Advocacy
We advocate for improved access by turning community insights into lasting, systemic change
Our First Project: Three Years of Mental Health and Digital Safety Advocacy
When the 2020 pandemic brought widespread isolation, loneliness, stress, and anxiety, we launched our first major initiative: a three-year mental health awareness project. Our mission was to:
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Raise awareness about mental health
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Reduce stigma and encourage open dialogue
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Empower individuals across Ontario to seek and offer help
What we achieved
Raising Awareness
Through our Mental Health Awareness Initiative, we helped raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage more open conversations about mental health across communities.
Building Understanding, Developing Skills
Working alongside community partners and subject matter experts, we also helped strengthen community capacity by facilitating mental health mentorship training for Active Leaders of Love volunteers. This equipped volunteers with practical knowledge and confidence to better recognize, respond to, and support friends, family members, and others experiencing mental health challenges.
Shaping Long-Term Impact
As our work evolved, we recognized that mental health does not exist in isolation. Through conversations with community members, frontline organizations, and partner agencies, we saw how interconnected challenges such as food insecurity, homelessness, human trafficking, digital exclusion, and access to reliable information all shape community well-being. This led us to expand our approach and develop the Light Board Project, to address barriers to information and resource access through community development, advocacy, and engagement.
Expanding Through Partnerships
Today, we continue to expand that impact through new partnerships and community initiatives. Our partnership with Follow Up Solutions, a Canadian integrated health and sustainability ecosystem, reflects our ongoing commitment to improving access to holistic care, strengthening collaboration across the health and wellness sector, and creating pathways that support healthier, more connected communities. We don’t simply complete projects - we use them to further lasting pathways for community improvement.
Project highlights
Elevated mental health conversations across Ontario
As part of our mental health awareness initiative, we were featured in an OMNI Television news segment highlighting our community walkathon. The coverage helped amplify our message, encouraging broader conversations about mental health, stigma reduction, safer online communities, and the importance of community support.
Strengthened partnerships with community organizations
We collaborated with Fight 4 Freedom to raise awareness of human trafficking and its mental health impacts, with Sai Dham Food Bank to improve access to food and address food insecurity during the pandemic, and supported Fred Victor's Women's Shelter through donations that promoted women's safety and empowerment.
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​Demonstrated the power of digital advocacy and public action
As online activity increased during the pandemic, we launched a digital campaign to combat online hate speech through a public petition, a community walkathon and online seminar, a podcast series exploring the mental health impacts of hate speech, and educational resources to help individuals build resilience, protect their privacy, and report harmful content.
Stronger mental health communities
Active Leaders of Love continues its mission to bring communities together, build knowledge and skills, and foster meaningful connections that inform programs and initiatives promoting mental well-being.
Digital Safety & Anti-Hate Speech Campaign
Our Response
As the pandemic increased online activity, we concluded the initiative with a digital campaign to combat online hate speech. Launched on June 20, 2022, it included:
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Petition (achieving 75% of targeted signatories)
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Walkathon and online seminar
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Podcast series addressing the mental health impact of hate speech
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Guidance for individuals on building resilience, protecting privacy, and reporting harmful content
Key Insights
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While it was once true that Facebook and Instagram had higher visible levels of hate speech, this shifted significantly starting in 2020. Meta expanded its AI and moderation systems during the pandemic, and by Q3 2020 both platforms reached around 95% proactive detection of hate speech.
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This means that today, the vast majority of hate content is removed before users ever see it - a sharp improvement from earlier years (when only about 24% was caught proactively in 2018). Reports from 2022–2023 show this high detection rate has remained stable (94–96%).
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Online hate can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation, while also deepening societal divides
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Social media, when used mindfully, can influence policy and create positive change
Legislative Context
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On February 26, 2024, the Online Harms Act was introduced in Canada to establish stronger protections against harmful online content, including hate speech. Our campaign was one of many efforts contributing to the broader conversation and public action around online safety, digital responsibility. While Active Leaders of Love did not shape the legislation directly, our advocacy, public education, and community engagement contributed to awareness of these issues and aligned with the growing public dialogue that supported stronger protections online. Our work also emphasized the link between online hate speech and mental health.
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This proposed legislation includes:
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A Digital Safety Commission and Ombudsperson
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Clear hate-related Criminal Code provisions
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Stronger protections for children and greater penalties for harmful online content
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Digital Safety Petition
75% of targeted signatures (15 of 20)
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Initiative Duration
Three years (2020-2023)
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Community Partnerships
Three organizations actively engaged
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Digital Campaign Reach
Reached online communities across multiple platforms, increasing awareness of mental health and online hate
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Community Development
Helped shape Active Leaders of Love's long-term approach to addressing interconnected social challenges through community engagement, partnerships, advocacy, and future programming.
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Legislative Context
Contributed to public awareness and dialogue surrounding online safety during a period of increasing national attention to digital harms.
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Media Coverage
Featured on OMNI Television for our Mental Health Awareness Walkathon, Save a Life
Evolving Digital Advocacy
As legislative, technological, and community needs continue to evolve, Active Leaders of Love remains committed to supporting community education, advocacy, participation, partnerships, and engagement that advance safer, more inclusive, online communities.
Get Involved
Watch the campaign video - Learn about our awareness efforts and community engagement
Sign up for updates - Join our community and stay informed about future initiatives that promote mental health, equity, and safe digital spaces
Explore the 2022 petition - See how collective action can drive change
Our Journey
5 Years of Commitment to Community Empowerment
By mobilizing communities and working with policymakers, we raise awareness and lead initiatives that protect individuals and promote inclusion. Our goal is to empower people to stand up for their right and the rights of others, ensuring their voices help shape meaningful community change.