About us

The Fearless Cities project is an initiative for social justice, led by a team of passionate advocates for marginalized communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The project leaders, Noheir, Kawther, and Eman, bring unique expertise in sustainable design, urban justice, and community engagement to the project. Together, they aim to create a more inclusive and just city, where everyone, especially visibly Muslim women and other women of color, can move around safely in public spaces.

The project is a collaboration between the Leading Social Justice Collective (LSJC), the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, and the United Way. It seeks to enhance the safety and inclusivity of public spaces for visibly Muslim women and other women of color in the GTA, which is recognized as an "arrival city" that welcomes newcomers and celebrates diversity. The project explores the concept of the "right to the city" and the rights of visible minorities and visibly religious women in Toronto. It investigates the implications of gendered Islamophobia and racism on their perception of the city and how they can navigate it.

To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges these communities face in public spaces in the GTA, the project uses various research methods, including storytelling, interviews, and focus group activities. The team performs a thorough literature review and applies sampling techniques to ensure that the target population is appropriately selected and the sample is representative.

The project's findings will be compiled in a comprehensive report and a civic engagement campaign, which will provide valuable insights into the key challenges faced by these communities in navigating public spaces in the GTA. The information will be crucial for policymakers, community organizations, and other stakeholders seeking to promote greater equity and inclusivity in public areas. Overall, the Fearless City research project is an important step forward in advancing social justice and promoting the well-being of marginalized communities in the GTA.                                 

Target groups:

1. One of the Target groups The Fearless Cities initiative aims to support is professional women in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including women of color and visibly Muslim women. To achieve this goal, the initiative could collaborate with the Women's Land Institute, a non-profit organization that advocates for women's leadership in land-use planning and design. With the Women's Land Institute as a partner, the Fearless Cities initiative can benefit from their expertise and resources to ensure safety and inclusion for professional women in the GTA. The Women's Land Institute can offer a network for the research group to create focus groups and walk shops to understand what women feel within public spaces and what would need to be changed in the place guidelines.The Fearless Cities initiative and the Women's Land Institute can establish a more robust network of professional women in the GTA committed to promoting safety and inclusion.

2. Another Fearless Cities initiative target group is the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) University Students. To reach this target group, the Initiative could partner with the University with Women Initiative within the social groups in the university.This partnership could provide valuable support and resources to the Fearless City initiative in its efforts to promote safety and inclusion for university students in the GTA. The participatory research could offer focus groups and storytelling to map female students' experience navigating public spaces safely. It could also provide networking opportunities for female students, allowing them to connect with other students and organizations working towards similar goals. Through this partnership, the Fearless Cities initiative could build a more robust network of female university students in the GTA committed to promoting social justice and serving marginalized communities. By leveraging the expertise and resources of the Parenting with Women Initiative, the Initiative could also gain valuable insights into practical strategies for promoting safety and inclusion for female students in public spaces. Ultimately, this partnership could create a more inclusive city where female students can feel safe.

3. Another target group of the Fearless City initiative is women's groups in community centers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). To reach this target group, the initiative could potentially partner with community centers that have existing women's groups or establish new ones to engage women in discussions and activities related to safety and inclusion in public spaces. Partnering with community centers could provide the Fearless City initiative with access to a diverse range of women from different backgrounds and experiences. The women's groups could serve as a platform for the initiative to engage with women and understand their specific concerns and challenges in public spaces. The initiative could also offer training and workshops to equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate public spaces safely and advocate for their rights.Through this partnership, the Fearless City initiative could build a stronger network of women in the GTA who are committed to promoting social justice and serving marginalized communities. By engaging with women in community centers, the initiative could gain valuable insights into effective strategies for promoting safety and inclusion for women in public spaces. Ultimately, this partnership could contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and just city where women can feel safe and empowered to participate in their communities.