Meet our new Executive Director, Daniella Quinones! We sat down with Daniella to ask her a few questions about her career journey, and what excites her about Heart-Links and the year ahead. Do you have a question for Daniella? Join us online on October 28th for meet & greet with Dani, Maya and Trish. RSVP by October 20th by email info@heart-links.org.

What do you think is special about Heart-Links?

The heart of what makes Heart-Links truly exceptional is the strong, dedicated community that has been its foundation for so many years. As I’ve had the privilege of getting to know the board, committee members, and our inspiring partners in Peru, it has become abundantly clear that those who join Heart-Links aren’t just passing through. They become deeply committed to the mission and stay for the long haul. Their passion, dedication, and belief in the vision are what make Heart-Links not just an organization, but a lasting movement.

Do you have a favorite Heart-Links moment so far?

One of my most memorable moments so far has been meeting our partners in Peru over Zoom. Even though it’s been virtual, the warmth and authenticity of their commitment to the cause radiates through the screen. It’s moments like these that remind me of the tangible difference Heart-Links is making. I can’t wait for the day when I get to meet them face-to-face!

Who inspires you?

Maya Angelou has always been a source of inspiration for me. She has this quote that I carry with me, which I believe sums up her powerful approach to life: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” That’s the way I want to live too. It’s not enough to simply go through the motions of life; it’s about embracing every day with purpose, joy, and impact. That’s the mindset I bring into everything I do—especially my work with Heart-Links.

What is your educational/career background? Where did you grow up?

I was born in Colombia, but London, Ontario has been my home for most of my life. Growing up here gave me access to excellent educational opportunities, which eventually led me to Brescia University College, a Western affiliate, where I pursued leadership studies. After graduating in 2019, I was drawn to the nonprofit sector, and I’ve been working in it ever since. It’s been incredibly fulfilling to dedicate my career to causes that I am passionate about.

What are some Heart-Links projects you are most excited to work on this year?

I’m really excited to dive into building strong relationships with our donors. I want to forge meaningful connections so that donors can truly see the impact their contributions are making. It’s one thing to donate, but it’s another to feel the impact on a personal level—and I want them to experience that. I’m also really looking forward to helping plan the next solidarity trip, which I think will be such a meaningful way to reconnect and re-engage our community.

What might be some challenges?

One potential challenge might be getting back into the rhythm of organizing the solidarity trips, especially since it’s been a little while since the last one. I think sparking interest and ensuring that we have the necessary support and logistics in place will take some time and effort. But challenges like these are what push us to grow, and I’m confident we’ll overcome them.

What would you say to Heart-Links donors and volunteers about the importance of their support?

To all our donors and volunteers, your support is truly the heartbeat of Heart-Links. You are not just backing projects—you are standing in solidarity with our partners in Peru, helping to build a community that transcends borders. Your generosity creates connections that uplift lives, fostering hope and opportunity in Peru. We are all interconnected in this shared mission of compassion, and together, we are shaping a better, more equitable future. Every effort, every minute, every contribution strengthens the bonds between our communities, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. Thank you for walking this path of solidarity with us.

Cecilia Inguanse knows what it means to grow and nurture a grassroots vision—the kind of vision Heart-Links has embraced for over 25 years.

Passionate about supporting people who face multiple and complex needs, Cecilia has spent her professional life helping women and other individuals challenged by issues such as physical or mental health problems, abuse, trauma, addiction and poverty to improve their quality of life. It is paramount to Cecilia that all people feel seen and heard and know that they matter.

As a transitional case manager at CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Heath Services – My Sisters’ Place, Cecilia offers support, advocacy and connections to women and other vulnerable populations. She believes in the power of connection and inclusion to create a strong community that can meet people’s needs. At My Sister’s Place’s inception 17 years ago, she was the very first transitional case worker of this incredibly vital supportive community.

Peru is Cecilia’s home country. Graduating from San Martin de Porres University with a Bachelor of Social Work, she practised in Peru for over eight years before coming to Canada in 1994. She was awarded degree equivalency by the University of Toronto and then completed her Social Service Work Diploma at Fanshawe College.

Cecilia carries out her work with strong values of solidarity and friendship. That’s what captured her attention about Heart-Links. She joined our team close to eight years ago, initially as a member of the Peru Projects Committee. This committee reviews the projects presented to Heart-Links by our partners in Peru and then makes recommendations to the board. They also check-in regularly with our partners throughout the year.

These strong connections with the Peruvian community, Cecilia notes, have been particularly important during the pandemic. She admires the creativity our community partners in Peru have shown with the limited resources at their disposal during this extremely challenging experience.

Cecilia has sat on Heart-Links’ board of directors for the past five years—longer than any other current director. She appreciates Heart-Links’ approach to empowering our partner communities in Peru to engage in meaningful change and transformational growth. Important, too, is recognizing that change takes time and needs to be driven by the insider wisdom of our Peruvian partners.  

Cecilia generously shares her time and talents not only in her work at My Sister’s Place and as a Heart-Links volunteer, but also as a member of the London-Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership through London City Hall.  This committee is responsible for supporting the successful integration of new immigrants and refugees. Cecilia applies psychosocial education to facilitate the inclusion and integration of these multicultural communities to their new home. In 2021, she was recognized with an Ontario Volunteer Service Award.

When asked about her work and volunteering, Cecilia said that she does it “with all my heart.”

Thank you for your heartfelt commitment, Cecilia, and for the values and experience you bring to our work.

Want to learn more about the Heart-Links board and the work we support in northern Peru? Join us Sunday, May 29 at 1:30 p.m. for our virtual AGM. Register here.

