Every year since 2008, Dentons has partnered with Toronto Community Housing (TCH)’s Investing in Our Diversity Scholarships program to award a Dentons Diversity Scholarship to support high school students entering their first year of postsecondary education.

The Dentons Diversity Scholarship is part of TCH’s Investing in Our Diversity Scholarship program, which recognizes students who have made a significant contribution in their communities by advancing and promoting diversity, equity and anti-racism dialogue, and have demonstrated academic success and financial need.

Michael Schafler, Dentons partner in Toronto and National Board member, commented, “I’ve had the privilege of partnering Dentons in this great program for over 10 years. Every year, it is so rewarding to celebrate the recipients and their amazing accomplishments. It’s so inspiring to see their ambition of wanting to positively influence the lives of our communities and our country as they advocate for social justice and inclusion. We’re so proud to support them as they build promising careers and we wish them nothing but the best in their bright future.”

This year, the Dentons Diversity Scholarship was awarded to the following inspiring students for their academic success and community leadership.

Stephen Mensah

Stephen is the Education Lead for the City of Toronto Youth Cabinet and works closely with other young people and government officials to help underrepresented youth across the city. Stephen has ambitions to attend law school in pursuit of starting a career as a politician and is currently studying Criminology and Political Governance at Ryerson University.

Sami Islam

Sami has worked as a camp counsellor for TCH’s Rookie League summer camp. After completing his undergraduate degree, Sami would like to go to an Ivy League school in the United States to study law. Beyond law school, Sami hopes to make a meaningful difference in marginalized communities by working to eliminate systemic barriers. Sami is currently studying Journalism, Law and Legal Studies at Carleton University.

Khadro Abdulle

Khadro’s dream is to work for the United Nations. She hopes to use her skills and knowledge to advocate for gender equality in Africa and to develop programs for women who do not have access to education. Khadro is currently studying Criminology at University of Toronto.

Blair McCreadie, managing partner of Dentons’ Toronto office, said, “We take great pride in supporting community organizations and investing in young leaders who are pushing boundaries and furthering important conversations around inclusion and diversity, which is what both our firm and city thrive upon.  We are inspired by these exceptional students for driving positive change through their strong commitment to our community, and we are pleased to support them in achieving their personal and career goals.”

The Investing in Our Diversity Scholarships program is open to students attending their first or second year of postsecondary school who are either TCH tenants or are living in the Scadding Court Community Centre catchment area. Click here to learn more.

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Dentons is the world's largest law firm, connecting talent to the world's challenges and opportunities in more than 75 countries. Dentons' legal and business solutions benefit from deep roots in our communities and award-winning advancements in client service, including Nextlaw, Dentons’ innovation and strategic advisory services. Dentons' polycentric and purpose-driven approach, commitment to inclusion and diversity, and world-class talent challenge the status qu