A personal reflection on identity, politics, and speaking out during global crises, why neutrality is no longer an option.
Politics is personal
Trusting Myself is the Most Underrated Business Strategy
We're constantly bombarded with advice on how to pitch, how to lead, how to grow, scale, pivot, exit. One thing I’ve learned on this journey is no strategy matters if I don’t trust myself first. Trusting my gut instinct made the difference between failure and success, and not trusting myself has backfired on me more … Continue reading Trusting Myself is the Most Underrated Business Strategy
Leaving your 9-to-5 for a startup? Here’s how to set yourself up for success
Leaving your 9-to-5 for a startup? Here’s how to set yourself up for success
The Impact of AI on Writing: Finding Your Voice
What does AI mean for writers? Explore how ChatGPT can support writing while preserving your voice, originality, and creative process
End of year update
It's been a long time since I've written anything, or even shared our work online. Life has been super busy. We added two additional members to our family, they are now 2.5 and 15 months. Being a mom of 4 has been an entirely new journey. Having to navigate being a mom to a toddler … Continue reading End of year update
Equity and Authenticity
“Bring your full self”, “you belong here”, “reach your fullest potential” are all encouragement slogans that are used by people, companies, and organizations in attempts to create an inclusive culture for their teams and co-workers. And while the sentiments are positive, and even necessary, it communicates one thing: in order to create an equitable and … Continue reading Equity and Authenticity
What does ‘breaking barriers’ really mean for founders?
People love talking about “breaking barriers” nowadays. But what does that really mean? Who’s putting up these barriers and what does breaking those barriers look like?
Our brains Off Social Media
How many times have you thought about taking a break or quitting social media altogether?
“write like no one is reading”
Our brains gravitate towards more acceptance, and finding a sense of belonging, in a world that often feels very isolating. Connecting with people through stories, writing, and experiences is part of being human. Though, I do wonder how much of our work becomes performative, and how much of it comes in its purest most authentic form.
Drawing a line in the sand
When it comes to women in business, we have to draw a line in the sand of how much we are controlled by external factors that steer us from one wave into another. Because riding the wave of others, especially waves of power structures, media and its matrix, does nothing good for us or our confidence, self-esteem and empowerment.
Coffee Mornings: What’s your morning routine?
In a COVID19 world, where many of us are working from home, finding a work life/balance can be challenging, especially for working parents. Establishing a morning routine, and setting boundaries with a work schedule can help alleviate some of the stress many of us are experiencing. What's a routine that has worked for you as an entrepreneur?
How to Balance Your Entrepreneurial Journey as a Woman Founder
For many women founders, entrepreneurship feels like a roller coaster ride. Here are some of the areas to focus on to help balance your entrepreneurial journey.
How Philanthropy Needs to Transform to Meet the Challenges of the Moment
How Philanthropy Needs to Transform to Meet the Challenges of the Moment
Women Founder Alum Series: Meet Zamani Ra
The Women Founder alum series aim to highlight stories of women entrepreneurs and startups who were/are part of the Women in Leadership/Women Founder program at Parkdale Centre for Innovation. We hear from the founders on where they’re currently at with their business, some of the successes and challenges they’re facing, life, and everything in between.
Mentorship in the social impact world has a diversity problem, say new founders
In Canada, only 50 percent of businesses make it past five years. With mentorship, that number can jump to 70 percent. Despite such evidence, there still aren’t enough mentorship opportunities for social impact founders in Canada. What needs to change?
Women Founder Alum Series: Meet Igho Diana
Feature of Igho Diana, as part of the Women Founder Alum series.
Women Founder Alum Series: Meet Gloria Blizzard
The Women Founder alum series aim to highlight stories of women entrepreneurs and startups who were/are part of the Women in Leadership/Women Founder program at Parkdale Centre for Innovation. We hear from the founders on where they're currently at with their business, some of the successes and challenges they're facing, life, and everything in between. … Continue reading Women Founder Alum Series: Meet Gloria Blizzard
3 Lessons I Learned as a Woman of Colour in Entrepreneurship
BIPOC women founders face economical and social barriers in addition to racial barriers when they start a business. Often times, we have to go through an added layer of dealing with this complexity as we handle day to day interactions, conversations, and relationships. Photo by Ümit Bulut on Unsplash Why wait till you learn the … Continue reading 3 Lessons I Learned as a Woman of Colour in Entrepreneurship
Women Leading Change: Crisis, Disruption and Systems Change
I was part of the Women's Intensive Leadership panel yesterday to discuss Women Leading Change during the COVID19 crisis, and some of the ways this has impacted women. Along with some of the ways we need to change the system and our own behaviour to make sure it's not leaving people behind. Here are the … Continue reading Women Leading Change: Crisis, Disruption and Systems Change
How a Chicago Lunch Program is Supporting Families During COVID19
My first time visiting Leyden High School was two summers ago, when I also visited Chicago for the first time. I was there to conduct an Equity and Inclusion workshop for staff and teachers, as part of their summer Professional Development. I was very inspired by the teachers and admin staff. Their dedication to make … Continue reading How a Chicago Lunch Program is Supporting Families During COVID19
Changing the Narrative: media, podcasting, storytelling. What’s your story?