Today, we’d like to hightlight what that experience was like for Heart-Links board director Julia Rolo.

Julia was working as a chef in Berlin when the world started going sideways from the coronavirus pandemic. It was March 2020, and Prime Minister Trudeau was telling Canadians abroad to get home. Julia didn’t delay. She sold her things, got out of her apartment lease, and hopped on the next flight out of Germany.

She remembers moving into her mom’s basement in London and thinking she needed to “do something” to help the community. “Why didn’t I go to medical school?” she asked herself. “Why don’t I go do grocery shopping to help?”

Then she saw Heart-Links’ posting for new board members on the Innovation Works website.

Fast forward to 2021: Julia has been on the Heart-Links Board of Directors, serving also on our Fund Development Committee, for almost a year. She just completed a research coordinator position studying transnational care-giving experiences among immigrants in London, and she is currently working in long-term care as a personal support assistant for a client with limited mobility.

Seeing the frontline during this pandemic has only emboldened Julia to do more for communities in both Canada and in Peru.

Why was Julia drawn to Heart-Links? “When you have smaller or grassroots organizations,” she says, “it gives you real flexibility and you honour what people are seeking, a more fair and egalitarian approach.”

In Julia’s view, “We need more Heart-Links in the world. They do their little piece and it is very important.”

As a graduate in International Development from the University of Ottawa, Julia is a tremendous asset to our team. She understands that equitable and sustainable international development depends on relationships built on trust and respect. She loves that Heart-Links trusts our partners to know where to direct the financial support we provide. “It’s something special, the trust relationship,” she says. “What they have built is unique and it helps give people ownership over their lives.”

Joining Heart-Links’ Board of Directors during a pandemic had challenges. Meetings went strictly virtual and normal face-to-face connection was eliminated. What has Julia learned so far? “I really like the team,” she says, “and look forward to meeting in person one day. Many of our directors have a real connection and real experience on the ground with our partners. There is more emotion and capacity on our board, with the flexibility and ability to pivot to help our partners.”

What are a few other things we can tell you about Julia? She has a cat named Lasagna. She loves cooking at home. And her favourite place in the world is Sophia, Bulgaria.

Heart-Links would like to thank Julia Rolo and all our directors and committee volunteers for their hard work and dedication during this challenging year. Because of people like you, a more just and equitable world is possible.

You can meet Heart-Links 2021 board of directors and learn more about our work in Peru by joining us for our AGM. Learn more here.

Elisa also brings a personal commitment to connecting local and global. Her cultural values and her knowledge of Latin America enrich our local community and strengthen Heart-Links’ work.

“I’ve seen the poverty in El Salvador,” she says. “We’re privileged in Canada to be able to help organizations in another country. It’s that local-to-global factor of asking what we can we do to help people in a situation different from our own.”

As a new board members and a welcome addition to our community engagement committee, Elisa is excited to be working among like-minded people who are passionate about what they do. She can already see that passionate people in the community are what makes Heart-Links thrive.

“We are a small non-profit that is doing really significant and quality work in Peru by giving the local organizations the voice and narrative,” she says. “They understand their communities, so we are supporting them to do what they know how to do best.”

One goal Elisa has as a board member is to see Heart-Links making an even greater impact and writing even more stories of success.

Though she loves her job in access services for Western University, Elisa believes Heart-Links will give her new foundations, presenting new challenges and new ways of reaching a goal. “Skills of volunteerism and empathy are so important,” she says. “I’m really excited to see that energy of awareness and selflessness spread, especially with the uncertainty that we are facing globally . . . What better opportunity for us to learn to understand and to support one another?”

Ever the optimist and always willing to help out, Elisa makes a great addition to our team. 

The Heart-Links board of directors is part of this effort, too. Our directors give generously of their time and talents to make a difference, a change for the better, in this world of ours. They have chosen to do their part by connecting with our partners in Peru and working with them to improve life in their communities.

Through our new Meet Our Board series, we’d like to introduce you to the people who make up this amazing team.

“Heart-Links would not exist without the efforts of a great many people.”
—Louise Vandenbosch, past chair of the board

Nathalie Kroeker joined the Heart-Links board last May. A recent graduate of Peace and Conflict Studies, she comes from a family that values community involvement highly. In fact, she found out about Heart-Links through her mum, who works closely with Pillar Non-Profit Network, to which Heart-Links also belongs.

Nathalie was drawn to Heart-Links’ mission of building cross-cultural relationships. “We’re in a globalized world, but communities are still so important,” she says. “We need to connect ethically, openly with communities across the world . . . Community is not just geographic.”

During her first AGM with Heart-Links (held by videoconference), Nathalie was impressed by our Peruvian partners’ resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was also struck by the similarities between communities here and there. “Having the people from Peru taking part in our call was amazing,” she says. “The sense of family was really there . . . You can tell that they’re doing good work.”

On-the-ground experience with peace-work organizations in Bosnia and Guatemala has prepared Nathalie well for building solidarity and financial support for Heart-Links’ work. “It’s so essential right now,” she says, “to be able to continue to support our partners.”

As part of our Solidarity Trip Committee, she will be looking into how to continue to make connections between Canada and Peru even when face-to-face visits are not possible.

“For me what’s really powerful is having the chance to build relationships with people who you normally wouldn’t,” she says. “Even with language barriers and living in different circumstances, it’s amazing how much you can learn and connect with people despite those differences.”

We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Nathalie, for joining our board of directors, and welcome to the Heart-Links family!