Co-Founder & Executive Director, CIVICONNECT and Director of Programming, CIVICONNECT Youth Skills Studio     | 2021 Young Professional Award Finalist

kailene-jackson

Kailene Jackson is a community-minded leader dedicated to educating, empowering and uplifting others, specifically youth and small businesses, through social innovation and multi-stakeholder collaboration. 

Kailene is the co-founder and Executive Director of Civiconnect, a non-profit social enterprise launched in 2018 focused on empowering youth and preparing them to effectively participate in the world of work and the community. She is also the Director of Programming for Civiconnect’s Youth Skills Studio, a collaboration between Civiconnect and the Town of Lincoln located in Beamsville. It is funded by both the provincial and federal governments and provides innovative work, integrated learning and skills training that equip youth with the skills they need, promotes economic development, and builds resilient and inclusive communities. 

Over the past three years, Kailene has been pivotal in increasing Civiconnect’s funding, which now has an operating budget of over $3 million with 12 full time professional staff providing over 135 youth with work-integrated learning opportunities.