The Sister 2 Sister Conference: Empowering Young Women Through Connection and Growth 

The Sister 2 Sister Conference was a vibrant, youth-led initiative designed to empower high school girls through learning, connection, and inspiration. Organized by five remarkable students from different schools across the city, this one-day event brought together young women to explore dance, mental health and wellness, financial literacy, and self-defense, essential skills that contribute to confidence and resilience. 

The conference was created from a desire to create safe spaces for young women to learn, grow, and connect. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by youth, the student organizers aimed to equip their peers with practical tools to navigate life with confidence. Through engaging workshops and interactive sessions, participants were encouraged to embrace their potential and take ownership of their futures. 

The day featured a fireside chat with Kessa K, the inspiring founder of Hoop Queens, who spoke about leadership, perseverance, and creating opportunities for women in sports. Attendees were also captivated by a spoken word performance by Shahaddah Jack, Toronto’s first poet laureate, whose powerful words celebrated strength and resilience. 

Supporting the Sister 2 Sister Conference means investing in the future of young women. Your contribution will help expand this initiative, providing more opportunities for girls to gain essential life skills, build lasting connections, and access mentorship. Events like this foster confidence, leadership, and well-being, creating ripple effects that benefit not only the participants but their communities. 

A special thank you to our youth Sister to Sister Committee that planned the entire event, Yasmin Ali, Meron Bayu, Kawla Mohamed, Kelly Ni, Hannah Sota-Yemane and Ebla Sulaiman.

We would also like to thank our partners and contributors: 

Hosting School & Principal: Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute, Principal – Andrea Cross 

Speakers: Keynote – Keesa K. (Nakissa Koomalsingh), HOOPQUEENS Founder & CEO; Eastview BGC – Laurette Jack-Ogbonna, Program Coordinator  

Workshop Facilitators: 

Yoga  Instructor– Destinee Alicia Roberts  

Financial Literacy – Angelique de Montbrun, Samantha Asare, Barry Ling, Cody Morin(RBC) 

Mental Health & Mindfulness – Laurette Jack-Ogbonna & Michaela Warren (Eastview BGC)  

Planting Peace – Sephria Amo, Tahmina Kakoli & Angel Young (Peacebuilders) 

Self-Defense – Francis Zita & Avalon Crawford-Murrin  

Dance – Zoe Giontsis  

Photographer – Donia Yusuf 

Sponsors/Partners  

Eastview BGC  

Communities Care  

LaidLaw Foundation  

Frontlines Toronto 

RBC x MyDoh 

Interested in supporting or getting involved? 
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re a donor, partner, or volunteer, your support can help make the next Sister 2 Sister experience even more impactful. 

📧 Contact us at info@peacebuilders to learn more about how you can contribute. 

Together, we can continue to empower, inspire, and uplift the next generation of leaders.