Action
We're not putting out information just to be consumed and forgotten. Our goal is to empower Torontonians to take action on the issues they learn about in The Green Line.
Different hues. Different views.
The Green Line is an award-winning, hyperlocal publication that delivers information you can actually use in your daily life. We report on how Torontonians live, the challenges we face and the solutions people come up with to make life here a little better. We also create spaces where you can find your people and make urban life feel a little less…city-like. We're Torontonians just like you, trying to help everyone not just survive, but thrive in the city we call home.
What's our goal?
How many people do you know who don't trust the news or are bored by it? (Yeah, same here.) That's why we're on a mission to make important information less boring and more user-friendly. Our Action Journeys® are solutions-focused to help more Torontonians feel like they can thrive here. Harvard University's Nieman Journalism Lab profiled us, so learn more about our goals.
We're people just like you who love our city, but can get stressed out by it, too. We're also tired of the news highlighting only problems, with no solutions. That's why our team is working with you to redefine the way local information is produced and delivered, so regular Torontonians actually find it useful.
After working in journalism for two decades, with experience across North America, our editor-in-chief Anita Li noticed that news media often fails to serve communities with information they actually need. So, she set out to create a Toronto-based publication that focuses on highlighting much-needed solutions to local problems. The Green Line soft-launched in October 2021 on social media. In April 2022, we officially launched this website, where we debuted our Action Journey®, an original theory-of-change model that provides Torontonians with concrete resources to help themselves and others navigate life in our city.
Locals know that "the green line" refers to Line 2 Bloor–Danforth on the TTC, which travels from Kennedy Station in the east to Kipling Station in the west. For many Torontonians, including members of our team, it's their only way to feel connected to the rest of the city. That's why the name, The Green Line, felt right — it symbolizes real, everyday people in Toronto.
Our Team
Staff
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PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Anita Li
SHE/HER
Longtime journalist-turned-unexpected entrepreneur. Forever Scarborough native from Agincourt North who now lives with her husband Lucan, baby son Miles and cat twins in their century-old home in Greenwood-Coxwell.
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HEAD OF PRODUCT AND GROWTH
Temitayo Akinyemi
HE/HIM
Award-winning journalist-turned-newsroom product manager. Loves football, nature and cycling everywhere — except uphill. An Ibadan man slowly becoming a Cabbagetown Torontonian.
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SENIOR EDITOR & LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
Yara El Murr
SHE/HER
Award-winning journalist with experience covering the environment, migration and labour. Lover of cats, crafts and kibbeh. Hailing from Lebanon, living in Regent Park.
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR & LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
Julia Lawrence
SHE/HER
TMU Journalism alumna who collects analog media and repeatedly falls in love with the city. Based in Broadview North, but will go anywhere for good coffee or thrift stores.
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ASSOCIATE EDITOR & CANADIAN RACE RELATIONS FOUNDATION MEDIA FELLOW
Aia Jaber
SHE/HER
Surfing Pinterest boards and journalism boards. TMU Master of Journalism grad now living her best life in the Garden District. Permanently on the hunt for the city’s best Arab coffee shops.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PRODUCER
Adele Lukusa
SHE/HER
TMU grad. Kitchener native-turned-Taylor-Massey local. Deeply into arts, culture, zines and a good critique — but iced tea will always win.
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SOCIAL & MARKETING COORDINATOR
Savannah Savone
SHE/HER
Mississauga native and TMU Media Production alumna. A proud film-student cliché who treats the big screen like church and popcorn like a competitive sport.
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VIDEO PRODUCER
Anthony Lippa-Hardy
HE/HIM
Mississauga native currently studying journalism at Toronto Metropolitan University. Loves to explore different visual mediums to tell impactful stories that need to be seen.
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DEVELOPER & SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
Jurgen Bueno
HE/HIM
Seneca Polytechnic graduate from Glenfield-Jane Heights. Loves reading, playing from his collection of way too many instruments and exploring every corner of the city he calls home.
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EDITORIAL INTERN
Juan Suarez
HE/THEY
Journalist with political science background. Originally from Colombia, now based in Toronto. Covers politics, policy and government. Fluent in Spanglish.
