Meet the Trainers

Nadia Bello
Training Centre Coordinator

Nadia is the lead trainer for the Training Centre and develops and delivers all the internal workshops as well as customized training for organizations.  She almost a decade working in and with youth communities in areas of peer education, equity education, youth and violence, sexual health and anti-homophobia education. She has worked with youth and service providers across the city, province and country and has twelve years of experience as a facilitator and trainer.

Staff Contributors

Michele Chai
Health Promoter

Michele Chai has been a community health promoter with Planned Parenthood Toronto since 2003. Michele facilitates workshops in community settings, including youth shelters, on a variety of sexual and reproductive health topics healthy sexuality, building healthier relationships and masculinities and health. In 2004 Michele spearheaded the work on young men's health and is currently leading Bust Tha' Myth, PPT's young men's health program.

Pamela Larrondo, M.S.W., RSW
Therapist

Pamela has been worked at PPT as an individual, couples, and group therapist since August 2007.  Pam is an experienced therapist who has worked with clients on a wide variety of issues and enjoys embarking in a creative journey towards her clients’ healing.  She has acquired significant training in both traditional and alternative, client-centered psychotherapeutic approaches that help clients to gain valuable insight and begin to make desired change.  When working with youth, Pam utilizes a non-pathologizing, youth and sex-positive, holistic perspective that attends to the person’s mind, body, and spiritual needs.  Pam has a strong commitment towards working from within an anti-oppression/equity perspective.

Rhobyn James
Health Promoter

Rhobyn James is currently a Community Health Promoter at Planned Parenthood Toronto and came to us with over 10 years of workshop and training facilitation experience.  Over the course of his career, Rhobyn has worked with diverse youth communities and service providers, providing a variety of training ranging from employment and life skills to sexual health and healthy relationships.  Rhobyn also came to us with a background in Social Work and Sexual Health.

Neil Penney
Health Services, Front Desk

Prior to becoming involved with Planned Parenthood as a Front Desk Support Worker in December 2008, Neil worked in a similar capacity with the Scarborough Hospital Outpatient Mental Health Programme.  He holds a Honours Bachelor’s Degree in English Studies from the University of Toronto and is an accomplished poet. His work has been featured in a number of small press and literary magazines and has been showcased at “Landed Film Jam” to showcase art created by Toronto youth. Neil is committed to bringing attention to the health needs and issues facing young men.

Lesley Lustig
Therapist

Lesley Lustig is a clinical Social Worker who has been practicing psychotherapy at Planned Parenthood Toronto for seven years.  With a strong background in working with individuals with eating disorders and a keen interest in couples work and women’s health-related therapy, Lesley has acted as a valuable resource to both clients and staff during her time with the organization.  She is a member in good standing with both the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Works as well as the Ontario Association of Social Workers. 

Anna Penner
T.E.A.C.H. Peer Educator
Anna has been involved with Planned Parenthood Toronto since 2001, when she joined the Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia (TEACH) program as a Peer Facilitator. She has been working as the Peer Educator with the program since 2006, supporting youth to deliver over 150 anti-homophobia workshops throughout Toronto each year. Anna has trained service providers extensively, particularly students in education, social work, nursing and early childhood education.

Shawn Fowler
Teen Programming Coordinator