Pita-Garth affectionately known as PG has resided in Durham for 25 years and has been actively serving in his community for the last 15. He has sat on various committees such as Ethno-Cultural and Diversity Advisory Committee, Durham District School Board: Afro-Centric Parent Committee and Durham Regional Police Service: Diversity Advisory Committee. His passion and vision are to bring people together to work towards programs and initiatives that will grow and strengthen communities within the Durham Region. This passion for community development motivated him to establish DurhamONE. He is a husband and a father and is passionate about work that promotes a healthy and involved family. He is a firm believer that if change is to occur, meeting people where they are at, provides a different perspective and voice to what we are a custom to.
Dane Record first moved to Durham Region as the eldest of eventually 4 w his parents. Both parents have settled in Durham during that time, while Dane charted his own path to volunteerism. He is born and raised in Ontario. His parents and grandparents voluntarily arrived to Canada from Jamaica in the early 1970's and built careers in community social services and media. Dane currently resides in Ajax w his own family.
Gail Wilson-Beier is an immigrant to Canada with Caribbean parents. She has resided within the Durham Region for most of her life. Gail has been working in the social service and education sectors for almost 30 years. She has taught at both the university and college levels and shares her main interests lies in cultural pluralism, research, and counselling. One of her more recent projects involved the conception and implementation of an Identity and Culture event, which celebrated the United Nations milestone anniversaries (60-40-30) of the “Declaration on the Rights of the Child”, “The International Year of the Child”, and the “UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child”. Presently, Gail is working on the completion of her doctorate degree exploring cultural diversity.
Lana Wehbeh is a community member residing in Durham Region currently serving as Secretary for the DurhamOne Board of Directors. As a Middle Eastern female who is passionate about amplifying the voices of underrepresented youth, she uses her work in DurhamOne to continue to make an impact in the youth community.
Debbie Kumoi, a resident of Durham Region, was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, and takes great pride in her Trinidadian and Jamaican heritage. She is blessed to have an amazing husband and wonderful twin who provide her with unwavering support. With a background in Communications, Finance, and ECE, Debbie currently holds the position of Children's Ministry Director at a local Pentecostal Church. Additionally, she is the proud owner of Kumoi's Baskets of Love, a business that specializes in crafting personalized clothing, unique gift baskets, and organizing events. Debbie actively engages in building community relationships and is dedicated to empowering youth and children through various local programs. Her commitment to giving back extends to the GTA, Peel & Durham regions in Canada, as well as the USA.
Erica Babad is a community development worker, and she loves working with people from all walks of life. She was an international student from the Philippines who studied in Canada and completed her internship with DurhamONE. She served the Durham community through the Know Your Rights program and several vaccination engagement activities in collaboration with CAREA. She enjoys giving back to the community. For her, that includes ensuring that each person in the community is included, providing access to their needs, and assisting in becoming sustainable so they can make their own decisions regarding their future. As a teacher back home, she loves working with youth and children because they are so full of possibilities! They remind her to keep things simple, enjoy life, and make the most of it—they're the best teachers.
Kagiso Kay Puso lives in Durham region, having served as the former secretary and presently as a board member at DurhamOne. Her dedication to fostering cultural diversity, historical awareness, and community unity underscores her commitment to furthering the organization's overarching goal of providing a platform where individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds converge, ensuring their voices are not only heard but celebrated.
Carine Wehbeh is an immigrant to Canada, that started with DurhamOne as a student placement during the completion of her Social Service Worker Diploma. She is currently working in the youth service field whilst studying to become a Social Worker. She is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives on both the individual and community level. Carine is dedicated to empowering the community. She is a strong believer in Equity, and Inclusion, and is committed to providing 100% of her effort when providing support whether through DurhamONE or in everyday life.
Kevin Yamada, a retired police officer, has an extensive background in policing spanning over thirty years. Kevin embraced community-based policing. He established connections with community members and community leaders, fostering trust and discussing ways in which the police could better serve the community's needs. Kevin shared valuable information with the community, leading to the creation of initiatives and opportunities for better understanding. Through his dedication and collaborative approach, Kevin played a vital role in strengthening the relationship between the police and the community. During his tenure as the Officer in Charge of West Division, Kevin had the responsibility of overseeing over 100 sworn and civilian members, as well as ensuring the safety of the community members in Ajax and Pickering. Kevin led an Equity and Inclusion Strategic Team.This platform inspired members to actively engage with the community, build relationships, and share their experiences with one another.
Tanishka is a high school student based in the GTA, passionate about bringing community outreach to the youth.
DurhamONE’s vision extends beyond ‘celebrating diversity’ and culture throughout the Region of Durham. We look to empower individuals and groups, increase voice and recognition, bridge community gaps, increase and improve community engagement.