Different perspectives. Shared purpose. Collective action.
Creating a more equitable and inclusive region takes more than good ideas. It takes people working together to turn them into action.
The Leading Social Justice Collective (LSJC) is a three-month professional development program co-hosted by United Way Greater Toronto and the University of Toronto’s School of Cities.
Now entering its seventh cohort in 2027, LSJC brings together changemakers from the community, public and private sectors to tackle real social impact challenges, strengthen their leadership and advance collaborative solutions.
2022 alumna Amanda Ottley, The Pamoja InstituteThe Leading Social Justice Collective is truly a game changer. It goes beyond just imparting knowledge and skills—it takes you on a transformative journey of self-discovery. The program’s unique ability to pinpoint meaningful efforts in the right places is nothing short of remarkable… I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone looking to make a real impact in the world.
Why we invest in collective leadership
At United Way Greater Toronto, we know that building stronger communities means investing not only in essential programs and services, but also in the people, relationships and leadership capacity needed to create lasting change.
Our partnership with the University of Toronto’s School of Cities brings together United Way’s deep community connections and understanding of local needs with the University’s interdisciplinary expertise in research, education and city-building.
Together, we’re creating opportunities for leaders to learn across sectors, challenge existing approaches and work collaboratively to address systemic inequities in our region.
Bring a challenge. Build connections. Advance change.
LSJC is designed for people who are ready to move beyond discussing social justice challenges to exploring practical solutions.
Participants bring a real social impact challenge from their organization or community and work collaboratively in teams to develop new approaches.
Through a three-month learning experience, participants benefit from:
- Learning from accomplished leaders through interactive dialogue and shared experiences across sectors.
- Building meaningful connections through in-person and virtual networking with a diverse community of changemakers.
- Turning ideas into action through hands-on project coaching, reflection and collaborative problem-solving.
Participants also become part of a growing network of more than 200 alumni, connecting people, perspectives and ideas across organizations and communities.
Collective leadership in action: Explore the 2026 projects
From housing and health equity to youth opportunities, newcomer inclusion and community participation, LSJC teams bring diverse perspectives and expertise to some of our region’s most pressing social challenges.
Through their projects, participants put learning into practice, build cross-sector relationships and explore collaborative approaches to creating more equitable communities.
See the exciting projects the LSJC teams worked on!
Meet the 2026 teams and explore their projects.
Have a challenge in mind? Bring your team.
Applications are now open for the seventh cohort of the Leading Social Justice Collective, beginning in 2027.
Are you and your colleagues looking to tackle a social justice challenge within your organization or community?
LSJC invites teams of three to bring a real-world challenge, learn from diverse perspectives and work together to explore new approaches to lasting change.
You don’t need to have all the answers just a challenge worth tackling and a willingness to learn and collaborate.
Be part of the change.
A program developed in partnership with:
