About
Inspired by the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) work twin sisters Janice Desroches (she/her: Co-Founder/Director) and Jennifer Shelswell (she/her: Co-Founder) took part in while involved in a five-week equity-based literature circle (LC) spanning five weeks in May-June 2021, the sisters founded Chapters4Change in July 2021. The original Chapters4Change began as a book club to extend the learning that began during the initial LC. Since then, it has fostered community partnerships, interviewed award-winning authors, and offered innovative learning opportunities to facilitate learning for action toward ensuring flourishing futures for all!
Chapters4Change is committed to
partnering with educational institutions to
facilitate in their efforts to
Read to Learn & Learn to Change!
Why We Do What We Do
We believe that our world needs to heal and flourish.
How We Achieve This
We engage and empower students and educators to celebrate diversity and nourish flourishing futures for all.
What Our Approach Looks Like
We partner with educational institutions to offer collaborative and care-centred learning opportunities
which provide a fertile ground for flourishing futures for all.
Examples of Our Learning Tools
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Literature Circles
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Presentations
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Monthly Book Recommendations with Educational Resources
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Author Interviews
Co-Founder/ Director/ DEI Leader
Janice Desroches is seasoned educator with over seventeen years of post-secondary teaching experience and is a leading advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), serving as the Co-founder and Director of Chapters4Change. She embodies roles including DEI consultant, Educational Resource Developer, and community liaison. Janice's commitment to DEI extends through her efforts to foster community engagement, continuous professional development, and the promotion of inclusive practices within educational and workplace environments. Her initiatives, notably partnering with school boards to create equitable educational settings, have earned her recognition, including Brock University's 2023 GSA Community Engagement Award. Her personal journey, marked by her neurodivergence, has cultivated essential qualities such as empathy, creativity, and resilience, fueling her success in leading equity-driven change. Janice holds a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from Brock University and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies. Supported by her family and drawing strength from her personal experiences, Janice's work is a powerful blend of professional expertise and deeply held values, driving systemic change in DEI across communities.
Co-Founder
Jennifer Shelswell (she/her) is a dedicated and experienced professor, changemaking faculty, and innovator at Georgian College who promotes Equity, Justice, and DIBs (Diversity & Inclusion to promote Belonging). She holds a Master of Arts in Education from Central Michigan University. Jennifer is the co-founder, an educational resource developer, EDI consultant, and learning circle facilitator for Chapters4Change, a volunteer and education sub-committee member for the Advocacy and Accountability Committee for UPlift Black, a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Trail Committee at Georgian College, and the Georgian College Representative for the Orillia Food Committee. She values education as a way for people to 'Read to Learn and Learn to Change'. She is an advocate for mental health, self-care, and wellness and she believes that people engage and thrive in learning environments where they feel safe and accepted for their true authentic selves. She is also a member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Jennifer received the 2022 Board of Governors Award of Excellence Academic through Georgian College.
Chapters4Change Advisory Circle
Our
Educational Resource Developers
Thanks to our amazingly talented volunteers for creating outstanding activities to go along with our book recommendations!
Emma Charan Greenfield (she/her)
Evan Desroches (he/him)
Rachel Shelswell (she/her)
