About CCEDNet Manitoba

Mia is dedicated to fostering connections and empowering CCEDNet Manitoba’s members, community organizations, and social economy enterprises. She leads public engagement and community education efforts, manages government relations and supports coalitions across the network.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba’s Master of Human Rights program, Mia brings over 8 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and community development. She has contributed to impactful work with organizations such as Westman Immigrant Services, The Women’s Resource Centre, Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, Manitoba Human Rights Commission and Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth.

Mia envisions a community built on positive peace, where the rights of every individual are both respected and safeguarded.

Marlis contributes directly to the Network Weaving and Manitoba Learns program areas of our Manitoba regional network, and supports engagement among members and the broader CED sector. Marlis plans CCEDNet events and creates learning and networking opportunities that bring people together. Marlis brings over 13 years of experience as a professional photographer and entrepreneur in Vancouver and Winnipeg, and recently worked in administration and events at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg.

In Marlis’ ideal community, we support each other in times of celebration and in times of difficulty. We love to share good food and stories, and everyone cares for each other and the environment!

Outside of work, Marlis loves finding ways to incorporate bike rides, ice cream (or coffee), and friends into my everyday social time. 

Michael’s work at CCEDNet focuses on the Manitoba CCEDNet membership and regional network, implementing a regional plan focused on building knowledge, strength, connection, and power among Manitoba members and the CED sector. Member relationship-building and convening through events and meetings, leading public policy advocacy through coalitions and direct government relations, and supporting CCEDNet’s Manitoba Learns program and the Gathering are Michael’s primary activities.

Michael is a life-long Winnipegger, based in Treaty 1 Territory. He cares deeply about social, economic, and climate justice and the power of collective movement and solutions rooted in the knowledge of local communities. Involved in organizing and advocacy work throughout the province, he has previously served as the Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students – Manitoba, the interim Executive Director of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties, the Chair of Make Poverty History Manitoba, and has a BA in Political Science and Urban & Inner-City Studies from the University of Winnipeg. A respected and cared for earth with easy access to local food, accessible transit, good bike lanes, and inclusive, green jobs would be in Michael’s ideal community, plus regular drag shows.

Michael thrives in the outdoors (hiking, paddling, or cross country skiing), on a stage (improv theatre), quietly at a piano at home, or spending time with family and community.

Geoff manages the Spark service, which connects local organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of Spark’s work is creating short term and high impact matches between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills.

Geoff is a graduate of the Master of Social Work program at the University of Manitoba. Prior to joining the CCEDNet team he worked for 5 years in Bolivia as a cooperant with CUSO International, strengthening the capacity of a large non-profit and their projects with children and families.

In Geoff’s ideal community, people have the resources and the connections they need to live their best lives, but not at the expense of others’ ability to do the same.

Geoff is a year-round active commuter and outdoor adventurer.

In his role at Spark, Lindsey connects organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of the Spark service is creating short-term and high impact projects between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills.

Lindsey has had the pleasure of working in several roles at CCEDNet over the past decade, including communications, policy development, member engagement and in his current role with our Spark service. In addition to his Spark work, Lindsey has played an active role as a LITE Board Member and currently chairs the steering committee of the Right to Housing Coalition.

In Lindsey’s ideal city, there would be universal access to the foundational supports, specifically the housing and jobs required to end poverty and exclusion. In this city, people would be sufficiently interconnected to act in solidarity, and from that, build systems and spaces that are both collective and sustainable.

Lindsey likes helping to shovel the snow off the local hockey rinks and making new ice, so everyone has a shared public space to enjoy the windchill.   

Through Spark, Genevieve helps connect organizations to ideas, resources and people. The centerpiece of the service is creating short term and high impact matches between the organizations and volunteers with professional skills.
After graduating from the University of Manitoba Genevieve worked in various arts and education based programs both locally and internationally. It was the love of this programming that brought her to CCEDNet and her role at Spark
In Genevieve’s ideal community everyone has access to free active and public transportation, free and easy access to childcare, and a Universal Basic Income
Genevieve is an active volunteer in her community and enjoys watching bad reality television