Markus Emanuel
Founder & Entrepreneur
Markus is grassroots organizer and business entrepreneur. He has devoted his career assisting disadvantaged youth within many of the inner-city communities in the GTA and has recently partnered with nonprofit organizations to strategically address the ongoing issues of mental health within black communities to design and implement required programs to promote awareness and foster change. He works as a residential mortgage underwriter and volunteers his time hosting a parenting support group for single parents with young children, and also a coach for a local basketball coach organization, in which he teaches the fundamentals of basketball to youth.
Mr. Emanuel is a great addition to the team, he will assist to undertake promoting awareness and to help in creating engaging and exciting collaborative events with other cycling organizations in the city to provide opportunities for the club and its members to ensure they enjoy their becoming a member
Dr. Kersley Peters
Executive Director
Dr. Kersley Peters is an adult educator whose research interest lies in access, retention, and equity in higher education. Dr. Peters received post-graduate degrees in higher education from the University of Toronto, a Masters in Science degree in Economics and Development from Southern New Hampshire University Graduate school. He also earned a Masters in Adult Education from Central Michigan University. He has worked with the provincial and federal governments as a specialist in program development, adult career development and personal growth programs and worked for 17 years as a senior manager in the social development and human services field.
He is the founder and Executive Director of the Career Resource and Education Centre in Toronto, which provides job search and workplace skills to unemployed and underemployed job seekers. He is an educator that believes the role of education is to effect change and fully develop human potential.
He has also worked in family counseling for a number of years, dealing primarily with immigrants from the Caribbean and Africa facing challenges adjusting to life in Canada. Dr. Peters has worked extensively in humanitarian work in Africa and the Caribbean. His focus has been on educational and social development and, using social justice and anti-racist praxis.
In the past two years Dr. Peters has been affiliated with non-profit organizations in Africa and the Caribbean, whose mission is to empower high achieving, but low-income scholars around the world by bridging the gap between talent and opportunity at the university and high school education level. Dr. Peters currently serves as a Canadian mentor for scholars attending university in Canada.
Saad Jee Tabassam
Creative Professional, Designer & Developer
Saad Jee handles all the creative and technical side of our parent company Positive Initiatives®. He has knowledge of different creative fields which makes him unique, passionate, and a problem solver.
He has a strong background in design and development with years of experience. He has proficient skills in Web Design, Web Development, Graphics Design, and Motion Graphics. He has worked with creative agencies, organizations, and different platforms. He has assisted businesses of all shapes and sizes with his creative solutions to achieve their goals.
He doesn’t believe in racism and that’s how he got connected with our community and now, he is providing his creative & technical solutions to bring a change to the society and promote equal rights.
Phil Edwards
Professor, Basketball Trainer and a Socioeconomic Empowerment Coach
As an educator, Phil has taught at Seneca College for over 12 years. His approach to education and employment has captured the minds and hearts of his captive audience.
Phil has facilitated and undertaken project lead roles in community development. He has developed workplans for children, youth, and older adult portfolios. While serving his union for over 15 years, Phil became the Member’s Benefits Representative for 22,000 staff.
Phil has acted as a foster parent, raising 22 young men throughout his tenor, he is often regarded by the boys as “Uncle Phil.” Impact and servitude are two words to describe how meaningful and significant of an influence Mr. Edwards has made and continues to make not only as a foster parent but in many of the inner-city communities in addition to the community boards he sits on.
After devoting 30 years into the public sector, Phil Edwards decided to navigate his own destiny. Today, Phil Edwards is an Adjunct Professor, Basketball Trainer, and a Socioeconomic Empowerment Coach.