Abrigo’s New Leadership Team Takes the Helm
After two months in charge, new Co-Executive Directors Gila Raposo and Paula De Jesus discuss their roles and the future of Abrigo
By: Gerald Luciano, Manager Fundraising and Communications | September 24, 2024
FAREWELL PARTY
After close to a year of discussions, research, planning and interviews, when Abrigo’s long-time Executive Director Ed Graça retired in June, the Abrigo Centre was ready to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
ABRIGO CENTRE: New Leadership Team
Abrigo’s recently appointed Co-Executive Directors Gila Raposo (right) and Paula De Jesus (left) sat down to reflect on their new roles, the challenges the organization faces and the future of the Corso Italia institution.
Why did Abrigo decide that the Co-Executive Director model was right for its new leadership structure?
Gila Raposo: First, this is not a new model, it was popular years ago but after an extended period, social service agencies are now moving back to this leadership model. With Abrigo’s size and longevity it’s a perfect fit. It strives on the principles of Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and it’s the first step we wanted to do to dismantle the traditional pyramid model and its power dynamics.
Paula De Jesus: It’s a collaborative approach in terms of our roles and that matches with our goal of modelling that principle throughout the organization, including all the services we offer. It’s about the synergy of bringing together everyone’s perspective and strength in the work we do.
As Co-Executive Directors how has your experience been over the first two months?
PDJ: It’s been a very good learning opportunity. I’m looking forward to our continued collaboration with the entire team and how we’re going to put our vision into play with our client services and growing and expanding what we do for our clients.
GR: It’s been a good bridge learning environment and from a personal perspective, as the newcomer to the Abrigo family, a very warm and supportive experience. It has stretched a few dormant muscles, but that’s what I expected. It’s been very positive so far!
What are some of the challenges Abrigo faces today?
GR: Like other large cities across the world, we are experiencing the high cost of housing, food and child care. This is creating competing priorities for the family income. It’s also the social services dilemma. People see social services as being in the charitable sector, when it should be viewed as a social responsibility. Agencies like ours are now competing for limited charitable dollars and that becomes problematic and stigmatizing.
PDJ: Many of our clients are on a fixed income and dealing with the challenges of housing and food insecurity. Systems navigation has become a substantial part of our work. Whether it’s a woman and children leaving abuse, or an individual seeking mental health or addictions services, we find ourselves advocating and navigating support systems every day. Hearing from and working with the many other Portuguese-speaking communities in the GTA is also a must. How can our services make an impact on their life?
What programs or activities do you see in Abrigo’s future?
PDJ: More opportunity for youth services. We have a wonderful preventative program that goes into the schools and sees thousands of young people a year. The request we get most often is “Can we have more, and can you offer me individual or group counselling services?”
The other area is male engagement, growing our Mindful Fathering program and the Partner Assault Response program for men ordered to attend counselling. Men want to engage in more services once these programs are completed, we simply do not have the resources. For the Gender-Based Violence team, we can always use more resources, intimate partner violence is an epidemic and unfortunately there is still so much work to be done from prevention to support during and after abuse.
GR: Looking at our Seniors program from a different, more creative approach. Who’s here now? Who’s not here or could be? Designing a program that looks at other populations and groups. Looking at mobility issues, those with greater needs. Perhaps establishing a self-directed group for seniors who are more independent.
Finally, what excites you about Abrigo?
GR: The program models here are strong. I’m looking forward to pushing them further. As mentioned, there may be new opportunities in mental health services that could be very exciting.
PDJ: Continuing with the growth and expansion of our EDI work, looking at the various populations we serve and how to grow them through dynamic community engagement activities.
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