#yualumni

Described as a “big-picture thinker with his feet (and heart) on the ground,” Chris Penrose has been working with youth in the Jane-Finch community for over a decade. As the Executive Director of Success Beyond Limits, he has had direct and positive impact on the lives of hundreds of youth in the community, drawing on his own turbulent adolescence to help them achieve higher credit accumulations, better attendance and higher grades than other students in their cohort. A regular invited guest on CBC Metro Morning, Chris has become an important voice in Toronto on violence, policing and community issues as they affect youth. 

A life dedicated to the arts and passion for her work has not only won Debra Brown numerous awards including an Emmy, but has also enabled her to become an integral part of the creation of some of the world’s most successful and inimitable productions. Having choreographed Cirque de Soleil shows since its inception, a 4-minute spectacle on the 74th annual Academy awards and tours, performances music videos for Aerosmith, Madonna and many other world renowned stars, Debra has made a name for herself through her unique fusion of dance and circus arts.

Throughout the years, Debra has continued to define and expand the boundaries of her art. Line 1 is Ms. Brown’s newest project. Line 1 is a visual feast where music, circus, and dance are all brought together in one single show.

Born in Iraq and forced to leave with her family as a child, Ban spent years working for various prominent multinational and governmental organizations. It was only after moving to Canada to pursue a second degree in gender and women’s studies at York that she finally had the chance to return to Iraq to fulfill her dream of being part of the reconstruction of her homeland.