Welcome PinballNEXT Ambassadors!

We’re excited to introduce the newest PinballNEXT Ambassadors, proud alumni of the Pinball Foundation. Having previously participated in our programs, they bring a unique perspective shaped by firsthand experience, growth, and a deep connection to the mission of empowering the next generation of changemakers.

As a PinballNEXT Ambassador, they now step into a leadership role, giving back to the community that helped shape their journey while inspiring current and future participants to pursue their own paths with curiosity, creativity, and impact.

Kari Gachugu 

Kari recently started an Underwriting Associate role  at Zurich, where she applies curiosity, analytical thinking, and problem-solving to make informed financial decisions and support effective risk management. Before moving into underwriting, Kari worked as a UX Designer, developing skills in understanding user needs, identifying challenges, and translating insights into actionable solutions. Both experiences strengthened her ability to analyze complex situations, communicate clearly, and approach problems with precision and empathy. 

Kari's professional journey has been shaped in large part by The Pinball Foundation. She participated in the Pinball Accelerator program under The Whiteboard Collective, where mentorship, exposure, and community support opened doors and helped her prepare for her first major corporate role. Kari believes that the Foundation’s investment in her went beyond skills, it built confidence, provided access, and reinforced the value of giving back.

"As an Alumni Ambassador, I am excited to contribute to initiatives that expand the foundation’s reach, support participants, and strengthen the community. I plan to volunteer my time, offer mentorship, and use my experiences to help others navigate opportunities and challenges. Being part of this network allows me to give back meaningfully while continuing to learn, grow, and help open doors for others like me." - Kari

Courtney Harris

Courtney Harris is a Practical Nurse graduate, Honours Life Sciences graduate, entrepreneur, and proud PinballNEXT Alumni Ambassador. His passion and work lives at the intersection of healthcare, business, and community impact. 

Courtney is deeply passionate about holistic wellness, mentorship, and creating environments where people feel empowered to grow. Alongside his nursing career, Courtney, the founder of Plantswithcourt |Yellow Heart Tropicals, where he curates sustainable green spaces, floral installations, and plant wellness programs for residential and corporate clients. 

Everything he does is rooted in purpose. Whether he is caring for patients, mentoring youth, or building thriving green spaces, Courtney's mission remains the same: to cultivate growth in people and in the spaces they exist in. 

"I am genuinely honored and excited to serve as a PinballNEXT Alumni Ambassador through the Pinball Foundation because I am a direct reflection of what mentorship, opportunity, and belief can do in someone’s life. 

My journey has not been perfectly linear. I have pivoted, trusted timing, embraced growth seasons, and learned to remain patient when things did not immediately align. Through those experiences, I developed resilience, discipline, and a deeper understanding of purpose. I stand where I am today not only because of hard work, but because of a community that invested in me. 

That is why this role is so meaningful. It allows me to give back to the ecosystem that helped shape me into the nurse, entrepreneur, and leader I am becoming. I want to be visible proof that unconventional paths can still lead to powerful destinations. I want emerging leaders to see that it is possible to hold multiple passions, pursue excellence, and build a life rooted in both service and ambition. 

As a PinballNEXT Alumni Ambassador, I am excited to mentor with intention, strengthen community connections, and help create spaces where young leaders feel seen, supported, and capable of stepping into their full potential. 

This role is not just about representing where I have been. It is about actively shaping what comes next. And I carry deep gratitude for the opportunity to do so." - Courtney

Anya Watts-Johnson

Anya Watts-Johnson is a Black Youth and Family Support Worker (RSW) serving communities across Peel Region, where she supports Black youth and families through one-on-one mentorship, school-based interventions, and culturally grounded community programming. As a Dean’s List scholar with a longstanding commitment to leadership, Anya has always been deeply involved in community efforts — from serving on student councils and executive teams during her university years to helping shape initiatives that foster belonging, equity, and student engagement. Leadership has never been about titles for her; it has always been about impact, responsibility, and relationships. 

