In early April, we welcomed Maya Menezes, our new Development Director, to the TEA team!

While Maya is new to TEA, she is not new to Toronto. Born and raised in Scarborough, Maya has almost 8 years of experience with door engagement and fundraising in Toronto and across North America. Maya has helped build long-term fundraising strategies for international aid, environmental and local organizations from face-to-face to digital outreach. She also has a deep commitment to climate justice and environmental activism. Most recently (November 2016) Maya was in Marrakesh, Morocco for the 22nd UN Climate Conference where she represented Canadian Youth at the climate negotiations on issues of equity, justice, and climate finance. (You can learn more about Maya by reading her bio.)

Maya’s combination of fundraising smarts, campaign experience and her deep commitment to environmental justice make her a valuable new leader at TEA who will help us work with our supporters to continue building a greener city for all.

Farewell and thank you to Justin Conley

Maya joined the team after Justin Conley, our longtime Development Director, said farewell to TEA and Toronto. After almost 7 years of helping TEA raise the money we need to build a greener Toronto for all, Justin Conley bid us farewell to move on to a new challenge. Thank you and best wishes Justin and welcome Maya!

Justin started as TEA’s Canvass Manager in June 2010. He led the development of an amazing team of people who knock on over 80,000 doors every year and inspire Torontonians to join together, through TEA, to build a greener Toronto for all. In 2012, Justin became the Development Director and took the lead in designing and building a stronger financial base for TEA, increasing our donor base every year. As a result, TEA is a stronger and more resilient organization.

Thanks to Justin’s efforts, the rest of the staff team could spend more time advocating for green policies at City Hall and Queen’s Park. But all good things must come to an end. In early March, Justin moved on to another challenge that requires his skills and commitments.

So, thank you Justin for your hard work, for your dedication and for being such a great member of the TEA Team.

And welcome Maya! We are excited about getting to know you and working with you to build a greener city for all!

By Franz Hartmann, TEA’s Executive Director