Community Mobilization and Resident Engagement:

• Malvern Community Coalition – member and founding steering committee member
• Malvern Image Campaign – Founder
• Scarborough Civic Action Network – Tsunami Response Initiative
• Markham Community Mobilization Project – Middlefield C.I. and Milliken Mills S.S. – Founder
• Multiple Agency Partnership Project at Birchmount and St Clair - Steering Committee
• Tsunami Relief Coordinating Committee - member
• Good Jobs for All Coalition – member
• Colour of Poverty Network – Steering committee
  

Children and Youth:

• Aisling Discoveries Buddy Builders (anti-bullying) Project Advisory Committee
• Malvern Youth Cabinet – Founder
• Malvern's Law and Order Team – Founder
• South Asian Consultative Committee of Toronto Police Services - Youth Team member
• North West Scarborough Youth Centre Initiative – Steering Committee
• Parent Action on Drugs – Peer Empowerment Project Coordinator
• Scarborough Youth Task Group – member
• Malvern Family Resource Centre – Youth Development Worker
• Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre (CanTYD) – Executive Director
• Malvern Family Resource Centre – Manager of the Youth Centre
  
  

Community Development and Social Planning:

• United Way Membership Admission Committee
• Parent Action on Drugs – Coordinator of Strengthening Families Program in Cultural Communities
• Framework Foundation – Leaders for Change Team
• South Asian Community Services Network in York Region – member
• Social Planning Council of York Region – Founder
  

City of Toronto Municipal Government Involvement:

• City of Toronto – Community Neighbourhood Crisis Response Initiative
• Mayor's Neighbourhood Safety Action - Community Representative
• Youth Gang Work Group – Community Safety Task Force under City of Toronto - member
• Access, Equity and Human Rights Network – City of Toronto
• Toronto Police Service Board Chair Advisory Committee
• Toronto Fire Services Chief’s Advisory Committee
• City of Toronto Reception and Display Coordination for Asian Heritage Month
• Community Watch member – 41 and 42 Division Toronto Police Services
• Advisor on various City Initiative including Neighbourhood Well-being Index, Toronto Transit Commission Diversity Plan, Parks and Recreation Access and Equity Unit.
  

Community Based Research:

• Ryerson University MY LIFE Project Participatory Action Research
• Ryerson University – Research Assistant for Parent-Youth Relationship Study
• Malvern Youth Needs Assessment Coordination
• McMaster University and University of Toronto – A study of immigrant seniors’ income security
• Four Universities Project: University of Toronto, Wilfred Laurier University, University of British Columbia and York University – A study of healing for youth facing racism – Research Team
• McMaster University – Youth and Labour Market attachment- Advisory Committee member
  

Employment:

• Evaluator Summer Jobs for Youth Program
• Community of Practice Coordination for youth employment – Boreal Institute for Civil Society- Munk Centre for International Studies of U of T
• Good Jobs for All Coalition – member
• Employment Equity campaign – Toronto Lead
  

Education:

• Toronto Coalition for Equity of Education
• Community Use of Schools Council with TDSB
• South Asian Educators Network - Founder
• Skills Lab East York C.I. Volunteer Tutor
• Forum on Safe Schools – Organizer and Facilitator
• York Region District School Board – Public School Trustee
• Race Relations Advisory Committee – Chair
• Parent Engagement Advisory Committee – Trustee Representation
• Education Expo for Scarborough and Markham - Coordinator
  

Immigration and Settlement:

• Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office – Settlement Volunteer
• Metropolis Conference – Calgary 2008, Halifax 2007
• Canada and Multiculturalism – Oxford University Conference
• Promising Practices Presentation to Standing Committee for Citizenship and Immigration
• Smart Settlement Project - Peterborough
  

Anti-racism Initiatives:

• Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA) – Say No To Hate project
• One Nation Anti-racism Committee – member
• National Anti-Racism Council of Canada - member
• Durban Review United Nations Geneva – Delegate
• Equity Council of York Region – Founder
  

Arts and Culture:

• Film Arts Society of Canada’s Canadian Tamil Film Festival – Organizing Team
• Markham Arts Council
• CASSA’s South Asian Heritage Month Coordination
• Fires of Resistance Annual Youth Conference – Founder
  

Health:

• Scadding Court Community Centre – Equity Toolkit Advisory Committee
• Central Community Care Access Centre – board member
• Toronto East General Hospital – Information Volunteer
• Coordinator Roundtables on Sexual Health, Mental Health and Chronic Diseases
  

Media:

