Team

Meet the amazing individuals who work hard on the frontlines and behind the scenes—our Board of Directors, Staff, Program Facilitators, and Advisors.

Staff

Laura Sygrove

Executive Director, Co-founder

Laura (she/her) holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto. She is also a certified yoga and mindfulness-yoga teacher with a focus on trauma-informed practice. She brings 12 years of experience developing New Leaf’s youth programming, developing and leading training curriculum and studying trauma. Over the years, she has worked primarily with young men in custody, though more recently is developing her skills in counselling practice with children, youth, and families.

Nicole Madison

Director of Operations & Communications

Nicole (she/they) holds a Bachelor of Design from Ryerson University. Over the years, she has worked primarily with non-profit organizations, supporting their operations, communications, and event management. They have completed the Digital Skills program with Ladies Learning Code. Nicole is a certified yoga and mindfulness teacher

Amanda Nicholls

Program Manager

Amanda (she/her) has an extensive background in arts education and was the Program Coordinator of College’s Jump Theatre Project for several years. She also has worked with Piece of Mine Arts, The Living Arts Centre and has been working with New Leaf for the last 6 years. She is a certified yoga instructor and alumni of Humber College’s Post Graduate certificate program in Wellness Coaching and Theatre Performance. Amanda has trained as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) facilitator and is currently completing her Mindfulness-Based Chronic Pain Management Certificate.

Faith Jones

Communications Coordinator

Faith (she/her) is Communications Coordinator and a Senior Program Facilitator with New Leaf Foundation. She is a Holistic Health & Wellness Professional—Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor and Thai Massage Practitioner. Along with extensive training in movement and massage, Faith has comprehensive knowledge of trauma-informed and anti-oppressive frameworks.

Rochelle Miller

Teaching Coordinator

Over the past 7 years, Rochelle (she/her) has led New Leaf programs in elementary and secondary schools as well as drop in programs in Rexdale and Regent Park. Rochelle is Teaching Coordinator and a Senior Program Facilitator with New Leaf. She is also a community leader and connector. She strives to create spaces for free expression and embodied movement through the practices of Yoga, Mindfulness and a playful inquiry of self exploration.

Board of Directors

Shaka Licorish

Shaka (he/him) is New Leaf's Board Chair. He graduated with two B.A. (Honors) degrees in Criminal Justice & Public Policy (University of Guelph) and Political Science (McMaster University). He has several years experience working with marginalized youth, young adults and the many barriers and challenges they face.

Balaji Swaminath

Balaji (he/him) holds a Doctor’s degree in Dental surgery and has been in private practice for over 12 years. He is currently a partner at Martindale Dental, a franchise of dental offices across the GTA. Balaji has been part of a large medical and dental team that offers volunteer services to residents of Ghana.

Billy Lourakis

Billy (she/her) is a life coach and mama. She is currently engaged in projects where she integrates soul-centered living principles through entrepreneurship and compassionate community engagement. Billy holds an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology and a B.Sc. in Physiotherapy.

Felicia Ross

Felicia (she/her) is a yoga teacher, owner/director of Modo Yoga Uptown and St Clair West, and mother. She worked with teens as a coach for 11 years and has assisted the Junior League of Toronto with implementing various programs for inner city youth.

Jasmin Parmar

Jasmin (she/her) is passionate about brand storytelling, marketing, yoga, and mindfulness-based practices. With over ten years of experience in the marketing industry and as a yoga instructor, she is excited to grow awareness about the tools and activities available to support resilience-building.

Michelle Corbeil

Michelle (she/her) holds a Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Education from OISE and is currently owner/director of Modo Yoga Danforth. She has previously served on the Board for Kirabo Canada.

Facilitators

Amanda

Beeta

Carrie

Faith

Imesia

Karen

Martha

Nicole

Rochelle

Stefanie

Training Faculty

Julia Gibran

Julia (she/her) is a registered Social Worker and Educator who uses mind-body practices to engage with communities. Her Masters in Social Work: Indigenous Trauma and Resilience, has framed her practice in identifying root causes and bolstering community supports. Her studies in yoga began at age four alongside her grandfather, long before she learned a physical posture. Teaching in schools, hospitals, studios and retreats for over a decade, her approach is therapeutic and trauma informed. Julia’s lived experience as a survivor fuels a passion for social activism and working with other survivors of all ages.

jamilah malika abu-bakare

jamilah's (she/her) work relating anti-oppression to yoga and mindfulness is rooted in her work as co-visionary of the (now defunct) Positive Space Initiatives at Kula Annex dating back to 2010. In addition to teaching trauma-informed, mindfulness-based yoga, she is an artist and a writer (SAIC MFA ‘19.) Her work investigates the endlessness of what it is to be a black woman in the world. (Photo credit: RJ Eldgridge)

Laura Sygrove

Laura (she/her) is a co-founder and Executive Director of New Leaf Foundation. She is a certified yoga and mindfulness-yoga teacher with a focus on trauma-informed practice. She brings 12 years of experience developing New Leaf’s youth programming, developing & leading training curriculum and studying trauma. Over the years, she has worked primarily with young men in custody, though more recently is developing her skills in counseling practice with children, youth, and families. Laura holds a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Toronto.

Rochelle Miller

Andre Talbot

Andre (he/him) enjoyed a 10-year career as a professional football player in the CFL where he achieved numerous accolades including Grey Cup Champion. Since retiring from the CFL, he has continued to explore different disciplines of movement and stillness practices. Andre’s interest in mindfulness a practices led him to formal study and training with Poep Sa Frank Jude Boccio, Empty Mountain Sangha. Andre has also served as a facilitator with New Leaf Foundation. He continues to share his experience and practice with others at his Toronto-based studio the Spirit Loft Movement Centre. He also leads teacher training, retreats, and workshops.

Advisors

Katie Anderson

Katie is a Fundraising Advisor at New Leaf.

Kate Love

Kate (she/her) brings 15 years of experience coordinating and managing a variety of youth programs, with focuses on media arts, financial literacy and violence prevention. She is a criminologist, life coach, and published blogger.

Bernice McLeod

Bernice (she/her) is the Executive Director of the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto. She is cross-appointed to the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College. Bernice has been engaged in the field of early learning and care as well as children’s mental health with a focus on promoting healthy child development through parent-child relationships, community engagement, capacity building and policy development.

Rebeckah Price

Rebeckah (she/her) is an advisory committee member with New Leaf and has over 15 years working with marginalized communities and youth. She is also a yoga teacher and wellness advocate with a focus on promoting a more accessible and diverse yoga.