CEDA Staff

Kathy is a mother of two grown women and a grandmother of three boys and one girl. Recently, she worked with Healthy Child Manitoba as a program consultant Aboriginal Initiatives, and the Archives of Manitoba as an archivist. Prior to her government employment, Kathy worked in the Winnipeg Aboriginal community for about 25 years. She worked in the areas of transformative justice, Aboriginal women’s development and developing various service organizations in her community. As well, she volunteered many years for many Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal not-for-profit community organizations. She was elected in the early 1990s as a school trustee for Winnipeg School Division # 1 and served a three year term. Throughout the years Kathy has received recognition for her community work, and most recently was the recipient of the Grass Roots Women’s Award in 2008, and in 2000 she received the first Manitoba Human Rights Commitment Award. In the early 1980s Kathy worked for the Community Education Development Association (CEDA) as a community worker in a predominately Aboriginal inner-city junior high school. She has come full circle and is now back working with CEDA as one of their co-directors.

kathy@cedawpg.org or phone 582-5800 ext.11

Jennifer Coutu - Executive Assistant/Human Resources

Bio to follow

Rebecca was born and raised in Winnipeg. She studied Canadian Social History at the University of Winnipeg and has a master's diploma in Community Economic Development from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. At Concordia her academic focus was on issues of food security, an interest she built upon through her work with the Peoples Potato Project Collective in Montreal and her involvement in initiatives such as the West Broadway Good Food Club here in Winnipeg.

Rebecca was formerly the Special Assistant to the Minister of Labour and Immigration and the Minister of Housing and Community Development. She has volunteer experience supporting education and literacy advocacy for newcomer children and their parents, was involved with the Peoples Commission on (In) Security, and has been engaged in the movement for social and economic justice in a variety of capacities. She has served on a variety of community boards both here in Winnipeg and in Montreal.

Rebecca was the Director of the Quebec NDP, and organized the development of the movement in that province over several years. She has worked as an organizer on many political and community campaigns, including the Obama campaign in Philadelphia where she was able to participate in the Obama Organizer Training, an experience which reinforced her belief in the power of narrative to strengthen movements and communities.

Rebecca has experience in workshop development and facilitation, with a focus on anti-oppression in community and political organizing. Rebecca is committed to being a proactive ally in the struggle and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the great team at CEDA and its many community partners.

rebecca@cedawpg.org or phone 582-5800 ext.13

Sally Wai is a landed immigrant from Sierra Leone who arrived in Winnipeg in 2002. She has multiple post-secondary educations and is a community organizer. She is a qualified social worker and continues to coordinate community programs in the downtown area of Winnipeg. Sally’s aim is to empower every community member in order to foster change and believes in collective enhancement. She is the founder of the “Winnipeg Central Park Women’s Resource Centre.

Sally@cedawpg.org or call 943-8716

Melrose was hired in May, 2008 to the Winnipeg Central Park Women’s Resource Centre Coordinator. She was a teacher in her home country. She had also worked for CARE International in Sierra Leone. Melrose has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Women’s Studies from the University of Newfoundland as well as a certificate in Community Development /Community Economic Development from Red River College, Winnipeg. She is passionate about the empowerment of women and a community activist

Melrose@cedawpg.org or call 944-8685

Raymond joined CEDA staff in November 2009. He comes from CHAD (Africa) with a degree in Agriculture/Local Development, and graduated in June 2009 with diploma in CD/CED at Red River College. A passionate of Community Development, Raymond initiated and is a member founder of Immigrant Integration and Farming Workers Co-op Ltd. (IIFC). He is a CNDC board member and a Co-Chair of The Connecting Communities’ Coalition against HIV/AIDS in Manitoba (CCC). Raymond was part of Manitoban delegations to the CCEDNet National Conferences in St. John’s (Newfoundland) and Halifax (Nova Scotia) in 2007; and in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) in 2008. He is a Speaker for United Way, and the winner of UNICEF Canada Community Services Volunteer National Award 2009 as well as the recipient of the Manitoban Golden Carrot Awards 2009 in Urban Food Champion category. Raymond is pursuing a degree in Inner City and Urban Studies at U of W.

Raymond@cedawpg.org or call 589-6259/ 228-4600

Darlene is a mother and grandmother from the Cree and Lakota nations.
At an age when many people are thinking of retirement, Darlene obtained her Mature Grade 12 Diploma. That process was so life changing she continued on to university and obtained a Bachelor of Social Work Degree. Darlene is thrilled to be working at CEDA, on a program that encourages and supports North End high school students to graduate. She knows firsthand the difference that education can make in quality of life not only for the individual but family members as well.

Darlene@cedawpg.org or call 582-7434/799-6561

Ashley has been with CEDA since May 2008. She is currently working at the Pathways to Education program as a student parent support worker. Ashley has a degree in International Development Studies and has worked on various community development projects throughout Latin America. Ashley is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Manitoba.

Maternity leave until February 2012.

Ashley@cedawpg.org or call 582-8618/298-1697

I was born and raised in West Africa (Liberia). I arrived in Winnipeg 1998 June 18. I have live in Winnipeg for the past 12 years, consider this my home now. I have multiple post-secondary educations and several year experiences in community development/community economic development as well as social enterprise. I obtained a Bachelor of Art degree in Urban and Inner City Studies with a background in planning and community economic development/community development from the University of Winnipeg on June 10, 2010. Greatly involve in community work and has lots of volunteer experience. I am currently one of the Student Parent Support Worker at Pathways to Education Program.

elaine@cedawpg.org or call 582-8618/509-0431

I have been living in Winnipeg for the past sixteen years, but I am originally from Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario. I am currently taking courses at the University of Manitoba to obtain my Bachelor of Social Work degree. Before joining CEDA as a Student Parent Support Worker, I worked at Aboriginal Visioniong for the North for one and a half years

florence@cedawpg.org or call 582-8618/298-9076

Befekadu Abitew - Student Parent Support Worker

“I was born with Social Work and I live Social Work” says Befekadu who founded African Hopes For Brighter Africa (AHFBA)-a youth organization that works towards a socio-political reform and HIV/AIDS awareness in Africa, and Mix Girdosh Self-Help Group-another non profit organization founded in the vision of helping refugee women and their children with micro finance and advocacy. He has also been a political activist back in his home country, Ethiopia.

Since arriving in Winnipeg, Befekadu has continued his community involvement which he says is his passion. Having a background in accounting and computer science, Befekadu has finished Professional Development Training in conflict resolution, group facilitation, and aboriginal awareness and cross cultural diversity. He is also a pert time student at the University of Winnipeg.

befekadu@cedawpg.org or call 582-8618/293-0286

Destiny Michell-Student Parent Support Worker

My name is Destiny Michell, I am a Student Parent Support Worker with CEDA Pathways to Education. I am a Metis woman, and I grew up mostly in the North End of Winnipeg. I have been studying and working in the youth care field for several years. In the past year I have taken an interest in Education, making myself available on Parent Advisory boards in my children’s school and with CEDA. I am very happy to be on the journey with the Youth at CEDA through their educational careers. I am a true believer that Knowledge is Power and Freedom.

destiny@cedawpg.org or call 582-8618/292-9853