Board of Directors
SHARON MCMILLAN
CO-PRESIDENT
A founding member of the Congress for the New Urbanism (Ontario Chapter) and a current Director of Communications in the Education Sector, Sharon McMillan has been an advocate for accessible, equitable and sustainable urban living for over 20 years. Inspired by the diverse and inclusive Esplanade community, Sharon moved her family here in 2014 and sought a way to contribute to the vitality of this neighbourhood. She soon became President of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association and now looks forward to continuing to help empower and amplify the voices and aspirations of residents here in her new role as Jamii's Co-President.
AMANDA MARAGOS
DIRECTOR
Amanda Maragos is the Director of Client Services and Volunteer Programs for Philip Aziz Centre and Emily's House Hospices. A member of the Esplanade/St Lawrence Community for about 40 years, she embraces this diverse, artistic and friendly neighbourhood where she lives with her family. With hopes to balance creativity, leadership, flexibility, accountability and openness; her goal is to contribute something good and lasting to Jamii's vision for the Esplanade/St. Lawrence Neighbourhood - a special place she calls home.
WALTER AZZALINI
DIRECTOR
Walter is a retired teacher with a life-long career teaching at Market Lane Public School, at the heart of the Esplanade community. Walter has taught several generations of Esplanadians.
JIM ADAMS
CO-PRESIDENT
Jim Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who combines his indigenous ways of being with contemporary art and scientific principles. He has worked as an indigenous educator in schools and institutions for the past decades . Jim’s mother was a first generation Canadian, her parents having been born in Wales and Kent. He carries the DNA of the Swampy Cree and Innu from his paternal grandmother and the Mohawk from his paternal grandfather. This mix of nationalities gives Jim a great array of cultural connections to draw from. Both of his grandfathers were hunters and gatherers and knew their own respective cultural connections to the land and its inhabitants.
ZOIE EDWARDS
DIRECTOR
Zoie Edwards has a Bachelor’s of Urban & Regional Planning from Ryerson University and a Master’s of Public Administration from The University of Western Ontario where she completed a MRP on “The Revitalization of Social Housing: An Analysis of Mixed-Income Housing in the City of Toronto”. From 2013 to 2017, Zoie was the Project Coordinator for Jamii and CORPUS working on various art-based community engaged projects and events in The Esplanade,Toronto. Since 2018, Zoie is Project Manager at Lura Consulting.
AZIZA VIRANI
DIRECTOR
Aziza Virani is a higher education program manager focused on school-to-work transitions and international scholarships. Aziza holds a Masters degree in Education from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelors degree in Sociology and Spanish from McGill University. Aziza has over 15 years of experience in various aspects of education and learning, including coaching, teaching, workshop facilitation, program coordination, and administration. A passion for travel has led to a fluency in 2 additional languages - French and Spanish - and international lived experience abroad. Aziza works to help others craft their own paths with tools that are already their own. She values strong leadership, creativity, and life-long learning.
LINDA LEISTNER
DIRECTOR
Linda is a neighbourhood business owner who personally knows and understands the importance of community engagement. Linda has often volunteered with Jamii, and her business, The Berkeley Castle, has been a supporter of Jamii since inception. In 2017, Jamii welcomed Linda to the board.
