Spotlight
Champions of Lotherton Pathway: Jiale Deng
Champions of Lotherton Pathway is a series of stories told by community leaders and residents from the Lotherton neighborhood. These dedicated community leaders and residents have been working tirelessly in the Lotherton neighbourhood, building a community where all belong and thrive.
I am Jiale Deng, and I live in Lotherton with my parents, and younger brother. I am currently in high school and I love spending time with family and friends, exploring the city, listening to music, and involving myself in my school and community.
I got involved in Lotherton through the Village Bloggurls program. It is an amazing youth program that aims to create a safe and friendly environment for girls like me. It is a space where we can develop a sense of leadership and a strong sense of confidence. I have been in the program since I was eight years old where I first started off as a mentee, and I am now a mentor. I have made a lot of friendships over the years and I will always be very grateful for that. The BlogGurls program has really helped me grow out of my comfort zone and improve as a person. Being in this program has helped me realize that community is not just a place you live in, but rather, a place to build a sense of belonging in.
I have helped with several Get Out To Vote campaigns, as I enjoy supporting Lotherton residents and encouraging them to use their voices. I have also helped out in the community garden with Beatriz, the Chinese New Year festivals, and the annual Harvest Day Festivals; strengthening my relationships with Lotherton residents.
Most recently, I joined the Lotherton Youth Council, serving the needs of the youth within Lotherton. One of our major accomplishments includes being able to provide easier access to literacy within the community, which was done by building three tiny libraries with books for all ages.
Over the years, I have received and achieved numerous achievements, but I would say one of my biggest personal achievements was receiving the Eglinton-Lawrence Volunteer Service Award; honouring all the dedicated volunteer work I have done. Overall, I would say that I am very proud of myself for being a strong and passionate youth leader in my community.
“I would like to see more programs for youth like the Village BlogGurls program, and I would also like to see more community involvement from residents.”
The community also is in dire need of easier access to resources and support. Especially since the community is quite isolated from the rest, it is hard to get the resources that we need so we can feel safe and secure in our everyday lives. As I am only in high school, I still have a long way ahead of me. But ultimately, I want to be successful, become a role model that other people can look up to and live a life that inspires others.
