Gracia Dyer Jalea: Building An Innovative Hub To Share The Diverse Stories Of Toronto's Immigrant Community

Drown the Noise

Imagine feeling like you just didn't belong or that your stories weren't being heard? You'd almost feel invisible and ultimately, that would leave you with a sense of disconnect to your community.

For Gracia Dyer Jalea and her six co-founders, they wanted the Toronto Ward Museum to accurately share stories of immigrants who moved to Toronto and helped build the multi-cultural landscape that exists today. Having come from immigrant backgrounds, they understand the challenges and disconnect all too well.

While Toronto only accounts for 8% of Canada's total population, it is home to 36% of all immigrants living in Ontario and 20% of all immigrants living in Canada.

It is their hope, that the 'museum without walls' serves as a bridge to strengthen our understanding of immigration history, through innovation and public engagement.

Not only are they shedding light on so many untold stories; but they are opening up the conversation by having immigrants co-develop and co-deliver a lot of the museums programming! Take a listen to how these change-makers are leaving a lasting legacy.