Tackle health challenges head-on
With an aging population, rising healthcare costs and increasing levels of chronic disease, the world needs new innovations that improve health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Here at the Centre for Social Innovation, we know that great challenges also present opportunities to make the world a better place. We set out to find innovators tackling health challenges head on for Agents of Change: Community Health.
In 2016, CSI and Green Shield Canada Foundation created the Agents of Change: Community Health program to give dreamers, doers and innovators in Toronto a helping hand in developing solutions to health problems affecting various communities.
Each agent received a $10,000-grant, a one-year membership at the Centre for Social Innovation, acceleration supports from leading advisors and educators in organizational and business development, and took part in special programming such as Peer Circles and events to support their work. They achieved a 195% increase in revenues, and a 97% increase in the number of people impacted.
- Program, Training
- Social Ventures
What is Community Health?
Imagine riding home from work along a freshly painted bike lane where Cycle TO is offering a cycling workshop. You watch a local running club training in the park as a group of seniors pass by on a walking tour led by Building Roads Together. You stop at a farmers market to purchase some local produce from Fresh City Farms. You pick up a few extra things for your neighbour, recently diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. You’re worried but feel relieved knowing that her friends are taking turns bringing her meals using the TYZE Personal Networks online platform. You make one last stop at the local Health Centre to pick up some brochures on how to be a caregiver.
What Participants Got
Agents gained access to workspace, meeting space and CSI’s dynamic, multidisciplinary community of more than 1,000 organizations and 2,500 individuals. Agents of Change winners also benefited from CSI programs.

Susan Wright (LinkedIn)
Feed, educate and grow great kids and communities through summer meals programming.

Denise Booth (LinkedIn) & Krysta Williams
Improving the health of Indigenous pregnant people by restoring birth and reproductive justice through sharing traditional knowledge, support and building a network of Indigenous full spectrum doulas.

Glenda Myles (LinkedIn) & Susan Dawson
Educate. Advocate. Support. Helping people die with dignity, compassion and choice.

Laura Sygrove (LinkedIn)
Supporting the mental, emotional and physical health of youth in marginalized communities through yoga and mindfulness-based programming.

Providing inclusive and meaningful opportunities for individuals with additional needs to improve their health and wellness through dance.

Josephine Grey (LinkedIn)
Addressing the problem of food security, poverty, deprivation and the price effects of climate change for the working poor in St. James Town.

Elsie Amoako (LinkedIn)
Reducing adverse birth outcomes for African, Caribbean & Latin American women living in Canada through monitoring, information and community support on a mobile app.

Zal Press (LinkedIn)
Starting “health cooperatives” and shared value amongst specific patient groups.

Rob Shirkey (LinkedIn)
Accelerating our transition off fossil fuels with government mandated climate change & air pollution disclosure labels on gas pumps.
Each Agent will be connected to the talent of our incredible expert advisory committee! Committee members bring decades of experience, connections and insights from working in health.
Hima Batavia
Agents of Change: Community Health Manager
Hima is passionate about bringing equitable health and well-being to communities and cities across the world through intentionally designed experiences and solutions. Her work has taken her across India and Africa, with organizations such as the Earth Institute, Clinton Health Access Initiative and United Nations Foundation, and has been featured in publications including the Stanford Social Innovation Review, World Health Organization Bulletin, and PLoS Medicine. She joined the Centre for Social Innovation as the program lead of the Agents of Change program after returning to Toronto from being abroad. In her spare time, she co-leads a digital detox adult summer camp, called Camp Reset, to bring some play back into our lives. You can find her @himabatavia, and himabatavia.com.
Emma Barr, Manager, Community Investment
Green Shield Canada Foundation
Maggie Macdonald, Toxin Program Manager
Environmental Defence
Surkhab Peerzada, Manager
Toronto Central Self Management
Simon Trevarthen, Founder & Chief Inspiration Officer
Elevate Your Greatness
Rachel Gray, Executive Director
The Stop
Asad Ali Moten, Health Systems Solutions Coordinator,
Women’s College Hospital
Dr. Vipan Nikore, Healthcare Quality Officer
Trillium Health Partners
Narinder Dhami, Executive Director
LEAP: The Centre for Social Impact
Zannat Reza, Founder
Thrive 360
Deanna Heroux, Senior Manager
KPMG – Health Unit
Agents of Change: Community Health is funded by:
Part of the CSI Accelerates Initiative
At CSI, we support entrepreneurs with solutions that drive change through acceleration and incubation. Learn more about our approach here.
