REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 AT 7:00 AM!
Facilitated by: Mariam Waliji
In this two-hour interactive session, we invite Leadership into a reflective and thought-provoking conversation around the deep-rooted cultural norms that shape our institutions, classrooms, and relationships – often without us even realizing it.
Building on the foundational work of scholar and educator Tema Okun and others, this session explores how dominant cultural patterns – such as perfectionism, urgency, either/or thinking, and power structures – show up in education systems and early learning spaces. These patterns, though often invisible and unintentional, impact how we teach, how we lead, how we care for children, and how we care for each other.
Through context setting, stories, and facilitated dialogue, we will examine how these norms have been internalized and upheld across systems, and how they influence our perceptions of professionalism, success, and belonging.
This session is designed for leaders who are curious to explore different ways culture shapes our everyday practices – and who are open to the transformative power of awareness.
This session is designed for professionals in a leadership role within their organization.
Pedagogical Focuses: Belonging - Engagement - Expression - Well Being - Leadership
Standards of Practice: Standard I: Caring and Responsive Relationships, Standard III: Safety, Health and Well-Being
Mariam Waliji has a passion for connection – whether it be with people, place, or community. Her years studying evolutionary genetics and ecology sparked questions about how local food systems and restricted access to well-grown food impact society in multifaceted ways; this encouraged her to work towards addressing inequities and barriers to access more broadly in our current systems.
Her work with Pillar Nonprofit Network, and specifically past work with WOSEN (Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network) allows her to reframe the definition of success for social impact organizations while creating space to explore what it means to have intentional, meaningful impact in community in long-term and viable ways. Mariam’s experience and leadership as a Director of Urban Roots London uniquely equips her with the knowledge and skills required to understand nonprofit governance, social enterprise models, and community development work; a lens she brings with her to her work at Pillar Nonprofit Network.
Through education, an emphasis on sharing narrative, an understanding of intersectional environmentalism, ongoing personal development, and a genuine connection with her community, she aims to encourage growth and power in a collaborative economy. Her hope is to participate in creating a more just, equitable, and joyful future for us all.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Strive Classroom
265 Maitland St.,
London, ON, N6B 2Y3
Cost
London/Middlesex: Pay What You Can
Elgin/Oxford: $10
Registration closes on Tuesday, October 14 at 12:00 PM
* Ticket types are based on the county you WORK in.