Social Planning Toronto plays a leadership role, working with residents and nonprofit organizations in community coalitions, partnership projects and local initiatives across Toronto. This work promotes social justice, equity and engagement in our city. It builds local leadership, works to amplify the voices and perspectives of residents often excluded from public policy-making, and brings new programs and resources to communities.
Community Coalitions
SPACE Coalition
SPACE is diverse group of city and provincial organizations, community groups and individuals that aims to maximize community use of public space.
SPT contact: Sharma Queiser
Middle Childhood Matters Coalition Toronto
For more than 15 years, MCMCT has been working to make Toronto a city where all children 6-12 years old and their families have equitable opportunities and resources to thrive. We bring parents and service providers together to highlight the importance of middle childhood and access to out-of-school-time programs.
SPT contact: Sharma Queiser
Toronto Nonprofit Network
TNN is a new and growing city-wide network of more than 100 nonprofit organizations from a wide range of sectors including social services, arts and culture, health, education and sports and recreation. We bring the diverse voices of the city’s nonprofit sector to government, funders and business to create and influence systemic change.
SPT contact: Neemarie Alam
Faith In The City
FITC seeks to encourage faith communities to engage with their neighbourhoods, to reach across their traditional faith boundaries and partner with other faith communities, non-profit organizations, and the City of Toronto, to build healthier neighbourhoods, and to be active in creating a better city for everyone.
SPT contact: Israt Ahmed
Coalition for Alternatives to Streaming in Education
CASE is a group of Toronto-based organizations, community groups, and residents committed to promoting student success and to ending the practice of streaming in Ontario schools.
SPT contact: Sharma Queiser
West End Coalition for Housing Justice
WECHJ is a coalition of academics, policy researchers, and multi-service agencies. We work with residents across income levels to build community capacity and develop an allied resident voice to negotiate for affordable housing in large-scale, mixed-use developments.
SPT contact: Lisa Ferguson
Commitment TO Community
C2C is a coalition of everyday residents, faith communities, nonprofit groups and community organizations working to build a better, fairer and more inclusive Toronto through active engagement at City Hall.
SPT contact: Israt Ahmed
Neighbourhood Grants Support
The Neighbourhood Grants Program provides funding to support resident-led groups to make changes they want to see in their communities.
Social Planning Toronto's role is to distribute funds to the resident-led groups and to provide training and other supports, as needed.
SPT contact: Shahina Sayani
Community Engagement
Social Planning Toronto's community planners are actively involved in supporting and collaborating with neighbourhood networks and resident-led groups on multiple initiatives. We are currently working with the following groups.
SCARBOROUGH
Voices of Scarborough
Voices of Scarborough is a group of residents, activists, and individuals directly affected by issues such as worker, refugee, and tenant rights. Founded by West Scarborough Community Legal Services and community members, we aim to amplify the voices that need to be heard to make real changes in our community and advocate for those not able to access adequate legal services.
SPT contact: Israt Ahmed
Power in Community
Power in Community is a coalition of tenants, Scarborough residents, middle-class residents, low-income individuals, and advocates organizing for affordable homes in Toronto.SPT contact: Israt Ahmed
JANE AND FINCH
Jane Finch Housing Coalition
The Jane Finch Housing Coalition (JFHC) is a new coalition of residents, organizations, and community organizers working towards housing justice.
SPT contact: Saroja Ponnambalam
FLEMINGDON PARK & THORNCLIFFE PARK
Friends of Flemingdon Park
Friends of Flemingdon is a resident-led group that has raised almost a million dollars for infrastructure improvements in Flemingdon Park.
SPT contact: Saroja Ponnambalam
Flemingdon Thorncliffe Inter‑Agency Network
(Governance, Civic Engagement, and Community Engagement Committee)
SPT contact: Saroja Ponnambalam
LAWRENCE HEIGHTS
Lawrence Heights Inter‑Organizational Network
(Civic Engagement Committee)
LHION is a coalition of emerging groups, service providers, and other organizations delivering programs and services in the communities of Lawrence Heights, Lotherton Pathway, and Neptune. It works with the City’s Neighbourhood Action Team and residents to coordinate efforts toward building healthy and sustainable communities.
SPT contact: Saroja Ponnambalam
ETOBICOKE
Toronto West Local Immigration Partnership
TWLIP is a collaborative initiative to enhance local delivery of services to newcomers, while promoting the innovative and efficient use of community resources through improved coordination among social service agencies and other community stakeholders. TWLIP is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
SPT contact: Yasmin Haq Khan