Our Associates

  • Principal Consultant

    Hi, I’m Janet! My favourite thing about my work is connecting with folks like you who are working to create positive impact in your organizations and communities!!

    I have been doing community development work for over 25 years and I love sharing stories and strengths with folks who are working to create meaningful change. As Principal Consultant, I build teams that create opportunities for exploration and knowledge sharing, and work to foster cross sector collaboration.

    When I am not working, I am likely walking my dog, Lola or making art in my home in east Toronto. I am so grateful for this journey.

  • Facilitator/Trainer

    Innovation, empathy, and creative arts guide Arifah Yusuf’s practice. An award-winning registered social worker and Ryerson graduate, her 17 years of professional experience as a social worker, has afforded opportunities to provide consultations for organizations, facilitate workshops, develop programs and infuse her love for the arts along the way. With trained experience in crisis response and Advanced Level certification from NOVA, she employs CBT, trauma-informed care, health promotion, narrative therapy, art-based therapy, and a strength-based approach to assist the communities and individuals she works alongside.

    Yusuf has been trained by the Mental Health Commission of Canada to be a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and by the Traumatology Institute for Trauma Stabilization and Recovery.

    A recipient of SCHCs’ Community Health Champion award, ESBGC the Unity in the Community award, the Canadian Alliance for Black Leadership award, and a Leading Women Building Community award distributed by the Ontario’s government, Yusuf’s work has been recognized by CBC Radio, CityNews Toronto, ArtsUNITE and Toronto Life. Her proudest achievement to-date was being a pop-up speaker at Ryerson’s School of Social Work program 50th-anniversary celebration.

    Her collective experiences inform the practice and programming behind her trauma-informed creative enterprise, Lifted by Purpose. Working with vulnerable populations, like homeless youth or youth who have had interactions with the carceral system, she combines clinical therapy with lived experience, storytelling and narrative therapy to create programming that humanizes experiences and cultivates empathy.

    When she’s not engaged in work, she can be found spending time with her family, listening to music, or obsessing over dogs.

  • Workshop Facilitator

    As a queer transgender clinical social worker, Andrew has 17 years of experience working with individuals, groups and organizations. Their life's work is to help individuals, couples, groups and organizations grow into the fullness of who they are and how they live in the world. When not working, Andrew can be found enjoying time with their partner, reading and planning the next moment that brings change and transformation for themselves and others.

  • Online Learning Designer

    Sarah is a community development professional with over 6 years of experience designing projects for authentic community engagement with a focus on relational design for social impact. She is a true "people person" who is driven by curiosity about people, process and places.

    When not working, you can usually find her outside camping, climbing and connecting to nature.

  • Organizational Coach/Support

    Ewa is dedicated to developing practical and meaningful connections between people, organizations and institutions who want to authentically collaborate. She thrives on working with different players to facilitate cross sector understanding, and alignment, placing reciprocal learning at the centre. Her work has included the development of partnerships with academic institutions, facilitation of neighborhood networks, cross sector project management, organizational coaching, teaching, and designing/co-designing projects and strategies.

    Ewa has a Master in Political Science from York University and is passionate about social justice. She has been working to bridge academic communities, together with resident groups and local organizations for over 15 years.

    When she’s not working you can find her hanging out with family, reading, or cooking something new.

Want to become an associate of Janet Fitzsimmons Consulting? We are always looking to grow our network. Send Janet an email here.