About Us
About the initiative
Incorporated in January 2024 as a non-profit social enterprise, the Community Capacity Building Initiative came into being in response to resounding demand, after years of careful preparation, and with the support of a number of solid partnerships without whose trust, guidance, and expertise this initiative would not have been possible!
The Community Capacity Building Initiative believes that economic well-being is integral to maintaining quality of life and recognizes that economic disparity can have far-reaching impacts on individuals and communities, affecting everything from access to healthcare and food to stress levels and mental health.
Our mission is to offer professional services to the public while creating programming that prioritizes solutions for economic & employment wellbeing in two spirit, trans, non-binary and gender diverse communities.
Services & Programming
Develop safer, high quality services that respond to public demand while maintaining community focused programming tailored to the diverse needs of our communities in collaboration with partners, collaborators & supporters that prioritize the economic & employment well-being of underserved 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
Solidify our network
Solidify our network of professional and community members who are committed to working together to break the isolation of underserved 2SLGBTQ+ individuals & groups and helping to mitigate the financial, economic & employment struggles encountered.
Build Capacity
Build capacity in the community by:
Creating programming for members of the communities we serve, varying types and sources of funding to secure longevity of our work, facilitating community investment opportunities, standardizing intersectional training as an integral part of professional development, offering professional development & mentoring to our team, creating a positive team environment & amplifying workers' voices.
Jack Aude Pichette - Tax preparer & CCBI Initiator
Jack started studying tax law in 2021 while everyone else was baking bread. They'd been having issues with name changes and taxation since 2015 due to their own administrative fatigue related to the tedious processes involved and since they're allergic to gluten anyways they figured it was a better use of their time.
Additionally, Jack is proficient in Technology Integration and has been providing accounting & accounting management support to community groups for nearly 25 years, specializing in various aspects such as process development, internal controls, accounting software implementation, and anything reporting from budgets & cash-flow to funder & government reports.
Bringing their experience to the forefront, Jack is passionate about leveraging these skills to strengthen community resources, build capacity in our communities and break our economic isolation by mitigating financial struggles through collaborative initiatives.
Martha Nduwayo - Tax preparer
Martha's fascination with numbers, community service and financial literacy has led her to CCBI in an organic way...
With a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Concordia University, Martha brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. Her three years of public service at the federal government have equipped her with a deep understanding of operational efficiency and program management. Additionally, Martha has excelled in supportive roles, showcasing her exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to create a nurturing environment. She co-founded the Black Healing Fund and the cause has raised more than 190,000$ in donations since its inception in 2020. With a strategic mindset and attention to detail, Martha also dabbles in the creative arts as a theatre Stage Manager.
Blending her expertise in program management, community advocacy, and creative arts allows Martha to contribute to forward-thinking Black Mental Health and Wellness initiatives. Martha sees herself as your friendly Fairy, spreading positivity and warmth wherever she goes.
Martha keeps herself busy by learning new skills and developing them. What started from a mentorship relationship with Jack has led to studying taxes and collaborating together in the creation of this important project
Martha also enjoys all things pink and a good spa day!
Mikki Bradshaw - Financial Literacy
Mikki Bradshaw is a multi-faceted, multi-discipline performance artist of Caribbean (Jamaican) descent. Pronouns: They/them/she/her/he/him. They are from Ontario, Canada. They currently reside in the Tiohtiá:ke/Montreal region. They are a 50-year old trans, pansexual, black person of colour. Their trainings in equity work, civil rights activism, conflict resolution, union work and
trans medical rights activism have equipped them to offer anti-oppression, workplace equity,
gender, political, and community workshops for 20+ years in Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Mikki is proud to be working with CCBI to bring viable classes and workshops on Financial
Literacy to LGBTQIA2S+ (especially QTBIPOC) communities. The motivation for this is that
many people in our community are living pay cheque to pay cheque. Many have a hard time
budgeting and some don't know how. The classes and workshops will take a hands-on approach to teaching participants how to save, as well as find ways to make their money work for them. The idea is to learn, but also to start building generational funds for the future.
Ems Aubin (They/He), Fiscal & Financial Controller
I’m a neurodivergent transmasculine non-binary person with a deep love for numbers, animals and knowledge of all kinds. My educational background revolves more around science (especially biology) and arts (audio and musical production), but after struggling and seeing many members of my community struggle financially for many years, I decided to go back to school and learn more about financial management. The idea that I had in mind was to eventually start a financial services company at low cost for the queer community. I thought it would take years for something like this to happen, but then Jack introduced me to the CCBI project and it felt like the universe finally heard me somehow.
My ACS will be over in May 2024 and I’m planning on taking managerial accounting and financial analysis classes in university to deepen my knowledge around budgeting and financial statements analysis. The goal behind this plan is to help entrepreneurs and businesses in the community to understand and manage their finances better. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this initiative and motivated more than ever to keep pushing myself in my studies. I am ready to make a difference in my community, one tax return at a time.
Audrée Vermette (She/They), Accounting Technician
As an administrative assistant since 2015, my rich and diverse experience stems from earning a DCS in Office System Technology. My versatility and multiple talents have enabled me to approach tasks with creativity and efficiency. Currently pursuing an ACS in accounting, which I'll obtain by the end of 2024, I am dedicated to enhancing my skills for community service. My passion for organization, processes, writing, and graphic design guides each of my actions. I find genuine satisfaction in creating spaces and systems that promote efficiency and clarity. Having a deep conviction towards diversity and inclusivity, I firmly believe that every individual deserves to be respected in their identity and uniqueness.
The reason I chose to work at CCBI is clear: I'm driven by the opportunity to make a difference in the 2SLGBT+ community. Collaborating with empathetic individuals, whose warmth and commitment inspire me daily, forms the bedrock of our shared mission.
As a cohesive team, we're dedicated to fostering positive change incrementally.
Being part of this community, where compassion and dedication prevail, fills me with gratitude.
Together, we have the capacity to create a better world for all.