Written By:
Colleen James, Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada, Regional Councillor for the City of Kitchener and champion for inclusive, community-driven leadership and Scott Williams (he/him), Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada, nonprofit professional, community volunteer, and advocate for inclusive and thriving communities
Over the last year, we had the privilege of facilitating Capacity Canada’s first Equity in Leadership Peer Circle.
When we launched the program, we knew there was a need. We had heard from nonprofit leaders who often felt isolated in their roles and who were navigating the additional realities that can come with being part of Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, and leaders with disabilities from underrepresented communities. We hoped the Peer Circle would provide a place to learn, connect, and support one another. What we did not fully anticipate was just how meaningful those connections would become.
The need for spaces like the Equity in Leadership Peer Circle is reflected in broader research across Ontario’s nonprofit sector. A 2023 report from CivicAction and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Diversity Institute found that racialized people occupy just 18.2% of nonprofit
leadership roles in Ontario, while Indigenous Peoples represent only 1.6% of nonprofit leaders. The same study found that nearly one-third of racialized leaders and more than 40% of 2SLGBTQ+ leaders reported feeling the need to hide part of their identity in order to fit in at work. These findings highlight why leadership development cannot be separated from belonging, psychological safety, and community.
Our Peer Circle brought together leaders from across Waterloo Region for monthly conversations about some of the most important and challenging aspects of nonprofit leadership. Over ten months, participants explored burnout, advocacy, collaboration, reconciliation and decolonization, navigating systems, financial sustainability, racism and sexism, vicarious trauma, and psychological safety. Guest speakers shared insights and resources, while participants spent time learning from one another through honest conversation and reflection.
As facilitators, we entered sessions with a plan, but some of the most powerful moments emerged from the wisdom, vulnerability, and generosity that participants brought into the room.
At the end of the cohort, we invited participants to reflect on their experience. Their responses reminded us why spaces like this matter.
One participant described the group as “a collective deep breath for 3 hours once a month.”
They wrote:
“We were able to have honest, authentic conversations in a way that felt very natural, and I think that came from everyone being so deeply in need of spaces like this. It’s been incredibly grounding and supportive, and I’m genuinely sad that this particular cohort is coming to an end.”
Another participant highlighted the value of peer connection, describing the group as:
“A place to safely vent. A chance to be vulnerable instead of on.”
Others spoke simply about the opportunity to share openly, freely, and without fear of judgment. One participant told us that the Peer Circle had helped them “survive and thrive” through their first year as an Executive Director.
That theme surfaced throughout the feedback. Participants consistently pointed to trust, psychological safety, and authentic relationships as some of the most valuable aspects of the experience. One participant reflected that trust was not something that could be guaranteed, but something that group members actively built together. They credited the group’s Brave Space Agreement, shared accountability, and thoughtful facilitation with helping create the conditions where honest conversations could happen.
The feedback also confirmed that the Circle’s impact extended beyond any single session topic. While participants identified financial sustainability, reconciliation and decolonization, burnout, advocacy, collaboration, racism and sexism, and other leadership challenges as particularly valuable discussions, what stood out most was the importance of having a community of peers who understood the realities they were facing.
For us, that may be the most important lesson from this pilot. Leadership development is not only about acquiring new knowledge or skills. It is also about belonging. Leaders need opportunities to connect with others who understand their experiences, challenge their thinking, celebrate their successes, and support them through difficult moments.
The Equity in Leadership Peer Circle was designed as a learning opportunity. It became something more. It became a community.
We are deeply grateful to every participant who trusted us, trusted one another, and helped shape this first cohort. Their openness, honesty, and generosity created something special. As one participant put it, they came to rely on the Circle more than they ever expected.
The first cohort may be finished, but the need for spaces like this remains clear. We look forward to continuing the conversation and supporting the next generation of Equity in Leadership Peer Circle participants.
If you are interested in being part of the second cohort beginning September 2026, please complete this expression of interest form and we’ll be in touch soon!
Written by:
Colleen James, Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada
Colleen James is the Regional Councillor for the City of Kitchener and founder of Divonify Incorporated, bringing more than 15 years of experience in municipal government and equity-focused leadership. An award-winning consultant and community advocate, she is committed to building inclusive communities through collaboration, accountability, and meaningful action.
email: [email protected]
Scott Williams, Executive in Residence, Capacity Canada
Scott Williams (he/him) is a nonprofit leader and community advocate with more than 20 years of experience advancing mental health and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion through leadership, volunteerism, and community engagement. Most recently, he served as Executive Director of Spectrum Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space and continues to support Waterloo Region through volunteer leadership and community initiatives.
email: [email protected]