Cheyanne Ratnam
Cheyanne Ratnam is the Co-founder & CEO of the Ontario Children's Advancement Coalition (OCAC). She is passionate about equity, developing inclusive and accessible anti-racist spaces and processes, and social innovation. As a social entrepreneur she has dedicated much of her life/expertise in child welfare, homelessness, and equity issues. She is passionate about youth homelessness, child welfare, SDoH, childhood sexual abuse, GBV/IPV, youth development, mobilization and ethical engagement, equity, anti-racism, & human rights issues.
Jessica Knutson
My name is Jessi Knutson, I am a mixed ancestry Indigenous woman, and former youth from care, currently living on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/Sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples. I was born and raised on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Syilx People in the Okanagan; I spent most of my life in Syilx territory until about 6 years ago when I moved to Coast Salish territory. I am Cree and Norwegian on my father’s side and have unknown ancestry on my mother's side due to intergenerational involvement in the child welfare system. I have spent the last 10+ years working and in post-secondary schooling; I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and one in Social Work, and have recently completed a Masters in Social Work. A large part of what brought me to social work was lived experience and wanting to improve the experiences of others in my community. I’ve worked in a range of psychology and social work-related settings over the years, including: mental health, crisis management, harm reduction and support work in the DTES, research and grant writing, and Indigenous child welfare.
Marie Christian
Marie is the Director of VOICES: Manitoba’s Youth in Care Network and holds a Master's in Social Work. In addition to her leadership and administrative responsibilities at VOICES, she represents the organization on various committees and at speaking engagements. Marie enjoys being able to spend time with young people in and from care, from those who have only recently learned about their network, to some of its long-term leaders who come back for support and encouragement or a snack and a chat. In her work, she is motivated by love and the determination that every young person should know that they matter, their voice matters, and they deserve every opportunity to grow and develop to their best potential.