With roots in Afghanistan through my parents, my background reflects a rich blend of cultures. I hold a diploma in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College, reflecting my strong commitment to learning and community engagement.

In 2022, I became one of ten local residents selected to join CREW, a project focused on building community-led climate resilience in high-rise neighborhoods. Through this work, I gained valuable knowledge about emergency preparedness for heatwaves, blackouts, and power outages—insights I’ve applied by maintaining a personal emergency kit and plan.

Driven by a passion for community outreach, I helped share the heat wave response protocol across St. James Town and continue to share emergency preparedness knowledge—especially for heatwaves, blackouts, and flooding—through community outreach efforts. Currently, I am working as the Projects and Outreach Assistant for Toronto Environmental Alliance(TEA) and through my work, we are strengthening our collaboration work with CREW.

For the past four years I have been actively involved with these two wonderful organisations: CREW (Community Resilience to Extreme Weather) and TEA (Toronto Environmental Alliance). Through these groups I have worked on projects focused on environmental awareness, sustainability and making a positive impact in my community.

During my time with CREW and TEA, I have taken part in various initiatives, such as organizing awareness campaigns, contributing to environmental research, and collaborating with others to help create a greener and more resilient community. Because of these efforts, we have received recognition, including the Greener City for All Award and first place in the Canadian Youth Climate Award. I am passionate about community involvement, leadership, and learning new skills. I look forward to continuing to make a difference and taking on new opportunities to grow and contribute.

The experience I’ve gotten from them has made me learn to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to both climate and the area I live in, St James Town, and inspired me to pursue my professional career in the environmental sector. I am now currently studying at Toronto Metropolitan University in the Environment and Urban Sustainability Program.

Currently, as a key volunteer, I have been a part of a group of residents who are being trained in emergency preparedness. In 2023, 12 of us formed the St James Town Climate Action Crew, and already received the 2023 Greener City For All Award! in 2024, we placed first for the Canadian Youth Climate Award.

 In 2025, we are currently piloting a garden at 375 Bleecker with the support of CREW, and I am proud to be the head of the garden, ensuring it is watered and cared for everyday. The garden is now home to many herbs and more to come!

I moved to Canada for university and law school. I trained as a lawyer and worked for the government. When the time came, I decided to find my place within the community – a place of faith where I can relate to others and I started attending the Church of St Peter and St Simon-the-Apostle, just at the northern edge of St James Town.

In 2017, I learned about CREW. I was thrilled to find an organization looking to form connections in the St. James Town community; not only between people but with institutions. Building social capital to prepare for weather emergencies. I started volunteering my time during monthly community leader meetings – representing the church, and I was part of many lobby information sessions and knocking on doors to inform and invite residents. Since then CREW has been part of my life – I am a huge advocate of the idea that churches need to be a crucial part of communities, an open and safe place to meet, to prepare and adapt for emergencies while building interfaith connections.

CREW through Lidia and volunteers have been instrumental in keeping the church gardens alive and thriving. We garden and meet once a week using the church hall where residents use 2 happy hours to connect, have great conversations over coffee & tea, and make crafts. A great example of helping each other: CREW volunteers help with the gardens and in return the church provides free meeting space.

My CREW team not only helped me to find a meaningful motive in life, my community, but they are great friends to me as well. I currently live close to the church but work closely with CREW and what they do in St James Town from community meetings, seniors’ get together and going on discovery walks – my favorite activity with CREW!

Evenings and weekends I spent time outdoors. Walking and picnicking with family and friends in ravines, woodbine beach, Tommy Thompson Park (which we called Leslie Spit in those days). Increasingly I was aware that green spaces brought me peace, yet unsure whether the environmental movement was able to see the needs of poorer communities.

I moved to St. James Town in 2020 and encountered CREW (Community Resilience to Extreme Weather). I have been intrigued by their vision and the work they enable in our very dense neighbourhoods. With CREW, we develop awareness of the stark realities of climate change and build community connections and knowledge about how to protect ourselves. CREW itself is a calming space among us as we develop gardens and envision a greener future.

I am 70 years old now and I volunteer with CREW when able. I am grateful to have found a vision that blends solutions of our undeniable growing environmental problems with an awareness of the growing social injustices we face.