RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS 

Megaphone’s mission is to change the story on poverty by promoting social equity, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating meaningful work. Incorporated in 2007 as Street Corner Media Foundation, Megaphone produces award winning, community-driven publications Megaphone magazine, Hope in Shadows calendar and Voices of the Street poetry anthology. These publications create meaningful opportunities for self-expression and employment to people experiencing poverty. In addition to our print programs, in 2019 Megaphone established a Speakers Bureau, which provides training for people with lived experience of substance use and poverty to connect with audiences through storytelling that challenges stigma in a workshop setting.

In 2022, Megaphone supported ~150 low income and homeless vendors to earn over $100,000 in product sales, and provided over $27,000 in stipends for contributions to publications and workshops. 

The role of the board 

The Hope in Shadows Society board of directors advances the mission of Megaphone, through good governance and oversight. The Board holds a fiduciary responsibility to comply with all legal requirements of a registered Canadian charity, to act in accordance with the Society By-laws and Constitution, and to formulate and approve governing policy decisions that promote the short- and long-term success of the Society in accordance with the Society’s strategic documents (mission, vision, values and strategic plan). The Board makes annual appointments to Committees to conduct work and research and produce recommendations for the Board.

The board meets a minimum of 5 times a year and board members are expected to attend board meetings and to join and attend meetings for one committee (governance, HR, finance, fundraising). All board members are elected for a two-year term. Being a board member requires a commitment of 5-10 hours per month. 

Key qualities for candidates 

Megaphone is recruiting 4 candidates to strengthen the diversity of perspectives and experiences at the board level. In particular, we welcome applications from people with expertise in fundraising, human resources, financial administration and/or accounting, and technology and digital development.

Megaphone recognizes the importance of an inclusive workplace and a diverse workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from people of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds; LGBTQ2+ identified persons; women/femmes/non-binary people; people with disabilities; and people with lived experience of issues on which Megaphone is working to change the public conversation, such as poverty, homelessness, and substance use.

If you wish to contribute to Megaphone’s success, please submit your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]. In your application, speak to what draws you to Megaphone’s work, and identify the area or areas of expertise that you will bring to the position.

The application deadline for these positions is May 9, 2023. Interviews will take place between May 15 and May 30, 2023.