Pitch Night is for anyone who cares about the future of Windsor‑Essex. Come to: Discover grassroots ideas shaping civic life Meet local organizers, artists, and community leaders Support emerging initiatives Connect with neighbours who care about similar issues Celebrate creativity, courage, and community vision Your presence helps build momentum for the ideas that will shape our shared future.

Doors open for mingling and refreshments at 6:30pm Pitches begin promptly at 6:45pm Audience Q&A after each pitch Closing remarks and networking at 7:30pm Panel of judges confer and notify successful pitch the next day

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.

The 2026 Citizens in Residence Program is generously supported by The O’Neil Foundation.

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Alexandria Masse

Alexandria Masse (m-AH-see) (she/her) (b. 2000) is an artist that often works with textiles and fibres to construct wearable art. Masse holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Textiles/Fashion with a Minor in Art History at NSCAD University. She was born and raised in Wawiiatanong (“Windsor, ON, Canada”).

Masse works with fibre and fabric to construct wearable art. She is fascinated by how a material can be manipulated and uses sewing, knitting and crochet to make soft sculptures and wearables. In addition, her constant battle with racial imposter syndrome drives her to discover new ways to cherish and reclaim her culture within her work. Masse often works with subject matter inspired by her mothers culture and insects from her backyard. She establishes connections between childhood memories and relates them to present day experiences. As a woman in craft, she constantly finds herself challenging the preconceived notion of textiles and craft. Masse utilizes crochet and sewing to connect and continue the matriarchal traditions of craft in her family.

Elizabeth (Liz) O'Neil Meurehg

Liz O’Neil Meurehg is a consultant, coach, speaker and author with a singular focus: helping people and organizations create the conditions for human flourishing. Drawing on experience across the private, public and non-profit sectors, she brings together expertise in communications strategy, leadership and applied wellbeing sciences to meet clients where they are — whether that’s building institutional capacity to serve others better, or strengthening an individual’s own resources for joy, meaning, resilience and growth.

She also leads her family’s charitable foundation, supporting system-facing initiatives that centre teacher and student wellbeing and, closer to home, community initiatives across Windsor-Essex, where she grew up.

Liz holds HBA and MBA degrees from the Ivey Business School, a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology from The Flourishing Center, and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She now lives in Toronto with her husband, two sons and their golden retriever.

Christie Nelson

Christie Nelson loves community and collaboration; a 2026 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women award recipient, a devoted mother and daughter, a loyal friend, and a woman who leads with both heart and purpose. Her life is rooted in community, creativity, and a deep commitment to lifting others as she climbs.

In her professional world, Christie serves as the Program Manager, Certified Life Coach, and Co‑Founder of Family Fuse, where she pours her energy into building spaces where Black parents, guardians, and caregivers feel seen, supported, and empowered. She is also the Supervisor for the Youth Empowerment for Employment program by Family Fuse, working to ensure all youth experiencing barriers are able to secure employment. Working alongside her team isn’t just a job for her, it’s a calling. Christie thrives on collaboration, connection, and creating programs that strengthen families and shift systems toward greater equity.

Outside of work, Christie finds joy in music. As a singer‑songwriter, she uses her voice to express the stories and emotions that shape her journey. It’s a creative outlet that keeps her grounded and reminds her of the beauty in vulnerability and self‑expression.

Christie’s dedication to community has been a constant thread throughout her life. She has supported a wide range of organizations, including Sandwich Teen Action Group, Windsor‑Essex Compassion Care Community, The Hospice of Windsor & Essex County, Legal Assistance of Windsor, Community Living Essex, Project Push, Windsor Police Auxiliary, and Windsor International Black Film Festival. Whether she’s offering her time, her expertise, or simply her presence, Christie shows up with compassion and integrity.

At her core, Christie Nelson is a builder of community, of relationships, of opportunities, and of hope. Her work and her artistry reflect a woman who believes deeply in the power of people and the possibility of change.