When we think about access to media, news, radio, and broadcasting, we often think of white, heteronormative thoughts, ideologies and voices put together to formulate our society's collective voice. This is not representative of marginalized voices; voices who have fought and spoken up about equity, peace, justice, and democracy for centuries. Voices who have fought … Continue reading Changing the Narrative: media, podcasting, storytelling. What’s your story?
Parkdale Centre 2019: a Year in Review
Take a look at Parkdale Centre's 2019, a year in review, with some program, events, and people highlights & gearing up for 2020's new year goals!
Goals Every Entrepreneur Should Reconsider in 2020
What are some of the goals you have for 2020 when it comes to your business?
Why Supporting Women at Early Stage can Increase Women in Entrepreneurship
One of the most pressing challenges of women entrepreneurs is to access the right support system, networks and mentors at early stages of business planning.
New focus. Same mission.
It's been a while since I've written on this blog. I'm excited to be back and share more of my journey here. I have a new focus now, but still on the same mission to empower and elevate people's work, and create equitable opportunities for all. Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash I stayed away from it for … Continue reading New focus. Same mission.
It’s time to stop calling it Diversity and Inclusion
it's time to stop calling it diversity and inclusion, it's equity and inclusion in the workplace
Workshop Notes: Telling Our Stories: Immigrant Women’s Resilience
Parkdale Community and Legal Services hosted a workshop that focuses on the experiences of immigrant women when it comes to their immigration status in Canada, as well as introducing a graphic novel written by immigrant women to support immigrant women when it comes to violence against women. Here are several highlights from the workshop: What … Continue reading Workshop Notes: Telling Our Stories: Immigrant Women’s Resilience
Muslim Girls Making Change
I met Muslim Girls Making Change a few months ago on Twitter when I participated in #MuslimWomenDay. The team is doing amazing work to raise awareness about Muslim women and shatter stereotypes of us through their art and poetry. This is activism. They used their passion to help show the world how to be more … Continue reading Muslim Girls Making Change
How teachers can support students during Ramadan
This piece was originally published for PBS Newshour. Ramadan is a month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims observe fasting from sunrise to sunset. And it can be a difficult month for many to get through, especially students who have to go through a normal school day without eating or drinking. This year, Ramadan will … Continue reading How teachers can support students during Ramadan
Interview with Education Week: Blogging for English Language Learners
My interview with Larry Ferlazzo for Education Week: LF: You write about the concept of "communicative pedagogy." Can you elaborate on it here and share some specific examples of what it might look like in the classroom? Rusul Alrubail: Communicative pedagogy is the practice in the classroom that centers the importance of interaction as one … Continue reading Interview with Education Week: Blogging for English Language Learners
#EduColor
Edit: the title of this post was changed from "why i left #Educolor" to just #educolor because we're all brothers and sisters and we're all growing and learning together. It's all love. I am writing this post in solidarity with my friend Melinda D. Anderson, who announced her resignation from Educolor this week. I am … Continue reading #EduColor
Book: Digital Writing for English Language Learners
Digital Writing for English Language learners looks at practical ways educators can implement the use of technology in their English and Language Arts classroom for English Language Learners. The book provides a variety of classroom activities and assignments that can be completed with English Language Learners using social media and other digital writing tools. The … Continue reading Book: Digital Writing for English Language Learners
Intersectionality: What “Diversity” Really Means
When we talk about "Diversity" and "Diverse spaces", what do we really mean? Do we mean to include some people, and not others? Of course, we don't mean to do that! After all, who intentionally goes out of their way to be exclusive? In today's political climate, we can't afford to think about what … Continue reading Intersectionality: What “Diversity” Really Means
Disruption in Education: It’s a good thing, and it’s more than a buzzword
This post was originally published in International Literacy Association's Literacy Today magazine. Google defines disruption as a “disturbance or problems that interrupt an event, activity, or process”. We need to look at disruption as a concept to use and implement in education, not as a problem, but as a strategy to formulate solutions to current … Continue reading Disruption in Education: It’s a good thing, and it’s more than a buzzword
Meet @BlairImani the activist fighting for intersectionality and rights for those on the femme spectrum
