Dr. Agnes Thomas

Dr. Agnes Thomas is executive director of CCS. Agnes has an extensive background in community development.  She’s served in leadership roles in the sector for more than two decades at various L’Arche communities around the world, and in Toronto at the Yonge Street Mission and the Jane/Finch Family and Community Centre.

Her passion for advocating for the rights of marginalized groups led her to complete her Ph.D. in Adult Education and Community Development. She also has an extensive body of research and published work and is a frequent lecturer and presenter.    

Today, Agnes will share her own immigration story, how her upbringing and lived experiences have shaped her worldview, and what she’s learned along her journey. We’ll explore the notion of influence, the question of identity and the power of change, as well as offer her perspective on what lies ahead for the settlement sector in a new decade and beyond.