discuss where Syzygy is at today and how they’ve evolved from a thoughtful pause, what diversity, equity and inclusion means in online spaces + workplaces and it’s importance (especially now).

THE [204] DESIGN COLLECTIVE: A CommUNITY Catchup on navigating space

The [204] Design Collective’s Toronto-based crew, Cait Brock and Gaby Perezanta, hop on #CommUNITYCatchup to discuss what the collective has been up to, what has changed for them, and how they are adapting to space and time by bringing The [204] to an expanded, accessible digital realm and what we can stay mindful of when it comes to our environment and design. Much love to the other half, super sisters, Sameera and Saira Abdulrehman who represented via London, UK!