This interview was published originally on The Tempest. Blair’s activism and presence on social media and in real life has been an inspiration to many women of color everywhere. I connected with social justice activist Blair Imani after we both tweeted using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow, which was created by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after Donald … Continue reading Meet @BlairImani the activist fighting for intersectionality and rights for those on the femme spectrum
Social Justice Activism in the Digital Space
Twitter recently has added a new feature, where you can mute any account that doesn't have verified profile information, like a photo, phone number or email address. This feature is particularly helpful for activists on Twitter. If you've ever tweeted about social justice issues, GamerGate, Trump, or any other political issues, you'd likely have come … Continue reading Social Justice Activism in the Digital Space
Community Initiative: Solidarity Ribbon Campaign
One morning, after I dropped off the kids at work, I noticed a few white ribbons were tied around my neighbours' trees and a couple of other neighbouring houses. On the ribbon it had three words "All Faiths Welcome". This was a couple of days after the Quebec shooting. It was also a couple of … Continue reading Community Initiative: Solidarity Ribbon Campaign
Organizing Against Islamophobia & the US Travel Ban
I attended an event organized by my community, Parkdale's Legal Services at the local library. The event focused on addressing Islamophobia in Canada, the province, and the community, as well as the impact of the travel ban on refugees and immigrants. The event could have used more Muslim voices on the panel. There was only … Continue reading Organizing Against Islamophobia & the US Travel Ban
Resources to Teach about The #MuslimBan
Many educators are often afraid of discussing "controversial" issues in the classroom. The word "controversial" here puts a shroud on many relevant topics, such as politics, daily events, history, social justice issues, equality, and many others. What are you so afraid of? Having a healthy debate in the classroom? shouldn't students be exposed to different … Continue reading Resources to Teach about The #MuslimBan
#NoMuslimBan: A letter to my Muslim Brothers and Sisters
Alsalam alaikum, How have you been? I know you've been suffering for a long time now. But this past weekend, we took a hard blow. We all did. Not one of us, all of us. It doesn't matter if you are an Arab Muslim, an African Muslim, or a convert Muslim. Hearing that we are … Continue reading #NoMuslimBan: A letter to my Muslim Brothers and Sisters
What is Impactful Work?
When I am asked "Why did you want to get into teaching?" my answer was often about making a difference, or creating an impact in education. That, and the fact that I also enjoyed working with young people who are still trying to figure out their goals in life. Joining Ci.Strategy+Design, as an Educator-in-Residence, taught … Continue reading What is Impactful Work?
Social Media & Digital Citizenship
A recent article on The New York Times discussed the "Unspoken Rules Kids Create for Instagram". The article focused on how kids (middle school, and some high school) had unwritten rules on ways they engage on social media. For example, what types of images to post, how often, etc. The one thing that stood out … Continue reading Social Media & Digital Citizenship
Equity in Collaborative Spaces
We discuss collaboration in different spaces a great deal in and outside of education. We talk about the benefits of collaboration, the importance of it, and how it can look like. But do we ever discuss the downside of collaboration? Do we ever spend enough time to focus on how collaborative spaces can be equitable … Continue reading Equity in Collaborative Spaces
3 Diverse Children’s Books My Kids are Reading
For me, as a mom, it's so important that my kids read diverse books in school and at home. Diverse books allows children to see that there is not one variation of what it means to be human. We're all different, and representing that really well in books helps children to develop an understanding, empathy, … Continue reading 3 Diverse Children’s Books My Kids are Reading
How to Grow your Social Media Community
A little while ago, a large publishing company consulted with me to get advice on how to engage their audience and build interest-based communities. Here is a snapshot of the framework I presented to them. Your social media’s growth cycles are incremental to exponential, it embodies ripple effects to create organic growth cycles. These cycles … Continue reading How to Grow your Social Media Community
Create a Safe Space for Students to be Heard: A Workshop
The week before elections, I was invited to speak to The Hun School of Princeton students in New Jersey about the concepts of Grit and Resilience. The Hun School works to read 1 or 2 common books each year and have a conference about the theme of the books. This is such a neat way … Continue reading Create a Safe Space for Students to be Heard: A Workshop
Literacy Beyond Reading & Writing
This post was originally published on The Writing Project. When we hear the word “literacy” immediately some of the things that come to mind are: books, reading, writing, libraries, and maybe even magazines, newspapers. But we all know that’s not what encompasses literacy. Literacy moves beyond reading and writing. It includes the process of deciphering … Continue reading Literacy Beyond Reading & Writing
Inclusive Entrepreneurship 