Advisory board
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BOARD MEMBER 2025-26
Steve Pratt
HE/HIM
Steve Pratt is the author of Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers and the founder of The Creativity Business, which offers keynotes, workshops and consulting to help companies develop differentiated content, marketing and messaging that earns attention. Steve is also the co-founder of the world’s first branded podcast agency, Pacific Content, named one of Entrepreneur’s "100 Brilliant Companies."
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BOARD MEMBER 2025-26
Cary Lavine
HE/HIM
Cary Lavine is a CPA and entrepreneur from Toronto who built RL Solutions, a world-leading healthcare software firm from five employees to 220 without the aid of external equity, ultimately leading to a private equity sale in 2018. He stayed on through 10+ acquisitions as the company grew to 1,400 employees. Cary is now focused more on giving back to his community.
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BOARD MEMBER 2025-26
Herman Ellis Jr.
HE/HIM
Herman Ellis Jr. is executive director of Scadding Court Community Centre, leading the development and coordination of programs and services for a diverse community in downtown Toronto. Herman has dedicated over 35 years of service to the centre and the Alexandra Park community, working in community development, program design and coordination, project management, financial administration, and policy research and development.
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BOARD MEMBER 2025-26
Nicholas Hill
HE/HIM
Nicholas Hill is the Startup Legal Support (SLS) Lead at the DMZ, where he helps early-stage entrepreneurs navigate complex legal challenges through innovative, accessible solutions. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Lincoln Alexander School of Law and former tech founder, Nic created the SLS and IP Clinic programs to deliver pro bono legal support, and empower Canadian startups to protect and scale their ventures.
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BOARD MEMBER 2026-27
Niti Bhotoia
SHE/HER
Niti Bhotoia is a Principal Consultant at capitalW, a Toronto-based firm specializing in fundraising strategy and revenue sustainability for social purpose organizations. With over two decades of experience mobilizing capital across the nonprofit and social impact sectors, Niti brings expertise in fundraising strategy and helping mission-driven organizations build sustainable revenue.
Our Values
Solutions
We collaborate with people in the communities we serve to report on local solutions that target the sources — not the symptoms — of the biggest problems facing our city.
Community
Torontonians of all stripes will find a home in The Green Line because our team reports on issues that you tell us are important. We also come from neighbourhoods across the city, so we have deep understanding and respect for your experiences.
Trust
We take on a huge responsibility when community members share their stories with us. Healthy relationships are based on trust and respect, which is why The Green Line embraces transparency and trauma-informed reporting.
Depth
Nothing happens in a vacuum. We dive deep beneath the surface to question the systems that shape Toronto and how we think of ourselves and our city.
Nuance
Solutions live in the grey area — not in the black and white. People, and by extension, cities are complex. We make sure to translate that complexity in our work.
Opportunities
Freelancing
Got a story for <em>The Green Line</em>? We're seeking creative storytellers and experienced journalists in Toronto to report on hyperlocal stories that unpack our city's systemic problems. Pitch us an idea focused on one of our five pillars — housing, transit, food, jobs or health — through a solution-focused lens. We welcome video or written stories, both short- and long-form and offer competitive freelance rates. Email your pitch, reporting plan, sources, resume and three clips to hello@thegreenline.to.
Fellowships
Apply for our paid Innovation Fellowship program and gain hands-on experience over three months with a five-hour weekly commitment. Join our fellowship streams in news, video, business development, technology or events. Ready to make an impact? Email hello@thegreenline.to and send your resume, cover letter and three standout clips or work samples that showcase your skill in your preferred fellowship category.
Internships
Our internship positions are for school credit only, so to get started, contact the internship coordinator at your university or college. We offer both part-time and full-time internship positions. Depending on your area of interest, we'll also request three relevant clips or work samples that showcase your skills in news, video production, business development, marketing, technology, event production, etc. To apply, submit your application, including a cover letter and resume, to hello@thegreenline.to
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
It's easy to feel pessimistic and cynical about our city when the news constantly tells you to be. But in actual reality, there are more Torontonians who get along than not, and more joy than heartache to be found here — even when things have honestly gotten tougher for everyone lately. Most of all, there are so many people who try to make this place better every day, and that's the reason why I started The Green Line — to bring these people together and to share their stories. Some of them even work here, so don't take it from me. Here's what our team has to say:
ANITA LI
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Green Line