In her current role, Anya collaborates with schools, police services, Children’s Aid Society, and community partners to advocate for systems that are responsive, preventative, and rooted in dignity. She works directly with youth navigating complex challenges, striving to create a “big sister” presence — someone who is safe, honest, supportive, and consistent. She understands that trust is not automatic; it is built. For Anya, this work is deeply personal. It is about being the adult she once needed, disrupting harmful narratives placed on youth, and ensuring young people feel protected rather than policed, affirmed rather than misunderstood. 

Beyond her professional work, Anya is known for her outgoing personality, warmth, and ability to connect across generations. She values family deeply and carries that same sense of loyalty and care into her community relationships. Whether facilitating programming, speaking in front of a room, or supporting a youth one-on-one, she leads with authenticity and heart. She is continuously growing as a public speaker and poet, using storytelling as a tool for healing, empowerment, and social change. 

Driven by determination, Anya is committed to creating large-scale impact while never losing sight of individual relationships. She believes sustainable change happens when systems shift — but also when one young person feels seen enough to believe in themselves. Her life’s work is rooted in building bridges, strengthening families, and leaving every space more connected than she found it.  "Having the opportunity to be an Alumni Ambassador means more than words can express. This organization truly changed my life. They didn’t just fund my education — they believed in me, mentored me, and gave me spaces to find my voice as a speaker and leader. I am who I am because someone here saw my potential early. Now, it’s my turn to give that same belief back — to mentor, to uplift, and to be a welcoming face for students stepping into opportunities that can transform their lives the way mine was transformed." - Anya

Latrell Ellis

Latrell is a young steamfitter proudly working as a member of Local 46, and a firm believer in the importance of incorporating learning into one's daily lifestyle.

He grew up in the GTA and always had curiosity surrounding how things worked as well as how they were made which played a role in him ending up in the trades. Thanks to the support of the Foundation, he was able to focus on his post secondary education in Business without having to worry about the financial stress associated with it which allowed him to fall in line with his current trajectory. Latrell's interests are in a wide array of subjects like philosophy, investing, biology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

"I'm excited to play a role in supporting and advocating for the program that helped support my professional upbringing while providing a network of support for the past 5 years. I look forward to building systems, building the community, and keeping the energy moving." - Latrell

Faith-Ann Allison

Faith-Ann Allison is a Stand-up comedian, Content creator, Event Host/emcee and Youth Leader known for blending faith, culture, and humor in a way that brings people together. As the voice behind @FaithWithTheJokes, she has built a purpose-driven brand rooted in laughter, authenticity, and meaningful connection. 

With a college diploma in Social Service Work and a University degree in Sociology, Faith combines her academic understanding of people and community with real-world storytelling and comedy. Her work lives at the intersection of faith and culture, using humor as a bridge to spark conversations, break down barriers, and create spaces where diverse audiences feel seen and connected. 

Whether on stage, online, or hosting live events, she is passionate about building community and using laughter, love, & kindness as a tool for impact! 

"I am excited to serve as an Alumni Ambassador because my educational journey deeply shaped both my voice and my purpose. Studying Social Service Work and Sociology gave me more than credentials because it gave me language for what I’ve always cared about; people, systems, culture, and community. It strengthened my understanding of how communities function, where gaps exist, and how connection can be a powerful force for change. Today, I carry that foundation into everything I do – from stand-up comedy to content creation to hosting live events and to the community work I do with various diverse youth. 

Becoming an Alumni Ambassador feels like a natural extension of my purpose. I’m passionate about bridging gaps between students and alumni, between faith and culture, and between people who may not otherwise sit in the same room.  

Representation matters, and I would be honoured to show current students that there are diverse, creative, and unconventional paths they can take with their education. In summary, serving as an Alumni Ambassador is my opportunity to give back!" - Faith-Ann