Tiyana Hanson is a dedicated community service worker with over a decade of experience working with children and youth. She is passionate about supporting and empowering individuals to overcome challenges and thrive in their communities.

She holds a diploma in Community Service Work from Oxford College, where she was able to develop a strong foundation in helping individuals navigate life’s complexities. She further expanded her expertise by completing two years of study in the Child and Youth Worker program at Sheridan College. Through these academic pursuits, I’ve honed my ability to build meaningful connections with youth, offering guidance, support, and a safe space for them to grow.

With more than 10 years of hands-on experience in the field, I have worked with diverse individuals, particularly in community-based settings. Her practical knowledge and ability to relate to the youth she serves have allowed her to foster trust and effectively address their unique needs.

In addition to my work with children and youth, I also play an active role in supporting families by providing valuable resources for additional assistance. I also provide families with support services related to financial aid and extracurricular programs, ensuring they have access to the resources needed to thrive.

In addition I am committed to maintaining professional development and safety standards in her practice. She holds certifications in CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention), harm reduction, CPR, and food handling, all of which allows me to provide comprehensive, compassionate, and responsible care in every situation.

I am unwavering ans dedication to my work and have deep understanding of the challenges faced by young people and their families continue to make her a valuable asset to her community. My mission is to inspire positive change and make a lasting impact on the Children and Youth.

Kerry Lee Crawford is a renowned television producer, music composer, On‐air host, and the founder of RISE ABOVE IT STUDIOS. His work is rooted in a lifelong commitment to telling the stories that best capture the beauty of the Indigenous Black North American Culture.

It started with a career deeply immersed in the world of music, where Kerry played a pivotal role in launching the careers of major recording artists, including Sean Paul, Glenn Lewis, Jully Black, Mims (“This Is Why I’m Hot”), and Kardinal Offishall. As a founding member of the JUNO‐nominated, Platinum‐ and Gold‐selling Baby Blue Sound Crew, he collaborated with Universal Music to help shape a defining era in Canadian urban music.

After stepping back from music production, Kerry brought his education and industry experience into talk radio and news media. He has worked as a host, consultant, contributor, investigator, and writer covering Politics, Finance, Government, Sports, and Entertainment. His broadcast work includes appearances on and production for major networks such as Discovery Channel, Sportsnet, and The Score, along with contributions to CBC Radio One, TSN, the Raptors Channel, F.E.V.A., and G987FM, FLOW 93.5FM, Canada’s first Black‐owned radio station. His interview resume includes the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephan Harper, Mayors Rob Ford and predecessor John Tory, The Jackson’s along with many more.

Kerry’s voice, presence, and insights were encapsulated over the years through television, radio, and countless live
event appearances. His passion for community engagement extends far beyond the studio. Hosting events like Taste of the Danforth, Caribana, Jerkfest, and Canada Day in the Capital.

Guided by the principle that true potential is realized when we confront our challenges and Rise Above them, Kerry champions the belief that life is not only about choice, but about the right to choose. He stands firmly against any individual, institution, or policy that restricts that fundamental right. For him, success is not determined by the strength of the storm, but by our resilience to it.

Kerry’s dedication has earned him significant recognition, including the Black Business Professional Association’s Distinguished Men of Honor Award (2016) and a special commendation from the York Regional Police Service (2015) for his longstanding support of the Achievement in Sport program.

With the release of his first published manuscript, “Weapons of Mass Deception and Accidental Intention,s” Kerry continues to expand his impact as a truth seeking investigative journalist, creator, and pro-constitutional rights advocate. His work, voice, and vision position him for his most influential years yet.

Kerry Lee Crawford Twitter & Instagram: @ThisisRaiMedia @KerryLee @StepsAfterDark

As a passionate and results-driven DevOps Engineer and Systems Architect, he brings a powerful blend of technical excellence and community leadership to Shining L.I.G.H.T.E Youth Charity.

With deep expertise in designing fault-tolerant distributed systems and secure cloud infrastructure, he specializes in building scalable, reliable solutions that prioritize efficiency, security, and sustainability. His experience spans global cloud platforms including Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud, where he has led the design and deployment of compliant, enterprise-grade systems powered by Kubernetes, Docker, and Infrastructure-as-Code methodologies.

In his professional career as a Senior DevSecOps Engineer at OpenText, he leads strategic process improvements, strengthens business continuity frameworks, and drives automation initiatives that significantly improve operational performance. His commitment to excellence has contributed to achieving internationally recognized compliance standards including SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

At Shining L.I.G.H.T.E Youth Charity, he applies this same discipline and innovation to strengthen the organization’s technological infrastructure, operational strategy, and digital security. His focus is on building sustainable systems that support youth empowerment programs, enhance transparency, and ensure long-term organizational growth.

Beyond his technical leadership, he is deeply committed to civic innovation and youth development, contributing to community-driven technology initiatives and championing the responsible use of AI for social good.

His vision aligns strongly with the charity’s mission: to leverage innovation, structure, and strategic thinking to create scalable impact — empowering young people to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Alana Malden is an only child, born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Brampton, where her values were shaped by family, resilience, and community. Becoming a mother at an early age required her to grow up quickly, make sacrifices, and take on great responsibility. Through trials and tribulations, her experiences taught her perseverance, compassion, and the importance of living with purpose.

By the age of 19, Alana was living independently and made the decision to enroll in college while working part-time. She graduated as a Community Service Worker, driven by a desire to help those in her community. After graduation, she spent several years in marketing, sales, and customer service, but felt unfulfilled and disconnected from her true calling.
Although successful, Alana made the brave decision to leave a company where she had worked for seven years as a Project Manager and take a leap of faith by starting her catering business, Lala’s Fusion Kitchen. The business blends Caribbean and local flavors while celebrating cultural diversity. Alana’s passion for cooking, encouraged by friends and family, allowed her to grow her clientele through social media and word of mouth.

As her business grew, life took a turn when her father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She shifted her focus to care for him while continuing to manage her business. Then the pandemic hit, devastating the restaurant and food industry. Despite the challenges of losing the majority of her revenue, Alana’s resilience led her to embark on another entrepreneurial journey, starting a residential and commercial cleaning business that has since expanded to offer multiple services under one umbrella. Through it all, she remained determined to persevere and teach her son the value of resilience and hard work.

This new venture allowed her to create flexibility for caregiving and opened the path for her work with Shining Light Youth Charity. Alana became an Outreach Manager, sharing the same vision as the founder in creating leaders through generational healing by educating and empowering youth. This ignited her passion for mentoring, teaching entrepreneurial skills, and inspiring resilience. She later became a Lead Program Coordinator, leading programs focused on literacy, life skills, personal growth, and culinary education. Through her work, Alana helps young people gain confidence, independence, and cultural appreciation.

Grounded in faith, resilience, and lived experience, Alana continues to build pathways for youth, support families, and create meaningful opportunities that inspire the next generation to thrive. Through her community initiatives, she has fully immersed herself in her passion for helping others, donating approximately 200 hot meals a year to those who are unhoused. She collaborates with nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and restaurants to maximize community impact. Alana’s faith and dedication drive her, and she hopes that one day her growing businesses will create numerous employment opportunities for youth and the broader community.