“It’s about Real Stories!”

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“I love disappointment people!” Elaine Robinson

Anyone who knows Sister Elaine Robinson can tell you a few things about her: she loves her community, she knows how to take the negative and turn it into positive, and she is G.H.E.T.T.O. Let’s make a few things clear early in this article; despite her life circumstances, and where she grew up, she is every bit the Queen that we see making her moves here in Toronto.

In her continued conquest to redefine the word, “Ghetto,” Elaine has wholeheartedly taken on the challenge of sharing the authentic stories of those overcoming adversity with the re-launch of G.H.E.T.T.O Stories, a new radio show that will be streamed on social media, broadcasting live from Regent Park. The official re-launch is on Saturday, May 4^th, 2019, at 8:00 pm on Radio Regent. “Ghetto is not a place or a race,” explains Elaine, “Our community has a lot of problems, but not many solutions. Getting Higher Education to Teach Others shines a light on all levels, both the problems and the solutions.”

Mother, Grandmother, Entrepreneur, Community Worker and Agent of Change, are just a few of the words used to describe Ms. G.H.E.T.T.O. Elaine Lloyd-Robinson has spent most of her life in the beautiful and multicultural city of Toronto. For those who have had the privilege of working with her, they see her as a visionary with an unyielding passion and dedication to empowering the lives of everyone that she encounters. Elaine was only 18 years of age when she started her work with Toronto Community Housing, and from the very jump, her work can only be described as exemplary. As a grassroots organizer within the Toronto Community Housing Cooperation, Elaine initiated arts and cultural programs from her basement, which were later funded and integrated into programming at a local community centre. At age 33, she successfully graduated with her High School Diploma from SCAS, an Alternative High School for adults, where she also received the Don Robb award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.

At 41, she received her college diploma from George Brown College, where she was the recipient of the Honorable Jean Augustine Scholarship, and most recently she was presented with the 2018 Certificate of Excellence for Scarborough. Her need to succeed was supported by some key people in her life, one person being the Honourable Jean Augustine, a woman who has treated her like a daughter and has stood by her even during tough times. The other great individual is Donovan Samuels; she remembers a conversation she had with him and he said to her, “Are you going to work front lines forever? Get your credentials.” It is these words that inspired her to continue educating herself so that she would be able to educate others.

 “There is nothing wrong with wanting better!”  Elaine Anderson

Elaine very strategically chose Regent Park as the place to re-launch G.H.E.T.T.O Stories. Regent Park is a neighborhood located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada built in the late 1940s as a public housing project. Since then, Regent Park has been marginalized, and for the most part, ignored except for when funding was involved. Elaine explained that people will: come into the community, gather information from the residents, start programs, get funding, and then leave the community. This cycle has not been helpful and has left a community that is already considered vulnerable, feeling used and abused. “They leave and there is just no follow up! Something has to be done,” exclaimed Elaine. This is why when the opportunity came up at Radio Regent of the Regent Park Focus Media Centre to broadcast G.H.E.T.T.O Stories; Elaine flew in like a modern-day superheroine.

The G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories will give rise to critical conversations about community, gentrification, affordable housing, homelessness, diversity, culture, education, environment, access and various topics affecting those living in Regent Park, and all across Toronto. The show will include authentic stories of individuals around the city who have overcome insurmountable odds. Elaine is through with apologizing for her success, and her only focus now is supporting her community the best way she can; by allowing them to safely speak about their experiences, and having their voice heard worldwide.

If you would like more information about G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories, please call Elaine Robinson directly at 647-520-2054 or by email at elaine.ghettostories@gmail.com.