Speaking

Myseum of Toronto’s “The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto”

Leading a Little Manila tour for Ismaila Alfa’s CBC Metro Morning show. Image by Samantha Lui.

As a public speaker who has worked in social services, settlement services, the federal government, and four Ontario school boards, Jennilee is a sought-after facilitator.

Her topics have included culturally-responsive outreach strategies, multicultural education, the journey of a diasporic author, public speaking tips, and walking tours of North York’s Little Manila.

Whether the topics are Filipino-specific (Impacts of Separation and Reunification on Filipino Student Aspirations) or for a more general audience (The Journey of an Author), her presentations are tailor-made for audiences ranging from school board trustees to newcomer students.

Using a combination of humour, empathy, and real stories, she delivers presentations both in-person and online that are engaging and memorable.

Lastly— and most importantly— it's her personal policy to always leave her audience smiling. 

““Jennilee is a great presenter... lovely, funny and extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her community.”
”
— Carmen Condo, Settlement & Multicultural Services Halton Catholic District School Board
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At the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

At the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

“Jennilee led an incredibly fascinating tour of Little Manila, in the Bathurst-Wilson area, for my course Asian Canadian Space and Place (Canadian Studies Program, University of Toronto). She provided detailed insights into the socio-economic and cultural makeup of the neighbourhood, which gave us valuable and important perspectives beyond the landscape observations that we were able to see. Little personal touches like stopping in the bakeries and grocery stores presented us with an insider’s point of view on the unique cultures within the less well-known landscapes in Toronto.
”
— Dr. Serene Tan, University of Toronto, Asian-Canadian Studies
“The best professional development we’ve ever had. Book this speaker today. She is doing exactly what she is on this planet to do.”
“Jennilee was the best speaker our school could have ever invited. Engaging, funny, touching, and more honest about mental health and culture than anyone we have had in the past.
She has a gift, she really does.”
“Jennilee is such a good speaker and role model! Not just for newcomers like us but for ALL students. We loved her activities!”
Panelist at a digital Filipino festival with University College London, UK.

Panelist at a digital Filipino festival with University College London, UK.

Presenting for support staff at the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Photo by V. Tangco.

Accomplishments

  1. Developed and delivered Little Manila walking tours with Museum (formerly Myseum) of Toronto

  2. Interviewed on Radio Kapwa

  3. Panelist for On Canada Project’s training modules for Kids Help Phone

  4. Interviewed on CBC Metro Morning

  5. Interviewed on Filipino TV - The Cherie Mercado Podcast

  6. Heritage Toronto tour guide in Toronto’s Little Manila

  7. Profiled by Dual Citizen documentary series on leaders in the Filipino diaspora: “Jennilee Austria, Filipino Talks”

  8. Featured Speaker for Celebrating Linguistic Diversity: “Building Bridges to Support Filipino Students” 

  9. Annual guest lecturer, University of Toronto: “Asian-Canadian Space and Place: Field Trip to Little Manila”

  10. Official partner of the Toronto District School Board

  11. Speaker at National Metropolis Conference: “Immigration Trajectories and Youth Post-Secondary Pathways in the Filipino Community” 

  12. Speaker at Bridges to Learning National Conference: “Digital Storytelling: Newcomer Youth Issues” 

  13. Speaker at York University, Transnational Filipinx Studies: “Filipino Youth in Transition”

  14. Panelist at University of Ottawa, Pinoys on Parliament: “Analyzing Supports and Resources for Filipino-Canadian Youth Interested in Post-Secondary Education” / “Sino Ka Ba? Navigating Filipino Identity Through Various Mediums” 

  15. Panelist at University College London, FiliFest: “Deconstructing Filipino” 

  16. Speaker for Equity & Inclusivity Course, Halton Catholic District School Board

  17. Keynote Speaker, York University: “Filipino Voices in the Arts and Academia” 

  18. Keynote Speaker, Toronto Catholic District School Board: “Engaging Newcomer Parents” 

  19. Guest Speaker, Seneca College: “Transformative Learning in Communities”

  20. Annual presenter, Toronto Catholic District School Board: “Proudly Pinoy Filipino family conference”

Photo by R. Esteban.

Photo by R. Esteban at the Halton Catholic District School Board.

Clients

  1. Burlington Public Library

  2. Canadian Council for Refugees

  3. CBC Metro Morning

  4. Centre for Social Innovation

  5. Citizenship and Immigration Canada/Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

  6. Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board 

  7. Filipino-Canadian Social and Community Workers Network

  8. Filipino Centre of Toronto

  9. Halton Catholic District School Board

  10. Havergal College

  11. Heritage Toronto

  12. Kababayan Multicultural Centre 

  13. Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture

  14. Kids Help Phone

  15. Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities 

  16. Myseum of Toronto

  17. New Roots Radio

  18. North York Community House

  19. On Canada Project

  20. Ontario College of Art and Design University

  21. Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

  22. Peel Multicultural Council

  23. Philippine Edmonton Events and Arts Society (PHIDEAS)

  24. Pinoys on Parliament

  25. Seneca College 

  26. St. Mary’s University

  27. Toronto Catholic District School Board

  28. Toronto District School Board

  29. Toronto Metropolitan University

  30. Toronto Public Library

  31. United Way of Greater Toronto

  32. University College London, UK

  33. University of Ottawa

  34. University of Toronto

  35. University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

  36. West Neighbourhood House 

  37. World Education Services

  38. Working Women Community Centre

  39. YMCA of Greater Toronto

  40. York University

 

Top Workshop Topics

  1. “From Settlement Worker to Author” (Audience: non-profit organizations, educators, emerging authors, readers; 30-60 minutes)

  2. “Building Bridges to Support Filipino Students” (Audience: educators, non-profit organizations, frontline workers; 3 hours)

  3. “Walking Tour of North York’s Little Manila” (Audience: general public, university students; 2 hours)

  4. “The Journey of a Filipino Author” (Audience: middle school and secondary school students; 1 hour)

  5. “Unleashing Your Public Speaking Potential” (Audience: middle school and secondary school students; 1 hour)

  6. “Filipino Curriculum Explorations: Filipino Literature Through a Culturally-Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy Lens” (Audience: Educators; 1 hour)

  7. “Success Strategies for Reaching Filipino Clients” (Audience: non-profit organizations, frontline workers; 1.5 hours)

  8. “Impacts of the Caregiver Program: Education, Youth Aspirations, and Family Separation” (Audience: policy analysts, government workers, frontline workers, educators; 2 hours)

  9. “Supports and Resources for Filipino-Canadian Youth Pursuing Post-Secondary Education” (Audience: Filipino-Canadian youth; 1 hour)

  10. “Career Aspirations: Meeting Role Models from the Filipino Community” (Audience: Filipino-Canadian youth; 1-2 hours)

  11. “Get Involved! The Transformative Power of Community Involvement” (Audience: Secondary school youth; 1-2 hours)

For bookings and inquiries, please click here.