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The Heart of a Servant Leader

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BY KEISHA JOHNSON

As a child, Kevin Junor observed his mother Joyce selflessly care for others from whatever means she had. Joyce lived the motto, “If I can help somebody as I travel along then my living will not be in vain.”

For her children it became a way of life that grew on them. They recall times of doing without and frequently sharing their privileges to show someone else dignity.

Kevin admits, “I didn’t always agree with her philosophy because for her if it meant taking something from us (children) to give to someone else, she did it. But after her passing her mantra really resonated with me and everything I do.”

Today, Joyce’s legacy personifies Kevin Junor and has helped to distinguish him as a servant leader in Canada. For thirty plus years Kevin has enjoyed a dual career as a soldier and a civilian. His predisposition to leading by example helped him rise up the ranks in the Canadian military reserve alongside gaining senior positions of leadership as a civilian within the Ontario government.

Most recently, Junor was appointed Deputy Superintendent for Compliance in Ontario’s Correctional Services where he is part of the transition team charged with changing the culture of correctional services both for the inmates and the management.

As part of the transition, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS) has moved away from the general way of inmate supervision where the inmate is behind a bar and officers are outside.

This has been replaced by a direct supervision model that treats inmates and detainees with respect and integrates efforts to “make life as normal as possible because we know that these individuals will eventually get out and you want them to be able to simulate into life as quickly as possible,” Junor explained.

“Regardless of the crime that individual committed, there is a judicial system that is there to determine what happens to that individual. My job is not to look at an individual and speak down to them but to take care of the individual while they are in my custody because we provide, care, custody and intervention. And you cannot truly take care of the individuals unless you respect them as a human being.”

As to his role with the management team, Junor says “I need to lead the team that will also see everyone in the same light that says we will take care of you within the guidelines laid out for us by the province of Ontario and the federal government.

“Paul the apostle says follow me as I follow Christ. So it’s putting myself out so that daily my team and everyone who works with me feels respected and feels valued. It’s not about people serving Kevin but how can I serve you without you taking advantage of me,” Junor who describes himself as a very religious person said.

He credits the military and the church for further developing the discipline which he first learnt from his mother.

“As a leader in the military we always served the soldiers first because they are the ones doing the ground work and if we ran out of food that was okay because as leaders we had privilege that allowed us to get a meal later. The soldiers however had a set time to eat. So I learnt how to take care of the people who work with me.”

As to the church’s influence, he says “my religious values drive my thinking and the Bible tells me that God created man in his image. So regardless of how an individual behaves we are still [human] and should be treated with respect.”

Junor’s manner of leading by serving has been profiled in a textbook on leadership currently used at the University of Toronto. It has also earned him several top awards including the civil service’s Amethyst award, the Harry Jerome award for excellence and the Order of Military Merit – the military’s highest non-combat decoration to name a few.

“I never dreamt the order of military merit was something I would receive,” he recalls of the occasion reconnecting with its deeper significance. Among the 50 service men and women inducted that day he remembers being the only person in a kilt and the only Black. He said walking up to the Governor General (Her Excellency the Hon. Michaelle Jean, Canada’s first Black Governor General) was something that was ‘just right’… It was a day we all thought was not possible and God made it possible.”

After being a Regimental Sergeant Major for the Toronto Scottish Regiment, Kevin took his commission and retired from the Canadian Army reserves as Captain. His current post with the MCSCS is his fifth appointment at that ministry since he was recruited in 2012 as part of their succession planning.

With a last name that means “Faithful and loyal,” it is no wonder that Paul Junor has become a welcomed addition to the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper Team. Since 1992, Paul has dedicated his life to become what you call a great teacher. Throughout the years, he has formed strong relationships with his students and continues to show them that he cares about them as people. Paul is a warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring individual who not only makes himself available for his students, but for his community as well.

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

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Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

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Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

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BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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