• TVi - Producer and Host of a talk show on social issues
• Canadian Multicultural Radio FM 101.3 - Producer and Host
• Interviewed by CBC, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Sun, City TV, CTV, OMNI TV, Sun TV and over 30 other local print, tv and radio media
• Poverty Reduction: Panelist on CBC Metro Morning Show
• Colour of Poverty Campaign: Press Conference Panelist
• 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction: Press Conference Panelist
  

Awards and Recognition:

• Vital People Award - Toronto Community Foundation
• Race Relations Award – Urban Alliance for Race Relations
• Leader for Change – Maytree Foundation
• Youth Advocate Award – Social Services Network
• Keynote Speaker at Symposium of Cambridge Social Planning Council
• Keynote Speaker at Shades of Brown Conference York University
• Invisible Boys Conference – Guest Presenter
• Presented Guest Lecture at U of T Faculty of Social Work,
• Guest Lecturer at York University
• Presenter at Community Colleges including Seneca College and Centennial College
• Maytree Foundation: Civic Participation Presentation
• City of Toronto’s Crisis Response through Cultural Lens: Panelist
• ICE committee: Neighbourhood Development: Panelist
• Shades of Brown Conference: Keynote Speaker: Promises in the South Asian Community with respect to Education
• Participasian: Civic and Political Participation of Asian Communities: Panelist
• Town of Markham: Great Town Needs Great People: Panelist
• Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office – Civic Engagement of Youth: Panelist
• Asian Heritage Month – Training for Educators: Trainer

Neethan Shan has clearly demonstrated a very strong commitment to public service, and in particular, to youth. His years of active participation in a wide range of not-for-profit initiatives has enabled him to acquire a good sense of what matters to people in the Malvern community. I support Neethan’s candidacy for City Councillor for Ward 42, Toronto . - Honourable Mary Anne Chambers, Former M.P.P., Scarborough East, Former Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Former Minister of Children and Youth Services

Neethan Shan has been pivotal in recognizing the common needs of immigrant communities in our city while never undermining the diversity that exists amongst such a broad community, he has managed to turn our differences into our strengths.- Zahran Khan, former president, United South Asians of York

In a world where increasingly Municipal politics is marked by a distinct lack of interest in and accessibility/accountability to the needs of ‘all’ the residents of the City especially those who are most vulnerable, Neethan Shan is that voice of hope that we all need in order to continue to believe in our democracy! For a young man, Neethan brings a lifetime of experience steeped in politics of social justice and a struggle to address issues of marginality in our society. Neethan is an activist, a leader, a mentor to our youth, a symbol of pride and empowerment for our immigrant and refugee communities and a beacon of hope in a city that is in danger of compromising its greatest strength, its diversity, to inequity and injustice. With Neethan in City Hall, we can all look for a brighter future.- Uzma Shakir, Community Activist

As a small business owner in Scarborough, I am very proud to support Neethan Shan as he understands the need to support the growth of small businesses and young entrepreneurs. Neethan Shan is committed to the economic development in Scarborough.- Suresh Kumar, Small Business Owner, Scarborough

I have had the pleasure of working with Neethan during his term at CASSA and have been very impressed with his commitment to the organization’s objectives and his ability to mobilize action! I am confident that he will bring the same dedication to his role as a city councillor and achieve results. This is definitely a leader that delivers!- Syerah Virani, Editor-in-Chief & CEO, MyBindi.com

To serve the people is the highest call in public life. And democracy thrives on local participation. But, not enough members of our community are politically involved. Neethan is a notable exception. He has amply demonstrated his flavour for public service and Municipal politics is the ideal place for him.- Thangavelu A, Author and Community Leader

We need more people like Neethan Shan! A passionate community worker who immerses himself in the community,and, experiences as well as understands the issues faced by immigrants and the youth. He exemplifies the young Canadian with an ethnic origin who embraced Canada while respecting his roots. His commitment to making the City of Toronto better is proven by his track record in community service, his work with various community and ethnic groups, and, his untiring and self less dedication to serve the community. I believe that Neethan will be a great addition to the council and help make the City of Toronto an example of a place where people from all walks of life and all colours work together with respect and dignity.- Paulina Corpuz, President, Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture

Neethan works together with communities to solve the problems of today and to continually build a greater city for tomorrow. We need Neethan at city hall.- Todd Ross, Human Rights Advocate

This ward’s problems and concerns simply cannot be put on a back burner.This ward needs honest leadership, sensible leadership and strong leadership that will bring about accountability and change. Neethan Shan exemplifies these leadership qualities. Neethan Shan is committed, humble and dedicated. He will bring leadership and a voice for the residents of ward 42 that is much needed.- Sanjay Sivanathan, a long time resident of Malvern