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Meet C2K
A partner for not-for-profit leaders ready to embed equity into everyday work.
Not-for-profit leaders want equity to guide their everyday work, yet many find it hard to turn values into clear decisions and consistent actions. You are balancing community needs, limited capacity, and a team that wants to do the right thing but may feel unsure of how to begin. It takes support, clarity, and practical tools to move forward with confidence.
We are here to help you take that next step.
We work with boards, leaders, and teams to bring equity into daily decisions, relationships, and operations in ways that are realistic and sustainable. Our approach helps your team build the clarity, skills, and shared direction needed to deliver your mission with integrity and impact.
Since 2017, we have partnered with more than 30 not-for-profit organizations and over 100 leaders to strengthen governance, leadership, and day-to-day operations through equity-centred strategy, training, and hands-on support.
What Makes Us Different
Equity work is often overwhelming, abstract, or stalled.
We bring a different approach. One grounded in rigour, lived not-for-profit experience, and practical tools that create momentum.
What Makes Us Different
Equity work is often overwhelming, abstract, or stalled.
We bring a different approach. One grounded in rigour, lived not-for-profit experience, and practical tools that create momentum.
Academic Depth You Can Trust
Dr. Natalie Duchesne holds a PhD in Gender and Policy and taught for more than a decade on gender, disability, health, Indigenous feminisms, and Black feminist thought.
Her academic depth ensures our work is rigorous, grounded, and guided by community realities.
Proven Not-for-Profit Change
We help organizations embed equity into strategy, operations, and everyday practice. By supporting strategic plans, programs, and equity centred initiatives across the sector.
This experience means we know the pressures and community realities not-for-profits face.
Outcomes You Can Measure
We focus on visible results that matter.
Within 60 days, teams begin using new equity practices with greater confidence and clarity, supported by practical tools, clear measures, and a guarantee that helps leaders see progress, track growth, and trust the changes will last.
We Break Through The 'Equity Stall'
Many organizations invest in equity training only to find that daily work stays the same. We built our approach to solve this Equity Stall by focusing on practical tools, steady pacing, and real workplace habits.
Our process helps teams apply equity in daily decisions, relationships, and governance so momentum does not fade.
Vision
A world where organizations working for justice have the capacity and community trust to advance equity for everyone. Community voices shape solutions, barriers are removed, and equity becomes something people can see and measure.
Mission
We help not-for-profit teams build the clarity, confidence, and skills they need to bring equity into everyday decisions, relationships, and outcomes. We support organizations in becoming trusted places for the people connected to them.
Explore Our Successful Outcomes
Real Teams. Real Change.
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Our case studies walk you through real transformations.
How C2K helped not-for-profit leaders overcome roadblocks, activate their teams, and embed inclusion into daily operations.
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These are success stories; proof that with the right support, meaningful, measurable progress is possible.
Meet the Team
We’re a team of equity-minded facilitators and strategists helping organizations turn good intentions into lasting change.
Owner
Natalie Duchesne
she/her
Natalie is a highly adaptable, values-oriented professional with over a decade of experience working with not-for-profits.
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She is passionate about all things equity and founded Connect2Knowledge with the humble hope of contributing to a better world.
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Beyond her work serving clients or teaching gender studies, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors.
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Project Coordinator
Blue Petties
she/her
Blue is a values-driven, collaborative professional who has worked with Connect2Knowledge since 2021.
She supports not-for-profit teams through facilitation, co-design, and strategic planning, helping them clarify goals and move forward with confidence.
Away from her facilitation and planning work, she brings her creativity to art making and her energy to local organizing efforts.
Client Success, Project Coordinator
Karen Umurerwa
she/her
Karen combines a passion for equity with hands-on experience in community engagement, program design, and systems change.
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She has led program initiatives, facilitated training, and coordinated conferences to advance housing and homelessness system reform.
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Karen thrives on connecting people, projects, and practical impact to turn ideas into meaningful change.​
Equity Training & Capacity-Building Specialist
Doris Payer
she/her
Doris brings over two decades of experience in substance use, mental health, and equity work.
She is a connector and catalyst who creates spaces where people can learn, reflect, and move from intention to action.
Originally from Austria and now based in Ottawa, Doris loves electronic music and draws inspiration from nature’s wisdom.
Marketing Coordinator​​
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Maria Dueck
she/her
Maria brings creativity and communication skills to shaping how C2K shares its work with the world.
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She enjoys making complex ideas clear, relatable, and accessible, drawing on over a decade of experience in not-for-profit organizations.
Outside of work, she enjoys quiet time with her family and their cocker spaniel.
