Kate Kehler
Executive Director
Kate Kehler is Executive Director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg (SPCW). She comes to the SPCW from the John Howard Society of Manitoba where she gained a greater understanding of how poverty and barriers to social equity impact individuals, families, and communities. More importantly, how inherent systemic racism is at the root of the problem. She has experience in Canada’s North, living and working in Iqaluit, where she was the Executive Director of the Law Society of Nunavut and Thompson where she worked on projects for Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., taught and ran her own business. Kate’s other previous careers, from teaching to stage and production manager, ensures she has the necessary diverse skill set and experience to solve challenges proactively and collaboratively. Kate is a single mother of two wonderful young women and a tall, dark and handsome mutt aptly named, Romeo.
(204) 943-2561 ext. 1224
Josh Brandon
Community Animator
Josh is a community animator at SPCW and is responsible for working with community organizations and groups building movements for social equity and environmental sustainability, including Make Poverty History Manitoba, Basic Income Manitoba, Campaign 2000 and the Manitoba Eco-Network. He has been the lead author of Winnipeg Street Census reports in 2018 and 2022 and has published research on poverty, housing and homelessness with other partner organizations, including the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Maytree Foundation. He was a co-editor and co-author of Poor Housing: a Silent Crisis, published by Fernwood Publications in 2015.
(204) 943-2561 ext. 1230
Albert Boakye
Community Animator
Albert completed his Masters degree in Public Administration and has a bachelor’s degree in Development Management with a specialization in Microfinance. He has special interest in policy and participatory research, sustainable and community development, and social equity. His past work include working as a Policy Analyst with Manitoba Mineral Resources and Office of the Fire Commissioner. Before joining the SPCW, he was the Vice President External for the University of Manitoba Graduate Students’ Association for 2years and led several campaigns for issues affecting graduate students. His past work in Ghana with several non-profit organizations correlates with SPCW’s core mission of providing leadership that addresses inequity and improves social conditions through research, engagement and action. He is passionate and highly interested in advocacy issues aimed at creating a better society for those marginalized through socio-economic reason. He believes in the concept of Servant Leadership by Robert Greenleaf – “The servant-leader is servant first.” Albert enjoys playing soccer, cooking and loves traveling.
(204) 943-2561 ext. 1221
Cindy Hoover
Office Manager
Cindy brings a much-needed wealth of administrative and IT experience to SPCW. She is a graduate of the Business Information Technology program at Red River College and earned her diploma in Web Development. While insisting she is not a bookkeeper, Cindy has excelled at providing essential budget recording and reporting on the many different project funding sources SPCW and IPW are fortunate enough to receive, as well as to our main funders, United Way Winnipeg and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Cindy is a long-time volunteer with Rhythmic Gymnastics Manitoba and Special Olympics Manitoba. She has had the amazing opportunity to attend the last six World Summer Special Olympics Games in Dublin, Shanghai, Athens, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, and Berlin. She is also a crafter extraordinaire who specializes in doll clothing and can figure out how to do just about anything in the craft realm.
(204) 943-2561 ext. 1232
Maria Vallejo
Communications & Administrative Assistant
(204) 943-2561
Reuben Garang
Executive Director – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Reuben has previously worked for the Government of Manitoba as a Policy Analyst and Community Outreach Advisor. He has volunteered and worked for Winnipeg Harvest as the Coordinator for African Refugee and Immigrants Empowerment Project. As a community based researcher, he has skills in organizing focus groups, facilitating community discussion as well as promoting equitable partnerships. Reuben has over 15 years of experience working in various positions as volunteer and staff with humanitarian organizations, settlement agencies and with refugees and immigrants from different cultural backgrounds. He received the Mayor’s Volunteer Award in 2015. With an education background in environmental science, Reuben holds a Master’s Degree in Development Practice from the University of Winnipeg.
(204) 943-2561 ext. 2239
Maggie Yeboah
Ethnocultural Communities’ Resource and Project Manager – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Maggie is a registered Social Worker who comes to Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW) with 16 years of Community Outreach services working in the Inner-City Community. She was a teacher prior to migrating to Canada in 1981. Maggie then obtained an Early Childhood Education diploma from Red River College and worked in the Day Care field as an Early Childhood Educator for 12 years before obtaining a degree in social work. She joins IPW as the Ethnocultural Communities’ Resource and Project Manager and will be working with the Ethnocultural Council of Manitoba (ECCM) overseeing the projects of the Council. She will also be working in collaboration with non-profit organizations dealing with Immigrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Maggie is active in a variety of community and cultural organizations and volunteers with a number of organizations. The most important aspect of her life is her family; her husband, her four children, her adopted son with three adopted grandchildren, her extended family, and her community.
(204) 943-2561
Kathleen Vyrauen
Research and Community Development Project Manager – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Kathleen joins the IPW team as an advocate for community development and social equity. She has been working in the settlement sector for over ten years in varying capacities, all of which have continued to drive her passion for creating a more welcoming and inclusive place for all newcomer and racialized communities. Kathleen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Winnipeg in Human Rights and Global Studies and hopes to continue her studies in the master’s program in the near future. She wants to continue to lend her voice to advocacy work specifically focused on K-12 Education and the needs of youth in our province. She recognizes our young people’s strength, resiliency, and the need to amplify their voices as our future leaders.
If she is not working or on the go, you can find Kathleen curled up with a good book or spending time with her family. She also loves to cook and craft, which leads her to spend A LOT of time at farmer’s markets in the summer and fall months.
(204) 943-2561
Adrianne Breyfogle
Indigenous Engagement Coordinator – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Adrianne was initially hired on contract to help with the Indigenous Orientation Toolkit but became core IPW staff following the end of that contract. She now oversees the ongoing work of the Indigenous Orientation Toolkit and IPW’s Indigenous and newcomer engagement work, aiming to build relationships between the two communities and help address racism through education and connection. Adrianne has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Indigenous Studies from the University of Manitoba. She has a passion and interest in continuing to learn about her Indigenous culture and history and loves that this job allows her to do that meaningfully.
(204) 943-2561
Carolina Meneses Zamora
Project Manager – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Carolina is a Costa Rican social researcher who moved to Winnipeg to pursue her Masters in Anthropology. After graduating from the University of Manitoba, Carolina worked as the Newcomer Youth Outreach Coordinator for the Spence Neighbourhood Association and as their Youth and Families Programs Manager. In these roles, Carolina supported a variety of after-school programs aimed at fostering an inclusive and equitable community for Indigenous and newcomer youth in Winnipeg’s inner city. Apart from her work with SNA, Carolina’s lived experiences as a newcomer in Canada have shaped her interests in social justice-related issues and the immigration and settlement sector. She admires our communities’ resilience and loves Winnipeg’s cultural diversity! Carolina also enjoys reading, biking, swimming, and being outdoors.
(204) 943-2561
Shelley Smith
Newcomer Education Coalition Coordinator – Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
Shelley is a lifelong learner at heart who loves working in education. She was previously employed by the University of Manitoba in the Accessibility Services department and as a math tutor, and she thoroughly enjoyed teaching English to young learners in China. She holds a Master of Human Rights degree in Law from the University of Manitoba and an Advanced Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Linguistics from the University of Manitoba. She is passionate about helping others reach their educational goals. In the early 2000s, she ran an ecotourism business, taking visitors on guided canoe trips throughout our beautiful province. She continues to work with Indigenous communities today, advocating for land rights and environmental protection and enjoys camping and canoeing whenever possible.
(204) 943-2561