September 2010 General Meeting: Panel Discussion on the City of Toronto

Please join us as we head into the Municipal Elections with a panel discussion from a group of people with intimate knowledge of the economy of our city.

Date: September 30, 2010

Location: First Canadian Place (at the corner of Bay and King - Street level by Adelaide entrance)

Meeting Agenda

6:30-6:35  Welcome & Introduction
                Marlon Reid, President - UFSC Toronto  

6:35-7:45  PANEL DISCUSION

7:45-8:10   Committee and Chapter Updates

8:10-8:15   Member Accolades 

8:15-8:20   Other Business 

8:20           Adjournment 

8:30           TD Bank Financial Group Networking Session 

Please join us after the meeting for food and refreshments (venue: to be announced at the meeting).  This month the networking session will start at 8:30 pm.

We would like to thank TD Bank Financial Group our general meeting and networking sponsor.  

Panelist Bios

Rocco Kusi Achampong, Mayoral Candidate, City of Toronto

Rocco Kusi Achampong was born in Tema, Ghana. He attended the University of Toronto and completed his Law Degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2008. During his undergraduate he held elected positions as President of the Black Students Association at the U of T in 2001 and as the President and CEO of the U of T Students Association for 2002.

He is currently a candidate for Mayor of the City of Toronto in the 2010 municipal elections.

Isaac Jr. Olowolafe, Owner, Dream Maker Realty

Isaac Jr. Olowolafe a graduate from the University of Toronto where he obtained his BA in Economics. By 2007, as Isaac Jr. was graduating from UofT, he was able to  run his own Marketing Franchise. Isaac Jr. managed to accomplish this while becoming a licensed Real Estate agent. After 6 months of running the Franchise, Isaac decided to open his own Management Company called Dream Maker Management which involves on and off line Marketing. In 2009 Isaac Jr. achieved another plateau when he became the youngest Black owner of a Real Estate Brokerage Firm in the GTA. Moving into 2010, Isaac Jr. is now living the

Dream that he imagined years back, which includes running and managing 30 Million dollars worth of Real Estate of which over a quarter of them he personally owns.

The Vision for Isaac Jr. has started to get clearer as his new mandate is to help different communities gain Economic Empowerment using Real Estate as the tool. With recognition from Top Builders like Tridel and Top Real Estate Firms like Milborne, it is clear that his mandate is being taken seriously and will continue to grow starting from 2010. Some of the charitable initiative’s that Isaac Jr. has started tie into his Vision: a Scholarship program named after his company, the“Dream Maker Realty Award” at the University of Toronto. This program will give minority students who are on OSAP or financial aid, a better opportunity to focus more on school while the scholarship helps pay the tuition for that calender year.

Recently Isaac Jr. was appointed to sit on the board of a charity called “Youth Deserves the Chance to Dream” operated by NBA Star’s mom, Miss Marion Magloire. Isaac Jr. is on the board as the position of Economic Development. To add to that, Isaac Jr. was recently appointed Youth Development position on the National Black MBA Association.

David Mitchell, Superintendent, Mimico Correctional Centre and Chair, Toronto Community Housing

David Mitchell is the Superintendent of the Mimico Correctional Centre, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the chair of Toronto Community Housing's board of directors. Having been raised in social housing in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood of Toronto, David has an excellent understanding of issues that affect residents of Toronto Community Housing. David brings to the board almost two decades of experience in Ontario's criminal justice system working for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

David began his career in the Ontario Public Service in 1990 as a Correctional Officer at the Toronto Jail. He has worked at the corrections ministry's head office, the Central East Correctional Centre, the Central North Correctional Centre and the Toronto East Detention Centre. He has held progressively responsible positions, including Sergeant, Captain, Assistant Anti-Racism Coordinator, Contract Compliance Monitor and Deputy Superintendent. In September 2007 the Commissioner of Corrections appointed David as the founding head of the Corrections Criminal Intelligence Unit. In May 2009, David was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and assigned to the Mimico Correctional Centre.

David founded the Association of Black Law Enforcers in 1992 and served as its first president. Through the association, he has done extensive grassroots advocacy work with at-risk youth in Toronto. He was also reappointed as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Toronto Community Housing Corporation in December 2009.

Dionne Coley, School Board Trustee Candidate- Scarborough East, Ward 22, Municipal Elections 2010

A home-grown product of Scarborough, Dionne Coley has received and applied the benefits of the education system the Toronto District School Board has provided. After graduating from Meadowvale Public School (Ward 22), Coley graduated from Cedarbrae Collegiate with recognition by the Honour Society. Coley then attended the University of Windsor where she completed an Honours B.A. in Criminology and Sociology. Thereafter, Coley attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School and graduated with a concentration in Litigation being recognized on the Dean’s list. Dionne is a licensed Attorney in New York (USA) and currently in the lawyer licensing process of Ontario. Today, Dionne is gaining experience at a Criminal Law Firm in Toronto and teaching as a Professor at Seneca College (Criminal/Tort law).  Dionne will bring the culmination of her experiences full circle to advance youth within Scarborough East. Primary initiatives include leadership, mentorship, enhancing parental partnership and a life skills approach.

"Born, raised and educated in Scarborough, I have seen the ever changing needs of our community and believe wholeheartedly in the ability of our children to surpass the expectations of our educational system. I believe that it is our children right here in Scarborough that will lead the future of Toronto and that they will indeed flourish throughout our society – locally and on an international scale. It is my commitment to you to advance this very important cause as I have been and will continue to advocate for youth.”