Stefany Hanson
Stefany Hanson was a member of the Toronto Youth Cabinet from 1999 - 2005. The Toronto Youth Cabinet is the voice of youth at City Hall. In the past she held the position of Youth Safety Advocate, where she has been active to put forth safety issues affecting youth in the City of Toronto. She also worked on the review of the police complaints process.
Stefany is a York University graduate with a Specialized Honours in Public Policy and Administration. Stefany has received a number of scholarships including: the Millennium Local Laureate Scholarship, the Harry Jerome Award, Association of Black Law Enforcers scholarship, Eva’s Bursary, the John Brooks Foundation Scholarship, Malcolm Streete Memorial Scholarship and a York University Entrance Award. Ms.Hanson has excelled in her academic pursuits by graduating on the Dean’s list 2007.
From 2006-2007, Stefany participated in an academic exchange experience in Jamaica, where she studied at the University of the West Indies for a one-year academic exchange.
She served as a youth delegate to the May 2005 Metropolis Youth Congress in Berlin, Germany where she represented Toronto, Canada. Stefany has spoken at many public meetings including the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition and Lunch and Learn program at the City of Toronto. In 2006 Stefany was a speaker and delegate in Beyond the Street, a national conference on youth homelessness in Newfoundland.
Stefany has worked in a variety of Toronto’s 13 priority neighbourhoods. Particularly, Jane & Finch, Regent Park, Rexdale, Dorset Park, Malvern and Chester Le. She has delivered many workshops about community issues on access, equity, anti-oppression, and life skills development. She has worked in this capacity for over 8 years and has developed a drive and passion for creating powerful racialized and marginalized communities.
She is a youth and community advocate and enjoys building community capacity. She believes that the world should be an equitable and fair place to be. She believes that all members of the community should be afforded social justice and have access to decision making power.
Among her many social justice activities she makes time to give back to the community that has given so much to her. Stefany has provided leadership to the Identify and Impact Panel from 2005-2008. She has worked with the Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) on a number of its Grants Review Committees. She is currently serving as Co-Chair of YCF's Partnership Steering Committee. Furthermore, she provides financial direction to Keepin’ It Real Dance Troupe and Company, and Music-Mania which are arts-based initiatives in the Weston Mount Dennis Community.
Stefany is a community member and, most importantly, a youth that cares.