This series is dedicated to introducing and celebrating the participants of the ACL+ 2021 program. Each week, we will focus on one of our leaders, sharing a little bit about them and what motivates them to explore community leadership in Niagara.
Olubunmi (Bunmi) Okuwa works as a payroll administrator at Walker Industries and has over 12 years of professional experience in Payroll, Pension and Benefits Management. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages.
Bunmi has a passion for people, and the impact of governance on their daily lives. To that end, she is undertaking a part-time graduate certificate program in Public Policy and Administration.
Bunmi, her husband and two children immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in August 2015 and have lived and worked in the Niagara Region since.
She likes to read and cook especially if the experience is shared with family and friends.
I would like to be involved in making my community better for everyone through analysis, engagement and helping to solve social and economic issues that affect general well-being and progress.
In my opinion, the most significant challenge our community faces is affordable housing especially for the most vulnerable. The COVID – 19 pandemic and resultant tele-work for many employees has seen an increase in urban exodus from the larger cities into the Niagara Region. This polarized pattern of migration will only make the housing problem worse. New analysis, engagement, ideas and policies are needed to solve the problem.
I would like to develop upon community-engaged scholarship by engaging in socially beneficial research that serves public interest.
I would also like to develop upon community service and volunteerism to address the immediate needs of the community.