Citizen-in-Residence: Pitch Night Community Ideas, Bold Futures

About the Event

Pitch Night is a high‑energy evening where Windsor‑Essex changemakers step into the spotlight to share bold ideas that strengthen community connection, civic engagement, and social inclusion. Join us for an inspiring night of community dialogue, and collective imagination as local groups present their visions for a more connected, equitable, and vibrant Windsor‑Essex.

Who’s Pitching

Pitch Night features short, dynamic presentations from community groups applying to the 2026 Citizens‑in‑Residence Program. Each group will have 10 minutes to share:

• The change they want to see in Windsor‑Essex
• The community they’re working with
• The impact they hope to create
• Why now is the moment for their idea

Audience members will have the chance to ask questions, offer support, and help shape the future of civic engagement in our region.

Presenters:

• Engage Windsor is a grassroots, Windsor-based civic engagement organization working to strengthen public participation, transparency, and democratic culture at the municipal level. Our board includes volunteers with experience in law, public policy, community organizing, communications, facilitation, survey design, data analysis, and report writing. We are committed to non-partisan civic engagement that helps residents understand local issues and participate more meaningfully in public life.
• Popyard is a grassroots group formed by immigrant women, focused on creating accessible spaces for connection, visibility, and economic participation in Windsor. We have increased visibility and participation of immigrant women in community spaces by organizing accessible markets and creative gatherings that provide low-barrier opportunities to showcase their work and connect with the public. Through this work, we have identified a gap between existing skills and accessible pathways for visibility and participation and continue to design initiatives that respond directly to this need.
• Windsor Essex Strong Towns is a local chapter of an internationally recognized advocacy group known as Strong Towns. Like our parent organization, we advocate for people focused urban planning, stronger public transit, and more diverse housing options.