Sam Rockbrune (she/her)
Executive Director
Hi, my name is Sam Rockbrune (she/her) and I am the Executive Director at KWIC.
I have a passion for coordinating projects and connecting people to achieve big goals, solve problems and build strong community. I am a graduate of York University's Master of Arts in Socio-Legal Studies in which my research took a critical stance on law and policy.
I also hold a BA Honours from Carleton University in Law with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. I have a wide range of work and volunteer experience in higher education and non-profit leadership. Since 2014, I have worked on many social justice issues applying an intersectional lens to fields such as gender-based violence, campus sexual violence, and increased access to mental health supports. I am a co-founder of Students for Consent Culture Canada, a national non-profit working to end campus sexual violence and promote cultures of consent.
Outside of my work, I can be found making art, reading books and in the garden!
As ED at KWIC, I am excited to continue the amazing and important work of connecting global issues to local initiatives and encouraging lifelong learning, community involvement and activism. You can reach me at sam.rockbrune@kwic.info.
Bethan Bates (she/her)
KWIC Administration Coordinator - Finances and Resource Development
Siwmae! My name is Bethan and I am the Administration Coordinator for Resource Development and Finances here at KWIC.
I am an immigrant to Canada having come initially on an exchange year from Prifysol Abertawe (Swansea University). Since graduating with a BA in English Literature and History in 2022 I have been working in the non-profit sector. I was drawn to KWIC due to my interest in social justice and intersectionality and have previously been involved on the Board of Directors and Programming Committee. I am passionate about education and how education can look beyond the classroom and into the community. In my spare time I enjoy reading (especially romance fiction), watching hockey, and cuddling with my cat Smokey.
You can reach me at bethan@kwic.info or finance@kwic.info!
Sarah Forrest (she/her)
KWIC Program and Outreach Coordinator
Hello! My name is Sarah Forrest (she/her), and I am a settler working and learning in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough.
As the new Program and Outreach Coordinator, I am excited to further KWIC’s contribution of common unity around global issues into local initiatives through discussions, workshops, and partnerships.
My background is in education, administration, and community engagement, where I have had the great honour, and pleasure, to collaborate with people from across the world. Throughout my experiences, I have witnessed the heart-felt impact of community, and how safe, welcoming spaces can nurture and actualize belonging for all.
I graduated from Trent University with a BA Honours in Indigenous Studies, and am attending part-time the Master of Arts in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies program at the Frost Centre, Trent University.
Beyond work and school, I can be found cooking or outside.
Please get in touch, if you have any questions or would like to know more about KWIC’s programs and outreach: sarah@kwic.info.
Miigwetch, and I look forward to meeting you!
Chloé Lapensée (she/her)
Resource Centre Facilitator
Hi there! My name is Chloé (she/her) and I am the Resource Centre Facilitator at the Kawartha World Issues Centre. I am going into my third year at Trent University in International Development and Environmental Studies. As someone very passionate about environmental and social justice, I am grateful that I have the opportunity to explore its numerous intersections through my work at KWIC. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors and exploring new hiking trails!
I am thankful to be part of this team and excited to continue our work on global issues here in our community. If you have any questions or want to learn more about our KWIC E.Y.E Centre (ESC B101 at Trent University), feel free to email me at chloe@kwic.info.
Julia Lowe (she/her)
BSW Placement Student
Hello! My name is Julia and I am in my third year in Trent’s Bachelor of Social Work program. I am currently doing a placement with KWIC in support of their International Women’s day event in March and very excited to be a part of an organization with such an amazing history of work in Nogojiwanong/Peterborough. In my free time I enjoy reading, writing poetry, and making jewelry!
Kelsey Roote (she/her)
Indigenous Project Lead - Return to Mother Earth Project
Aanii my name is Kelsey Roote (she/her), and I am Anishinaabe and Dutch from Saugeen First Nation. I am currently in my fourth and final year of Indigenous Environmental Studies at Trent. As my program may hint at, I am passionate about achieving justice for the land and people of this land. Indigenous voices are so important in all that we do, especially when it comes to caring for Mother Earth- I hope to center this in all of my work. I love taking part in community initiatives and groups and look forward to the work that I can contribute to at KWIC!
Kim Goodkey (she/her)
KWIC + TRACKS Joint Bachelor of Social Work Placement Student
Hi, my name is Kim (she/her) and I’m a fourth-year Bachelor of Social Work placement student with KWIC working under the START program. I have been a settler in the Nogojiwanong area for more than 20 years. Through my studies in both social work and Indigenous courses, I have become passionate about finding ways as a settler to engage with Indigenous people and communities in ways that are giving, invited or reciprocal rather than the extractive, unwanted and exploitative ways my forebears have done. I completed my third-year placement at Sage and Sunshine Culture-Based School and learned a lot about being an ally for Indigenous people. I am also very passionate about studying gender-based violence, its causes and its correlates.
I am a single mother of four kiddos and was a stay-at-home parent for ten years before coming to Trent to study Social Work. I enjoy anything that allows me to be on the water, especially paddle boarding and kayaking with my dog. As a family we love camping, hiking and going out for donuts together.
Mauricio Interiano (he/him)
TEACH Outside the Box Program Coordinator
Hi everyone! My name is Mauricio (he/him) and I am the TEACH Outside the Box Social Justice Certificate Program Coordinator. Originally from Honduras, I immigrated to Canada at the age of 16. I hold a Bachelor's degree in International Development and Sociology from Trent University, as well as a Master's degree in International Development with a specialization in Migration from the Graduate Institute of Geneva in Switzerland.
Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have been deeply committed to community development, research, communications, and outreach. With a diverse range of experiences, I am eager to apply my skills and knowledge as the TEACH Program Coordinator.
Outside of my professional endeavors, I find joy in simple pleasures. I enjoy coffee, cooking, reading, walking, and traveling with my friends and family. If you want to learn more about the TEACH Program, e-mail teachpeterborough@gmail.com.
Emma Donneral
Trent Oxfam Coordinator
Sustainable Trent Coordinator
Margaret Zou (she/her)
Researcher/Project Coordinator
Hello Everyone! I'm Margaret (she/her) and I am passionate about engaging youth and students in the wider community. My interests include climate change, food security and health. Prior to joining KWIC, I worked at several NGOs in both the US and Canada. I started working with KWIC in May 2020 as a Researcher for the partnership project with GreenUP: Advancing the SDGs 2030 Agenda in Nogojiwanong | Peterborough, and developed a series of interactive workshops on the SDGs to engage students in our work. More recently, my work involves creating workshops for students covering the intersections of UNDRIP and climate action, as well as supporting KWIC's project on Advancing Gender Equality.
I hold an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Liverpool and an MSc in Public Health, specializing in Environmental Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling and exploring new places.
If you'd like to learn more about the workshops we currently offer, please connect with me at Margaret@kwic.info I look forward to hearing from you!
Madison Laurin (she/her)
Bookkeeper: Sustainable Trent, Trent Oxfam, TRACKS
Hi there! My name is Madison (she/her) and I am a settler-Canadian of British, French, Hungarian and
German descent living in Nogojiwanong. I am grateful to have lived and learned here for over three years,
during which time I have worked with TRACKS Youth Program and KWIC in various capacities. Currently,
I am the bookkeeper for TRACKS and two of the levy groups supported by KWIC, Sustainable Trent and
Trent Oxfam. I pursue this work on the side of a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Community
Development from the University of Toronto.