Allos Abis is a first-generation Filipino trans organizer based in Toronto. He is one of the founding members of the Migrant Detainee Support Coalition and currently works full-time as a support staff at OPSEU/SEFPO. He recently did a cameo appearance in a web series called "Kin," which premiered at the ImagineNative Festival in Toronto.

Clement Nocos works with organizations across Canada as the Director of Policy for the Broadbent Institute, the country's leading social democratic think tank. His work tackles questions of public policy and political economy for campaigns and social movements that fight for justice and equality. Clem’s writing and analysis has previously appeared in GQ Magazine, The Globe and Mail, and Canadian Dimension. He holds a dual Masters in Public Policy from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany and the University of Tokyo in Japan, as well as a B.A. in History, Political Science and Sociology from the University of Toronto.

Josel Angelica (she/they) is a Philippine-born, and Tkaronto-raised young professional and community organizer. As a young queer Filipina immigrant, Josel was quite involved in student leadership such as student government and university research projects focusing on mobilization, and equity, diversity and inclusion. Nowadays, Josel is also a community organizer, primarily in youth advocacy, Filipino/a/x-Canadian and 2SLGBTQ+ communities. From a professional role in higher education leading democracy initiatives to progressive politics, Josel is committed to progressive change-making in local and national communities.

Lourdes David (she/her) is a provincial political staffer and resides in the east end of Toronto. Before getting into politics, Lourdes worked with youth-focused organizations to build civic engagement capacity with a focus on climate action and environmental education including Amplify, a 2-year transatlantic project with Oxfam Quebec connecting over 130 young people from across 13 cities in Canada and Europe. Lourdes is excited to join the FCCAN team, bringing her years of experience in nonprofit and lived experience as a hyphenated individual to the organization.

Mauriene Tolentino (they/she) is a community organizer, researcher and health policy analyst in Scarborough.Their research is grounded in a health equity lens with a focus on the role of policies in mental health, housing, and access to health for racialized, migrant, and 2SLGBTQ+ people. They were the co-chair of the steering committee for the inaugural Filipino Youth Fellowship, and currently acts as an advisor to the program. Currently, she is a researcher at Wellesley Institute and primarily organizes with Makulay atbp (queer Filipina/x/o collective), Filipinos United 4 Palestine and the Health Network for Uninsured Clients.

Monica de Vera (she/her) dreams of collective liberation for all Filipinos. Her ancestors lived in  Pangasinan and Iloilo. She is currently Steward of the COPE343 bargaining unit at her workplace, and is employed as Executive Administrative Assistant to the President of the largest public sector union in Ontario. Monica’s activism has manifested through her work on various electoral and issue-based campaigns at all levels of government in so-called Canada. She currently resides in East York with her cat, Tala, named after the Tagalog Goddess of Stars.

Richmond Uy (he/him) is a Scarborough-raised Filipino organizer that graduated at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus in Urban Studies and is currently enrolled at TMU’s Continuing Education to learn GIS. He aspires to be an urban planner for the communities he occupies and wishes to stand in solidarity with. Outside of school, he has experience in organizing within the city and within the Filipino community. Previously he was the first program coordinator for the Filipino Youth Fellowship with the amazing support of the FYF steering committee and was an organizer for Progress Toronto for the Municipal 2022 election. He wishes to use his experience in urban planning and community organizing to create sustainable and long lasting affordable housing within the city and build community power for the communities he occupies, such as Scarborough residents and the Filipino community.

Taamara Thanaraja (she/her) is a community organizer who grew up in Scarborough. She studied International Development and Globalization at the University of Ottawa and has worked for the Ontario Health Coalition and COPE Ontario. After graduating she was an organizer on Olivia Chow’s campaign, the Scarborough Guildwood by-election with the ONDP and was the deputy campaign manager for Kevin Rupasinghe’s campaign for City Council in Scarborough Southwest. Taamara hopes to continue and advocate for her Filipina and Tamil community at every level of government, to make sure we achieve sustainable, community-led solutions for our people.

Veronica Javier (she/her/siya) is a Registered Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work. Veronica is currently a Planner with the Mental Health & Addictions and Oncology Programs at Scarborough Health Network. She is also Adjunct Faculty with the School of Social Work, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies at York University.  

Veronica has over 15 years of community-based social work experience including in a clinical healthcare setting; with specialization in renal palliative care, community engagement and advocacy. Veronica’s community work includes being a Board of Director with the Kababayan Multicultural Centre and with the Migrants Resource Centre Canada.