Student Bios

Kate Briones is a proud Filipino-Canadian whose identity is shaped by the resilience and values of her immigrant parents. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University, Kate brings a wealth of experience working in schools, mental health clinics, and daycares, where she has honed her skills in supporting children and youth.

Kate’s practice is deeply rooted in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches, recognizing the importance of honoring diverse lived experiences. With a passion for fostering resilience in youth, she is eager to deepen her expertise in mental health counseling and youth programming.

As a Mental Health Intern with Finding Our Power Together (FOPT), Kate supports mental health and research initiatives that align with the organization’s mission of empowering Indigenous communities through culturally grounded services. She is committed to integrating her academic learning with her professional experience to develop resources, mentor youth, and contribute to initiatives that center on cultural identity, mental wellness, and healing.

Outside of her work, Kate values teamwork, organization, and continuous learning. She looks forward to collaborating with FOPT’s team and the communities they serve to make a meaningful impact.

Bowie LaForme is a First Nations woman from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and a member of the Turtle Clan. They are in their final year of the Child and Youth Care program at Humber College and currently serve as a Mental Health Intern with Finding Our Power Together. Passionate about supporting Indigenous youth, Bowie is dedicated to helping them achieve their mental health goals and personal growth.

Natalie Kwan is currently completing a Master's degree in Child and Youth Care at Toronto Metropolitan University. With nearly three years of professional experience supporting children and adolescents with developmental, behavioural, and communicative challenges, Natalie brings a range of skills in relational practice and culturally responsive care. She is passionate about tailoring approaches to meet the unique needs of individuals.  

In her role as a Mental Health and Programming Intern at Finding Our Power Together (FOPT), Natalie strives to uplift and empower Indigenous youth and their communities through culturally rooted and trauma-informed practices. She aims to support the development of programs that center youth voices, promote healing, and foster resilience. Natalie is committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces that encourage growth, connection, and belonging.  

Natalie’s personal goals include deepening her understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems and integrating them into her practice. She also hopes to build meaningful relationships with community members while contributing to transformative change through her work with FOPT.

As an intern at Finding Our Power Together, Abby (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Toronto Metropolitan University and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at York University. Abby has worked extensively with children and youth in camp and childcare settings, as well as in drop-in centres. She also has experience working with people with disabilities in advocacy and case management roles and within the employment services sector. Abby approaches her social work practice from an anti-oppressive and critical disability studies lens, prioritizing person-centred and strengths-based practices. She is passionate about disability justice and issues of accessibility, income security, and community led policy and program development.   As a white settler living, working, and studying in Tkaronto, Abby is committed to disrupting the impacts of settler colonialism and advocating for Indigenous Land sovereignty and self-determination. She actively engages in a continuous process of unlearning by recognizing her unearned privileges and holding herself accountable, seeking out new learning opportunities, and working collaboratively with the Indigenous communities and service users she works with.   In her free time, Abby enjoys baking, reading cheesy romance novels, taking naps, watching scary movies, and going for walks with her Mini-Australian Shepherd, Murphy. 

Jodi (she/her) is a settler of German, Scottish, English and Spanish ancestry. She currently resides in the west end of Toronto, more specifically Etobicoke, Ontario, on the traditional and treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit. 

Jodi completed her Social Service Worker diploma at Humber Polytechnic, and her Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work at Laurentian University. She is currently a Master of Social Work Student at Toronto Metropolitan Universty (TMU) and is a registerd social worker. She has worked within the social services sector for over three years working with many communities including children and teens experiencing learning exceptionalities and mental health concerns as well as neurodivergent youth.

   Jodi is passionate about working with youth, as she recognizes the many institutional barriers that BIPOC youth face when seeking out mental wellness and other supports. Jodi's practice is grounded in anti-oppressive, trauma informed and decolonzing frameworks and ways of knowing that promote holistic well-being. Jodi is a passionate advocate. Her advocacy is rooted in social and restorative justice understandings. She believes that community care models are an important part of connection, trust and empowerment. Her person-centered approach allows the facilitation of strengths based modalties that empower and inspire others.

Lauren Harney is a settler of British, Irish, Slovak, and French descent, born and raised in Toronto, where she continues to live and work. Her home is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. Lauren recognizes her responsibilities as a settler and reflects on how her actions can contribute to meaningful change in her community.

 She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education from Guelph-Humber University and a diploma in Early Childhood Education from George Brown College. Lauren has worked in the early childhood education field for over a decade, focusing on creating inclusive and supportive environments for children and families in varying communities. She also mentors aspiring early childhood educators, fostering collaboration and professional growth in the field. 

Lauren is currently a Research Intern at Finding Our Power Together (FOPT), where she aims contributes to initiatives supporting children and youth. Her work aligns with FOPT’s mission of ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for all young people. When she’s not working, Lauren enjoys cooking and spending time outdoors. As a mother of two young children, much of her time is devoted to raising her family, but she finds joy in weaving her hobbies into her daily life.

My name is Tiwa Akinmolayan and I am a mental health intern at Finding our Power Together. I identify as a black heterosexual female and I have several years of experience working with different populations in the Mental Health sector.  

I have always been passionate about this field as my passion derived from when I was younger and I had a social worker that impacted my life in such a positive way. Because of my positive experiences, I joined the helping profession and became a Social Worker. I have a diploma in Social Service Work, and furthered my education by having a degree in Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. I am currently in the two year program doing my masters in Social Work and I am currently a Mental Health intern at Finding our Power Together. 

I am a strong advocate for mental health awareness and I seek to help others and support them in their overall well-being journey. I am highly skilled in counselling, advocacy work, active listening and crisis intervention. I aim to promote mental wellness and use my skills and experience to help those that need support in those areas. 

Sandy Cao (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian having immigrated in 2001 and grew up in Markham. In her free time she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her friends and their loving pets.   

Sandy acquired a Bachelor's of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2021 with minors in Criminology and Indigenous studies which started her interest in Indigenous issues. She is currently pursuing a Master's of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has worked professionally supporting non-Indigenous and FNIM children, youths, and families navigating the youth justice and child welfare systems in areas of advocacy, service navigation, and peer counselling.   

Sandy has joined the FOPT team as a research intern to contribute to the development of youth-focused programs and initiatives. She is excited to work with the team to build community and safe spaces for Indigenous youths through collaborative, community-based, and Indigenous informed approaches. 

Savannah Morin is a mixed Ojibwe and French-Canadian student from Beausoleil First Nation. She is currently in her third year of the Bachelor of Behavioural Science Program at Humber College. Savannah is passionate about supporting Indigenous youth and uplifting her community. 

At Finding Our Power Together Savannah is a Mental Health Intern where she supports Indigenous youth through peer mentorship and contributes to meaningful research projects. Savannah promotes a holistic approach and continues ongoing learning to deepen her understanding about mental health.