On March 29th, we brought together 30 passionate participants and 10 dedicated volunteers for an immersive, impact-driven day. The SIP-A-THON is more than just an event—it's a hands-on, collaborative space where people tackle real challenges through the design thinking process for Social Innovation:
Empathize – Understand the challenge from those affected
Define – Clarify key issues
Ideate – Brainstorm creative solutions
️ Prototype – Build tangible models
Pitch – Present for feedback and potential implementation
We focused on an urgent challenge: Helping Latin American newcomers access the job market in Canada. Finding employment in a new country is tough, but through collective intelligence, we explored ways to make the transition smoother, fairer, and more inclusive.
The result? Six prototypes addressing different aspects of this issue! This was a day of empowering conversations, meaningful connections, and actionable solutions that will shape the future of Canada's workforce
We were also honored to host Lionel Laroche, who shared key insights on adapting to the Canadian workplace culture while leveraging our diverse experiences to align with Canada’s needs.
A very special thank you to Joanne Stone for being the mastermind behind this initiative and for founding the SIP and the SIPsters. With their guidance, we could build on strong foundations for a successful event.
And to Arév Hakobyan ☀️, for her fun, well-organized, and creative facilitation of this event and the thoughtful preparation leading up to it—thank you for guiding us with clarity and warmth!
If you want to hear more about what these organizations—and others joining soon—are doing to help Latin American newcomers find good jobs in Canada, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ee3arhDH! We’re preparing more events, resources, and opportunities to grow this movement.
A huge thank you to our sponsors and supporters: ALPFA Toronto, Hispanotech.ca, HR Latin Hub, The Sustainability Program, innon, Wick’d Agility, and eCampusOntario—your support made this possible!
Carlos Chalico, Priscila Chalico, Citlalli Rios, Carlos E. Paz-Soldan, Jessica Pena, Alejandro Santa Cruz, Maria Victoria Bedoya, Kari McLeod, PhD, Jonathan Cortés, Selene Ricart, Pamela Castillo Otoya.
And of course, to our volunteers, mentors, and participants—your energy, creativity, and dedication were inspiring, proving the power of community-driven initiatives.
Let’s keep the momentum going!
