Taashi Gupta (they/them)

I am a transmasculine, queer, south asian settler that considers Mississauga home. Until recently, I used to go by Berkha.

When I look back at my last 20 years of work, the focal point of all of it has been to facilitate organizational and individual change that fosters environments and communities where everyone can feel supported. This work has often focused on engaging and supporting the wellbeing of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, with a particular focus on youth and racialized communities. My fondest work experiences are when I’ve been able to support volunteers, staff, or others (often QTBIPOC folks) to feel supported to actualize their brilliance and come into their authentic leadership.

As a strategic thinker, I come from the desire to look beyond the current crisis or issue, to focus on what is the desired outcome, and then work towards that outcome. I love being able to work alongside others to imagine new possibilities, and then work together to amplify each others strengths to make meaningful change happen.

I’ve had the privilege to work, volunteer, consult or train in many sectors, including: 2SLGBTQ+, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and sexual health movements; post-secondary institutions; community and health services; and membership-based organizations and labour unions.

In the last few years, I continue to explore ways to centre joy, healing, and play in all my spaces. As a recovering Executive Director, I am stubbornly insistent on ensuring that we prioritize rest, care, and relationship in our work. Through Grounding Solutions, I’m excited to focus my energy towards supporting individuals and organizations to imagine possibilities to thrive and feel sustainable.

Kanaka Kulendran (they/them)

I am a non-binary, Tamil migrant, and settler here in T’karonto.  My ancestral roots are based in Valvettithuria, Eelam, a.k.a northern Sri Lanka.  

In my working spaces, my queer communities, and my earth working communities I am a practitioner of deep listening.  Listening deeply has allowed me to reflect, learn, and make connections. It has also helped me to work with others to shine a light on complex problems, circumstances, and opportunities and collaborate in envisioning ways to move forward.  Listening, learning and making sense of things has been my life’s work

I am also a cultivator of spaces where I bring people together to connect, and build relationships with each other through activities, conversations, and shared experiences.  I love creating spaces with others where we can feel vulnerable enough to laugh, cry and struggle together, and help each other recover from burnout culture.  

As an educator with a background in Political Science, I have spent the last  15 years working in the nonprofit sector, on the front lines, in management roles, and as a consultant.  My sector experience is diverse and includes Food Security/ Food Justice, Settlement, Youth and Education, Community Development, as well as working in public institutions including libraries and schools.  I’ve partnered with health organizations, neighbourhood based organizations, employment agencies, community health centres, grassroots groups, and government agencies.

Being able to build and deepen trusting and reciprocal relationships with Black, Indigenous, Racialized, Queer and Trans collaborators has helped me survive the many harms folks like me experience in a sector – A sector that is intended to help us move from surviving to thriving.  Through Grounding Solutions, I’m intent on continuing the work of moving towards thriving for all of the communities I belong to.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of how we work at Grounding Solutions. We are committed to seeking out and inviting individuals with shared and aligned values to work together on opening up possibilities for doing work differently, sustainably, and with kindness for each other and ourselves. We are grateful for the mentors and people who continue to support our journey to make the possibilities of thriving in this sector a reality.

If you are interested in collaborating on a project where our skills and values align, please get in touch.