Launching the search for the 2021 Jack Layton fellow


August 22 marked nine years since Canada lost a great leader and friend. Jack Layton inspired people by example, demonstrating that working together for social and economic justice is possible and achievable.

It is therefore a fitting occasion for rabble.ca and the Institute for Change Leaders to proudly announce the fourth annual search for a recipient of the Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellowship. The fellowship supports emerging writers and journalists who are passionate and engaged in developing unique voices in social change reporting. The deadline for applications is October 30, 2020. Learn how to apply here.

This past year’s Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellow was Lidia Abraha. Lidia is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in VICE Canada, NOW Magazine, The Canadian Press and Exclaim! She has also managed digital projects for the UN Refugee Agency. She has a journalism degree from Ryerson University and writes about social justice, politics, arts and culture.

During her tenure as the 2020 Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellow, Lidia focused on racism in the criminal justice and policing system, employing an anti-oppressive lens to highlight some of the issues most urgently affecting racialized and marginalized communities. 

You can follow her current work on police surveillance and the struggles to defund police, racial gaps in the criminal justice system and more here.

If you would like to support the development of a new generation of journalists who are critical thinkers and have an understanding of social justice journalism -- if you want to carry on Jack's legacy -- please consider making a special donation to this fund. If your organization would like to become a sponsor, please do not hesitate to be in touch with [email protected] to discuss opportunities.

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The Institute for Change Leaders is a Canadian registered charity that can issue official donation receipts (no. 763310679 RR 0001). ICL is brought to you by the Faculty of Community Services at Toronto Metropolitan University.

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