andWhat Happened When a Book Became a Conversation

Some events are planned. Others become something more. The Degrees of Change live book conversation at the Kitchener Public Library on April 25th was my most memorable event to date.

What started as an afternoon built around my book turned into a room full of people genuinely invested in the ideas, the work they are involved in, and each other’s journies. That does not happen by accident. It happens because the right people show up with the right intention, and on that afternoon, both were present in abundance.

A Room That Earned Its Energy

There is a particular kind of energy that fills a space when people are not just attending but actually participating. That is what April 25th felt like in the short 2 hours we were at the Kitchener Public Library.

To everyone who came out, thank you for pulling through. You were not passive audience members. You were contributors to a conversation that had weight and meaning because you brought your attention and your presence to it. Events like this only work when the people in the room decide to make them work, and you did exactly that. For which I am forever grateful!

The Host Who Made It Flow

All great conversations need great guides. Ola Idris Ali was that guide for my book launch.

Hosting a live book conversation is not simply introducing speakers and managing time. It is holding the thread of an idea across different voices, keeping the energy alive throughout the day, and creating the conditions where real dialogue can happen. Ola did all of that with a warmth that is naturally her and that truly elevated the entire event.

Organizations Doing Work That Matters

One of the most meaningful parts of the launch was giving space to organizations whose work is actively creating change in our communities, in particular th Kitchener-Waterloo region. Three organizations I invited stepped up to present and showcase what they are building.

Heart of the Homeless, led by Prabhleen Kaur, brought visibility to work that too often goes unseen. Their commitment to serving those most vulnerable (homeless folks) in our communities is the kind of leadership that does not look for recognition but deserves it fully.

ObserIQ, led by Jacob Ssekitto, represented the intersection of technology and digital safety. Digital safety particularly now with many data breackes is crucial and that is exactly the direction ObserIQ is going and an issue they are trying to solve.

Young Eye International, led by Ridham Chadha and Tess Mirenge, carried the mission that sits at the heart of so much of this work. Watching the team represent with that level of clarity and energy was one of the highlights of the night.

The Partnership That Made It Possible

Events like this do not come together without support, and Sun Life showed up as a sponsor in a way that went beyond a logo on a slide.

A particular thank you to Maria Ebinu for making the partnership happen! There is a difference between institutional support and genuine investment, and Maria’s presence at the event made clear which one this was. That kind of showing up matters, and it did not go unnoticed.

What Degrees of Change Is Really About

At its core, Degrees of Change is about the understanding that meaningful transformation does not arrive in one dramatic moment. It accumulates and compounds. It shows up in the small decisions, the consistent actions, and the willingness to stay in motion even when the path is not fully visible.

The live book conversation was a natural extension of that ideology stated in my book. It took ideas off the page and put them into a room where they could be challenged, expanded, and connected to the real experiences of real people. That is how a book becomes more than a book. That is how it becomes a starting point.

The work continues. The momentum is real. And if that evening proved anything, it is that the community around this vision is growing in exactly the right direction.

To everyone who purchased a copy on the day, thank you. You are carrying a piece of that conversation forward with you.