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Our Partnerships

Chapters4Change partners with school boards, educational institutions, and community groups and organizations to co-create change-making initiatives and facilitate Learning opportunities that advance EDIDA, foster transformative learning and leadership, and inspire education, reflection, collaboration, action, and sustainable change.

Chapters4Change
in Partnership with
DSBN

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In November 2021, Chapters4Change partnered with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) to work together toward a shared vision and goal of creating a culture of transformative and impactful change within the field of education through offering Learning Circles (LCs) to DSBN faculty, staff, and educators. These LCs promote anti-bias, anti-racism, and anti-oppression education and work toward creating sustainable change. Furthermore, they help to create inclusive spaces for all by engaging educators in courageous and meaningful conversations around equity, diversity, inclusion, decolonization, and accessibility and collaborating to discover actions which can be taken to ensure we achieve equitable outcomes for all students at the elementary and post-secondary levels. Together we are committed to disrupting the status quo by working to identify and remove systematic barriers, amplify student voices, and create culturally and historically responsive curricula. We want to thank DSBN for their partnership with us. 

Chapters4Change
in Partnership with
Justice 4 Black Lives

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In August 2021, Chapters4Change partnered with Justice 4 Black Lives to work together with a shared mission of brining the Niagara community together in education and action toward ending racism and discrimination within the Niagara Region and beyond! Chapters4Change Co-founders Janice Desroches and Jenn Shelswell have been collaborating closely with Justice 4 Lives Founder Sherri Darlene on initiatives to help bring members of the Niagara community together in a shared vision of creating a safer, more inclusive and equitable Niagara. Chapters4Change very much values this community partnership and is committed to collaborating on future projects and the creation of a Community Hub! 

"Education is the key to reconciliation-
Education got us into this mess,
and education will get us out of it." 

The Honourable Murray Sinclair

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Recognition

Many thanks to our supporters who have taken the time to recognize this important work! It is through our collaborations with incredible changemakers and transformative organizations that we are making meaningful strides toward learning for change!

The Brock News

October 17, 2025

I want to sincerely thank Amanda Bishop and Brock News for the feature, “Social Justice and Equity Studies grad aims to transform educational spaces.” Your thoughtful coverage of my journey, from returning to Brock for a Master’s in Social Justice and Equity Studies to researching equitable professional development for educators, means a great deal.

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I’m honoured that the article highlights both the founding of Chapters4Change and my thesis research on the impact of grassroots literature circles in fostering empathy, dialogue, and equity-driven learning and action. I hope it inspires others to explore how even short-term circles can spark meaningful change and leadership among educators.

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Thank you for amplifying the voices of those committed to transforming educational spaces and for showcasing how centring diverse perspectives enriches learning communities.

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~Janice Desroches

Co-founder of Chapters4Change

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Time for Change Canada Advisory Group

2024

We want to share our deepest thanks to Ashoka Canada and First Book Canada for recognizing our contributions as members of a small and impactful Advisory Group for Time for Change Canada. Our research and sharing helped to inform the update of educator resources which shaped the Canadian versions of the Time for Change resources which features changemaking stories and tools for educators across Canada.

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~Janice Desroches and Jennifer Looney

Co-founders of Chapters4Change

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Brock UniversitGraduate Students' Association Community and Engagement Award 2023

April 1, 2023

"This award recognizes creativity, leadership, innovation, and long-term effectiveness in assisting individuals and community organizations, both on and off campus, to deliver services that create a positive impact and experiences for the beneficiaries.

 

This year’s recipient was described as an individual who dedicated to showing up for the Brock community and the community at large. Through their involvements, they help to create safer, more inclusive and equitable learning environments for BIPOC students, students with physical or mental differences and other students who face inequities in their studies. Tonight’s recipient works to create spaces for all students to learn and thrive.

 

Heavily involved with Chapters 4 Change, this year, we are proud to award the Community and Engagement Award to Janice Desroches."

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Haley Myatt (she/they)
President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Brock University Graduate Students' Association (GSA)

People of Georgian: Anti-racism learning circle sparks professor's equity work

June 3, 2022

A special thanks to Jenni Thompson who shared about my educational journey including how I demonstrate equity and belonging in the classroom, the motivation behind Chanpters4Change, and the importance of everyone striving to be agents of change in their own communities!

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~Jennifer Looney

Co-founder of Chapters4Change​

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The Star:
Chapters4Change is examining bias through book club in Niagara and Simcoe County

May 26, 2022

A huge thank you to reporter Janis Ramsay who shares our vision and mission for Chapters4Change, as well as our current partnerships and learning circle initiatives.

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~Janice Desroches and Jennifer Looney

Co-founders of Chapters4Change

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9th Annual 2022 Niagara UNITY Award Nominations

Voting: May 1, 2022

Ceremony: June 1, 2021

Many thanks to Pride Niagara for considering us for both The Ed Eldred Award and The Community Involvement Award.​

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~Janice Desroches and Jennifer Looney

Co-founders of Chapters4Change

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The Innovator's Journey: Chapters4Change Reading for Good

November 17, 2021

Thank you to Nicole Norris (Manager of the Centre For Changemaking and Social innovation) for interviewing us about our journey of the creation and motivation behind Chapters4Change journey during Georgian College's Changemaker In Residency Week Fall 2021. 

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~Janice Desroches and Jennifer Looney

Co-founders of Chapters4Change

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Contact

If you are a school boards, educational institutions, Library, or community group dedicated to promoting education, reflection, collaboration, action, and sustainable change, we'd love to hear from you! 

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