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After spending four years in federal prison, Emily O’Brien, founder of Comeback Snacks, faced the extraordinary challenge of rebuilding her life and reinventing herself.

But where does someone find the courage to keep going when everything they once knew has changed?

In this powerful conversation, I ask Emily where she finds the strength to rise, reinvent, and keep believing in what’s possible.

Because courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the decision to keep moving forward anyway.

🎙️ Join us on Power to 11 for powerful conversations and inspiring stories.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.

✨ Listen. Like. Follow. Subscribe. Share.

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it's sort of chaos when we let them interview each other but it's worth it we think 🤠 #FoundertoFounder

Founder to Founder is a podcast/video series by the Social Ventures Zone, bringing two SVZ founders together to break down their entrepreneurial journeys, find common ground between their missions, and much more.

You can check out the entire SVZ Founder to Founder catalog on our blog at the link in our bio or on the podcast platform of your choice! 🎙️

#Entrepreneurship #Founders #Startups

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Attention everyone! The fifth episode of the SVZ's #FoundertoFounder series, featuring @musicshareforseniors' Julian DiCarlantonio-Powell and @comebackcatalystca's Lucy Cullen is now available on ALL PLATFORMS 🥳

You're not gonna want to miss this jam-packed extended episode! After you check out this preview, featuring @thelucycullen speaking to what #entrepreneurship means for the formerly-incarcerated, you can check out the full video episode on our blog (Link in bio!) or search for 'Founder to Founder by the SVZ' on your podcast platform of choice 🎧

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We've got another new episode of #FoundertoFounder dropping next Wednesday! 🎙️

In the fifth episode of the show, founders Lucy Cullen of @comebackcatalystca and Julian DiCarlantonio-Powell of @musicshareforseniors sat down to chat about building unique non-profits, addressing underserved communities, and the ups and downs along the way 🤝

In this preview, Julian speaks to the importance of non-economic impact measurement and the challenges within our senior care system. The jam-packed HOUR-LONG full episode drops next Wednesday on our blog and on all audio platforms 🗓️

You're not gonna want to miss this one!

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No matter what I do, the event world keeps pulling me back in! Can’t believe 15+ years in this industry and this was my first time at @cmeexpo - was one of my favourite shows I’ve been to! Met so many great people and can’t wait to see what’s next.

One thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur, is that you don’t have to pick just one lane and stay in it forever, or that you can’t do and be multiple things at once.

A reminder to go where you’re drawn to, do what you’re passionate about and trust it’ll all work out✨

#EventProfs #EntrepreneurLife #EventPlanner #BusinessGrowth #EventIndustry

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Every day we will be showcasing our nominees for the Kindness Circle Awards Gala 2026

CONGRATULATIONS Lucy on being a nominee for the Kindness In Non-Profit Award 2026

Lucy Cullen is the Co-Founder and CEO of Comeback Catalyst, a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to helping justice-impacted individuals build sustainable income through entrepreneurship. Launched in 2025, the organization provides free entrepreneurship training, mentorship, coaching, and community to help people rebuild their lives with confidence and opportunity.

Since its launch, Comeback Catalyst has supported more than 135 individuals across Canada and built
partnerships with the John Howard Society, Startup Canada, the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, and
YSpace at York University. The program has already demonstrated meaningful impact: by graduation, 41% of participants in the March cohort had paying customers, and 36% had launched or relaunched their ventures.

Through her leadership and advocacy, Lucy is creating pathways to economic empowerment, second
chances, and lasting change, proving that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a brighter future.

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You can't walk 5 steps in Toronto right now without seeing a soccer (football, sorry) jersey, and we want to be a part of it ⚽️🌎 Put us in, coach!

We picked 6 of our incubated startups at random to take a look at what it might look like if they were to hit the pitch at Toronto Stadium for the #WorldCup 🏆

Who's winning it all? The SVZ will be staying out of this one... 🏟️

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New organizations can face steep startup challenges. They’re building trust, systems and programs — all while competing for limited funding. Many are already delivering real impact. Early support helps them stabilize, grow and deepen their work over time. Discover and support emerging organizations in the Good to Give Guide: link in bio or at torontofoundation.ca/goodtogive

Photo credits
Image 1: @musicshareforseniors
Image 2: @afrowavetoent An elderly woman in a red sweater looks at a tablet while a younger person beside her listens. Copy reads: Impact starts early. Why early support makes all the difference. Good to Give Guide.

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Our NEW Good to Give Guide is out!

We’re shining a spotlight on these small but mighty organizations making a difference every day in Toronto. We are proud to fund them and hope you’ll support them too.

Link in bio or at torontofoundation.ca/goodtogive Photo of two people sitting and talking to each other in a garden. Text reads, Growing the organizations communities count on. 2026-2027 Good to Give Guide. Read now.

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Comeback Catalyst gave me tools, confidence, and community at a time I needed all three.
Real support. Real direction. Real change.
Thank you 🫶

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We are sooooo incredibly thankful for all the support and love you all have shown us over the past few years.
From sweet honey catering to what we are now.

We swear if it was not for you all, we wouldn't be we're we are now. We truly love all of you.

From ordering, catering, sharing, posting, and liking all of this is for you.

So, with that being said, we want to do a giveaway product basket with a little extra something for the holidays.

Post for giveaway will be tomorrow 🥰🤭

Wela'lin everyone and thank you 😊

#support #products #bbqsauce #oils #familyfirst #givethanks

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Repost from @prisonharmreduction
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☆EMILY O’BRIEN☆
Meet @emz.obrien ! She is the founder of @comebacksnacks and the @comebackcatalystca program, as well as both a Cell Count reader and contributor.
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Emily will be joining us at Cell Count’s 30th Anniversary event next week on World AIDS Day (Dec 01) to share a few words about her journey from incarceration to business-boss, her awesome initiatives and giving back, and of course to celebrate with us!
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Come hear Emily’s story IRL and to join us in celebrating Cell Count’s decades of dissent. Link to info event and tix in story and at www.pasan.org
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##prisonersolidarity #prisonharmreduction #prisonerrightsarehumanrights #prisonabolition #prisonhealth #cellcount #cellcount30 #PASAN

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