ADVOCACY
Guided by her “better together” philosophy – growing relationships, nurturing collaborations, and facilitating partnerships – Michèle Newton became an activist and social changemaker, working to strengthen her community. Through her work she is not only dismantling the systems upholding inequity, but providing the tools to rebuild them with justice at the base.
ADVOCACY
Guided by her “better together” philosophy – growing relationships, nurturing collaborations, and facilitating partnerships – Michèle Newton became an activist and social changemaker, working to strengthen her community. Through her ongoing work and passion projects, she is not only dismantling the systems upholding inequity, but providing the tools to rebuild them with justice at the base.
About Michèle's advocacy work:
OUR MOSAIC LIVES™ CREATOR
Michèle created Our Mosaic Lives™ in 2019. It’s her passion project exploring her Black identity, diversity and inclusion. Her exhibit of photo portraits, poetry and expressions of hope celebrating Black Canadian Women and Girls was installed in various Simcoe County locations. In 2023, her project will be reimagined through a new interview series.
FIT OUT MOVEMENT FOUNDER
We have diversity. However, what we need is inclusion. Founder of the “Fit Out” Movement, Michèle launched her idea worth spreading at TEDx UofT in 2023. To build an inclusive world, we all need to “Fit Out”. The “Fit Out” Movement encourages all individuals to show up as their authentic selves and to actively create an environment of belonging.
MAKING CHANGE CO-FOUNDER
To avoid another Black History Month with no community awareness, engagement or activities planned, Michèle and a friend co-founded Making Change in 2019. It’s a non-profit organization focused on increasing awareness of and exposure to Black people and Black cultures, and providing anti-Black racism education leading to action and solidarity for racial equity.
D, E, & INCLUSION COLUMNIST
Amplifying and lifting diverse voices from across Simcoe County, Michèle contributed a monthly Diversity and Inclusion Opinion column to Simcoe.com. From Black Lives Matter – to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy – to international student and immigrant life, her articles have been widely published across Torstar media outlets, including the Toronto Star and Toronto.com.
Awards and Recognition
Honoured as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women.
Celebrated as a Peace Champion by the YMCA of Simcoe Muskoka.
Named Philanthropist of the Year by the Innisfil YMCA.
Impression
Camille Dundas
Editor in Chief, ByBlacks
Michèle Newton is driven to make change. She has been a steady voice during a turbulent time in our world, especially over the last 18 months. While the international consciousness has been rocked by a global racial reckoning, Michèle has stood strong in the winds of change, directing everyone she comes into contact with, to a place of betterment through empathy and education.
Whether it’s through her community organizing, media writing, public speaking or one-on-one mentoring Michèle has embodied the values of inclusion by showing up and staying the course, especially when the road gets tough.
While many in her community have been re-traumatized by recent events, Michèle has transformed her own personal pain into her own personal message. She leans into her vulnerability and influences others with her honesty; her lived experience as a bi-racial woman in Canada, stepping back and forth between two worlds and seeing moral conflicts from both sides of the fence.
I have no doubt Michèle will continue making enormous contributions in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.