Shannon Franssen (she/her) has worked with community groups since 1995 and has been designing and facilitating group processes for more than 15 years. She is a recognized and accomplished leader in community development and has collaborated with hundreds of community-based organizations, NGOs, government institutions, networks and elected officials on a wide variety of projects and issues.  She specializes in strategic and community planning and supporting the creation and development of collaborative community projects.

Shannon currently teaches community development and social movements at Concordia University’s School of Community and Public Affairs and served for 11 years as the director of a Community Development Corporation in Montreal.  She loves tackling intractable problems and believes that mobilizing our collective intelligence is the most powerful way to solve issues facing us today. 

Kerry Le Clair
(she/her) is a community advocate, researcher, facilitator and neighbourhood organizer. She began to work and volunteer in the climate justice field as a response to her own experience of disproportionate environmental burdens living in one of Hamilton, Ontario’s most adversely affected neighbourhoods. Using tools as divergent as storytelling and strategic planning, she has bridged community conversations on accessibility and disability justice, migrant justice, Indigenous solidarity and anti-oppression capacity building with environmental and service-based organizations.

She loves merging creative and participatory practices such as public art and mural initiatives, asset mapping projects, local walking tours, engagement workshops and building solidarity with local activist networks. Known for being a supportive and knowledgeable presence in her community, Kerry has an intrepid approach to taking on corporations, businesses and decision makers who are accountable for conditions of injustice.

Kerry has worked with Hamilton’s Ward 3 Councillor Nrinder Nann as the community climate action coordinator since 2019.

Laura Severinac (she/her) is passionate about creating opportunities for transformative work to unfold. She is a dynamic facilitator, convenor, trainer, coach and community organizer who loves creating experiences that are challenging, empowering, reflective, inclusive and friendly. She draws from over two decades of experience working for campaigning organizations, 8+ years as a leadership coach, certification in Conflict Management and Mediation and extensive experience in campaigning, advocacy and process design for purpose driven individuals and organizations.