OUR STAFF
Our people are the reason why our programs have such an incredibly high success rate. Our Ve’ahavta team consists of people who are passionate about their work and most importantly, passionate about the people we serve.
We ❤️ WORKING AT VE’AHAVTA
We believe that if we want our programs to really help people, we have to create and maintain a strong and healthy work environment.
of employees said that they felt they had a positive working relationship with all of their coworkers, and that they feel listened to, a sense of belonging, that they can share ideas, and collaborate on problems.
of employees said that Ve’ahavta’s work positively affects people’s lives and knowing that their work has a real impact on others brings our staff team tremendous job satisfaction.
Training in Trauma & Housing
2023 was (another) year of professional growth for Ve’ahavta staff. All frontline staff were trained in Trauma Informed Care this year. As well, frontline workers completed Housing Help Services Certificates to more effectively and efficiently connect the people we serve to housing or housing resources.
A Deeper Look at Antisemitism
As a Jewish organization, especially in a post-October 7 world, it is important to us that our staff learn about antisemitism. This year, we partnered with Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre to conduct an educational workshop and later, we took a staff trip to the Toronto Holocaust Museum. For many, these initiatives were their first encounter with Jewish history. Staff deepened their understanding of anti-Jewish hate and the core Jewish values of justice, truth, and respect, that inform Ve’ahavta’s work.
We won!
This was a year of awards. We received three different distinctions:
The Canadian Non-Profit Employer of Choice (NEOC) Award; the
Best Nonprofit Employer in the category of Mental Health Workplace by Charity Village; and the 2023 Fieldwork Educator Recognition Award from the University of Toronto's Occupational Therapy program! We always knew Ve’ahavta was the best place to work! We also renewed our Imagine Canada accreditation, Canada’s most widely recognized standard for employing best practises in governance and operations.
Fun Together
From our Jewish holiday celebrations to our staff socials, whenever we get together, we have a good time!
OUR STAFF
Executive Director
Cari Kozierok
Programs
Marni Herskovits, Director of Programs
Amanda Morgan, Recruitment and Intake Coordinator
Arulkumar Visvalingam, Kitchen Program Supervisor
Atisha Galabay, BFW Case Manager
Bakhtawar Riaz, Case Manager
Collins Twesige, Outreach Worker
Delnaz Zandi, Outreach Worker
Emily Chapman, Client Program Case Manager
Erin Reeve - Newson, Case Manager
Gillian Gerskup, Training Programs Program Coordinator
Heather Rowe, BFW Case Manager
Jade Gould, Career Counselor
Jane Freymond, Part-time Outreach Worker
Kenneth Kato, Relief Outreach Worker
Mia Fletcher, Manager of Program Operations
Michelle Switzer, Outreach Worker
Nadine Palmer, Relief Outreach Worker
Natalie Chlykov, Manager of Streat Outreach Services
Nicolas Guzman, Warehouse Coordinator
Palwinder Sahota, Relief Outreach Worker
Rosie Mariconda, VSA, Case Manager
Sabrina Engels, Relief Outreach Worker
Samuel Workneh, Outreach Worker
Shelley Grignano, Outreach Worker
Simon Davis-Power, Relief Outreach Worker
Sylvia Nabulya, Part-time Outreach Worker
Finance/ Operations
Solomon (Sol) Lev, Director of Finance and Operations
Ella Rosenthal, Finance Coordinator
Community Mobilization
Brandon Lablong, Director of Community Mobilization
Anat Begin Haim, Manager of Development
Isabel Botha, Manager of Community Mobilization
Natalie Ayers, Community Mobilization Coordinator
Ruth Hart, Volunteer Services Coordinator
Communications
Jenny Hazan, Director of Communications
Esther Sissons, Administrative Assistant, Communications
Alexandrea Simpson, Communications Coordinator
Atara Tanen, Digital Marketer & Designer
People and Culture
Robyn Segall, Director of People and Culture
Oyinade Adeosun, Administrative Assistant, People & Culture/Operations
Shimoni Bhattee, People and Culture Coordinator