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Emily Branje

Emily Branje
Emily Branje is currently working as the Youth Partnership and Project Advisor for Community Living Ontario. She coordinates the provincial youth engagement initiative Re:Action4Inclusion. Emily was a passionate advocate for inclusion throughout her high school years and became involved with the Re:Action4Inclusion movement as a student when she co-founded the Perth County Youth for Inclusion group in her home county. She, along with her peers, organized a tour of several high schools across the Avon Maitland District School Board to speak about the barriers youth face at school and in the community. Emily has worked as an advocate for inclusion but also as a personal support worker and tutor for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities of all ages. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree and Bachelor of Education degree from Queen’s University. Emily strongly believes that it is a fundamental right to live a meaningful life and that we all should have the opportunity to thrive as individuals. She also firmly believes that every child has the capacity to learn and that a person’s community is one of the greatest classrooms.

Recent Posts

Movement of Young Leaders Changing Communities Across Ontario

Posted by Emily Branje on August 13, 2018

A decade has passed since Community Living Ontario first reached out to young people across Ontario to inform its understanding of how youth were experiencing their community. In doing so, we learned that a large number of youths, and especially youths who have an intellectual disability, often feel isolated within their schools and greater communities. They do not feel a sense of belonging and therefore, lack an abundance of meaningful relationships with their peers and community members. We acknowledged that this void puts youth at risk and limits the opportunities available to them. As the numbers rise, the constant restrictions placed on young people contribute to the overall poor health and sustainability of Ontario’s communities. So in 2008, we put out a call to action and invited people to join us! An idea had sparked and a movement was born.

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