28 May The 8 80 Mighty Team

When I think about leadership, teamwork, connection, outstanding performance, creativity and fun, I immediately think of the 8 80 Cities team—my team.

I’ve been working in this small but mighty organization for 15 years. Yes, 15! Nearly my entire life in Canada. I will never forget being given the opportunity, as a newcomer, to join an inclusive organization focused on cities and how to make them better for everyone, from 8 to 80.

Camila Uriona

Most of you know us; you know that we’ve been around for 20 years, changing mindsets, and demonstrating that we all have the right to public space, the right to mobility and the right to participate. And as we know, with rights come responsibilities, and in our work with Indigenous communities, we have tied that responsibility to the land and to each other to stay aligned with our mandate. Guided by these principles, we meet people where they are, learn directly from the communities, and then implement pilot projects— both short-term and permanent. We advocate for cities that are inclusive, healthier, and happier, where we can all thrive as humans, enjoy public spaces, and connect with one another.

You might think we are a large organization—perhaps 30 or more people. But I am here to tell you that we are, in fact, 10 women from diverse backgrounds. Our team reflects a wide range of experiences—not just professionally, but culturally and ethnically as well. This diversity shapes us into an open-minded, dynamic and fun team.

Amanda O’Rourke presenting for th eKNight Emerging City Champions, 2025

Amanda O’Rourke, our executive director, and Jiya Benni, Director of Programs and Development, work tirelessly to build the partnerships and connections needed to secure funding—not an easy task these days. They also provide ongoing leadership and support, ensuring our programs and projects move forward with purpose and impact.

Left to right: Jiya Benni and Katie Konstantopoulos

Our stellar project managers, Tennesha Joseph, Praneti Kulkarni, Katie Konstantopoulos and Rebecca Arshawsky, are the ones making the magic happen. They lead every program and project with care, so we can deliver meaningful experiences, strong results, and thoughtful recommendations. Their work is grounded in what communities tell us through co-design workshops, and on what they observe and analyze as part of our service delivery. And it doesn’t end when a project wraps up. There are always follow-ups, reporting, and financial reconciliations. Our incredibly organized Manager of Finance, Verina Muharremi, leads this work with expertise and precision, supporting the organization’s overall financial operations.

Left to right: Jazmine Lawrence, Tennesha Joseph, Raisa Hossain, Verina Muharremi

Our project coordinators, Raisa Hossain and Jazmin Lawrence, play a vital role in supporting all programs and projects. Their contributions are essential to keeping everything running smoothly, including 8 80 Cities, which I think of as a project in its own right.

Left to right: Jazmine Lawrence, Praneti Kulkarni, Camila Uriona, Raisa Hossain, Jiya Benni

As the communications lead, my role is to shape and share our story, build our brand, highlight the impact of our work, and support our entire portfolio. My work spans storytelling, strategy, and often the behind-the-scenes logistics and operations that keep everything aligned.

Amanda O’Rourke is facilitating a co-design workshop with the community.

I am proud of where I work. I feel that pride whenever I talk about my team – even now as I write this blog post. I also feel deep appreciation for the many incredible individuals who have been part of this organization over the years and have left their mark.   We are the sum of all of those parts. We continue to carry the energy, ideas, and passion of former colleagues who helped shape who we are today.

The work we do is centred on equity, inside and outside. We take this seriously and have intentionally developed our current strategic plan, alongside with the board of directors to spike our local presence and make it loud and clear: when we create communities that are built for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old- we create communities for all; we do this with the hope to foster connection and bring barriers like social isolation down to make all feel included in the decision making processes.

I could go on, sharing so many stories, the behind-the-scenes ones, the moments that are fun, challenging, and deeply human. These are the experiences that keep us going as a collective, doing our best to create meaningful change. After 20 years, and even after navigating a global pandemic, we continue to provide a platform to do things better and to show that positive change is possible.

This work is a collective effort. It depends on strong partnerships and the ongoing support of our clients, funders, and board. To all of them, thank you. And thank you as well to our interns and volunteers, who help us move forward. Nothing we do would be possible without our community.

As Amanda says, there is more ahead for 8 80 Cities as we continue creating cities for all. Stay tuned for more reflections on this 20-years series.

Learn more about the 8 80 Cities Team.