VoteShawnRizvi

Hi, my name is Shawn Rizvi

On October 22, 2018, I am running as a candidate for TDSB trustee in Ward 2 for Etobicoke Centre. I care about the community and fixing our schools, and I am committed to you to ensure our students get the education they need to succeed; however, I cannot do this alone. With your donation, we can get closer to achieving the target budget that will allow us to run an effective campaign in Ward 2. Bringing awareness to key issues and speaking up for our students, schools, teachers, and parent councils are important to me, and I plan on using our campaign to ensure we highlight the issues that need to be heard by the TDSB and that matter most to you. 


My Background 

I was born and raised in Etobicoke and I have a passion for volunteerism and community involvement. This has led me to support over twenty charities, and travel to multiple countries on humanitarian missions representing Canada, including an orphanage in Africa.

To date, I have worked across multiple industries and across multiple organizations including IBM, EDC, Deloitte and EY, wherein total I have eliminated over 3 million dollars in waste as a result of my lean six sigma knowledge. I am set on bringing that same discipline into our schools if elected as Trustee. My experience on bay street as a successive management consultant makes me an effective decision maker who can help our students thrive.

I am an advocate of better socioeconomic conditions for our youth. I am also focused on increased sustainability for all Canadians from an environmental, social and economic perspective.

Outside of my professional and academic endeavours, I was previously engaged with at-risk neighbourhoods, working with local after-school programs, community centres, and summer camp programs to provide mentoring and motivation to students.

Currently, in my line of work, I travel across Canada as a trusted advisor to senior executives helping them better understand how to protect the sensitive data and privacy of Canadians. Locally, I empower young professionals by mentoring them on entrepreneurialism, leadership, and career development and further assist them in many challenges they face in achieving their goals.

Today, I continue to champion the cause for safe spaces, increased inclusivity and innovation within our schools. Additionally, I am dedicated to improving the educational system and garnering more opportunities for our youth to become global leaders in fields of STEM. This will ensure, not only a more prosperous Etobicoke Centre today, but for generations to come.

This June, I stood strong with parents and students in efforts to keep a beloved principal Sam Miceli at Richview Collegiate Institute.
Here is a petition that I started to support our students that surpassed 850 signatures in 5 days and helped in my quest for accountability and transparency for RCI from the TDSB on the matter.

https://www.change.org/p/lorraine-linton-tdsb-on-ca-keep-principal-sam-miceli-at-richview-collegiate-institute
 
Here are some other examples of my dedication to our students and community.

·       Youth leadership mentor for over 8 years, working in community centres and at-risk neighbourhoods across the city (from St. Marcellinus Community Centre to ELMS JMS to the Amesbury Community Centre)

·       Mentored over 50 young adults on leadership and career development. I have helped many of them achieve success looking for careers and navigating through school. I am currently mentoring 15 youth and young adults and 5 grassroots tech start-ups.

·       Winner & recipient of the Rotary Club's Young Entrepreneur Award

·       Served on multiple corporate Inclusion boards & committees. This includes serving & volunteering within women networks across the private sector

·       Vocal Advocate for Women & Minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).  Providing pro-bono mentoring and advisory to five grassroots technology start-ups.

·       Vocal Advocate for sustainability, green spaces and the environment.

·       2015 Federal Election Candidate - Etobicoke Centre (advocating for policies in favour of youth & families)

·       2018 Provincial Election Candidate - Etobicoke Centre (advocating for policies in favour of youth & families)

·       2018 Committed and signed the Fix Our Schools pledge of commitment  

·       2018 In support and recognition of our Indigenous youth I committed and signed the OFIFC pledge to protect and support Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres

·       2018 I completed the candidate survey and committed my pledge to the Spinal Cord Injury Ontario Campaign

My vision for the schools is to make bold changes in the education system, to maximize outcomes in the classroom, and to deliver the best results for students.

I am dedicated to preparing our kids for the next generation of careers. If the next generation of students is going to face artificial intelligence (and other disruptive technologies) then we need to prepare them now by encouraging leadership, teaching them essential life skills such as managing personal finances and strengthening their skills in innovation and entrepreneurialism.