Jacqueline Villaneuve is a public speaker, social entrepreneur, designer, single mother, consultant, sexual assault survivor and advocate.
And now, a Rural Change Maker.
The Rural Ontario Institute announced the 2020 cohort of the Rural Change Makers pilot project and Villaneuve, of Hamner, is one of them. Eighteen participants, aged 18 to 29, will have the opportunity to make an impact in their rural community.
They will develop a systems thinking approach and become catalysts for community-led development.
The vision of the Rural Change Makers Program is to grow the capacity of young adults to serve as change-makers and strengthen rural community development by providing leadership opportunities through sustainable, experiential learning.
The Rural Ontario Institute announced the 2020 cohort of the Rural Change Makers pilot project and Villaneuve, of Hamner, is one of them. Eighteen participants, aged 18 to 29, will have the opportunity to make an impact in their rural community.
They will develop a systems thinking approach and become catalysts for community-led development.
The vision of the Rural Change Makers Program is to grow the capacity of young adults to serve as change-makers and strengthen rural community development by providing leadership opportunities through sustainable, experiential learning.
“The focus on young adults in rural areas is vital for the resilience of rural communities,” Gabrielle Ferguson, leadership programs director at the Rural Ontario Institute said in a release. “Future-focused leaders keep actions relevant and rural living attractive.”
By the end of the program, participants will be allowed to facilitate sessions that discover high priority community issues and create plans to act. The program will provide them with support systems and coaching to aid them in their success.
“The Change Makers were selected with the understanding that they have already obtained impressive innovative qualities and know-how,” said Norman Ragetlie, executive director of the Rural Ontario Institute. “We want to help accelerate and support these qualities so that they can be impactful within their community.”
A full list of the candidates and their profiles can be found at https://www.ruralontarioinstitute.ca/currentparticipants.
As the Founder of Olive & Annie, She Matters and ZLT Hope Homes, Villaneuve has experience building and growing social businesses, fundraising, and supporting other not-for-profit organizations and small businesses in their growth journey.
She and her team have built an online community for 5,000-plus sexual assault survivors, designed a collection of handcrafted footwear and accessories, developed sensitivity training for public-sector organizations and corporations, and have built and fostered a safe home in Kenya for orphaned and abused children.
Villaneuve and her team have educated more than 300 police officers, social workers, legal and medical professionals through She Matters Survivor-Led Sensitivity Training.
At present, She Matters is conducting research and carrying out advocacy campaigns to ensure survivors of sexual violence will have access to sexual assault kits at every Canadian hospital.
Villaneuve has led various campaigns in Sudbury and beyond to ensure the rights of survivors of sexual violence are protected.
She is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award, 40 Under 40 award recipient in Northern Ontario and, most recently, was selected as a YLAI (Young Leaders of America) Fellow in partnership with the US State Department.
Villaneuve is an active member of the Muslim community in Sudbury. As a Canadian living with a disability, Jacqueline has recently begun sharing her journey living with FSHD Muscular Dystrophy with her online community.
In 2018, she relocated from Kenya back home to Sudbury, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
Article Credit: thesudburysta
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