As we mark the 150th anniversary of confederation, The Philanthropist is profiling Canadians from across the non-profit sector and putting a face to 150 individuals who work or volunteer in Canada’s social sector.
Name: Tunchai Redvers
Current role in the sector: Co-Founder and National Programs Director of We Matter, a national Indigenous-led non-profit committed to Indigenous youth empowerment, hope and life promotion.
Years working and/or volunteering in the non-profit sector: Nine years.
What was your first job in the sector or a defining moment?
My first “official” job in the sector, and also a defining moment, was starting my own organization, alongside my brother, at the age 22. We built We Matter from scratch, after having an unplanned phone conversation back in spring 2016. We launched our organization/national campaign in October 2016 and within a year, have reached millions of people on social media and grown over 20,000 followers. We are now a full-time team of 3 continuing to build our vision.
Describe your desk/workspace.
I work from home and my workspace is surrounded by artwork I’ve gathered from youth in the workshops I run across the country, as well as boxes of We Matter swag and materials. I am also a work nomad, so my workspace changes based on my travel, from airports to airplanes to cars to hotels to cafes to schools to everything in-between.
What are you reading or following that has expanded your understanding of the non-profit sector?
My world has been so busy getting my own non-profit off the ground and running, and most everything I’ve learned has been experiential. I’ve learned by just doing—learning in action. And I’m continuing to learn everyday, about the processes and journey that is starting and running your own organization.
What do you think our sector needs to be thinking about?
Decolonizing the non-profit world, indigenizing operations and processes.
Do you know someone we should profile as part of this series? Email us at philanthropistprofiles@gmail.com
