About Us

Different Hues. Different Views.

The Green Line is an award-winning, hyperlocal news outlet that investigates the way we live to help young and other underserved Torontonians survive and thrive in a rapidly changing city. Together, let’s breathe new life into Toronto’s conversations so we can build a livable city for all. 

HOW WE BEGAN

After working in journalism for two decades, with multi-platform experience at both legacy Canadian institutions and digital American publications, our EIC Anita noticed that news media often failed to accurately reflect many communities they claim to serve, especially underrepresented ones. So, she set out to create a more self-aware, inclusive, equitable and community-driven local outlet in Toronto that focuses on much-needed solutions in its reporting. In 2020, The Green Line began as just a germ of an idea.
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.
The Green Line soft-launched in October 2021 on Instagram and TikTok, which feature community-driven articles tailored to those platforms. In April 2022, we officially launched TheGreenLine.TO, where we debuted our Action Journey, an original theory-of-change model that encourages Torontonians to create positive social change in their communities after consuming our journalism.
By embracing ethical and innovative approaches to journalism, our hope is that we can create a trusted hyperlocal news outlet that will serve Torontonians and cover the city as our communities see it for decades to come. Perhaps one day, The Green Line will pop up in other rapidly changing cities across Canada, producing forward-thinking journalism that helps community members there survive and thrive on their own terms.

OUR TEAM

Anita Li
FOUNDER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ANITA
LI

SHE/HER

Longtime journalist, media consultant and educator. Forever Scarborough native who now lives with her husband Lucan and cat twins in their century-old home in Leslieville.

Julia Lawrence
CONSULTANT

JULIA
LAWRENCE

SHE/HER

Aspiring film photographer who studies journalism, communication and design at Toronto Metropolitan University. Visits beaches at 6 a.m. to clear her head.

Danish Anwar
COMEDIAN

DANISH
ANWAR

HE/HIM

Toronto-based standup comedian with poor taste in music. Do not consume on an empty stomach.

STAFF

Aneesa Bhanji BW
COMMUNITY PRODUCER

ANEESA
BHANJI

SHE/HER

Journalism student at Toronto Metropolitan University who's also studying communications and design. Grew up in Vaughan, now living in the Financial District. Always loves a good chai latte.

Amanda Seraphina James Rajakumar BW
COMMUNITY PRODUCER

AMANDA
SERAPHINA
JAMES
RAJAKUMAR

SHE/HER

Indian immigrant with a post-grad in journalism from Centennial College. Now living in Grange Park. Often has her four names confused as two different people, so it’s a pick-your-player situation.

Adele Lukusa BW
ENGAGEMENT REPORTER

ADELE
LUKUSA

SHE/HER

Graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University and Kitchener native enamoured with Toronto. Lover of Jamila Woods. Currently working on supporting mutual aid efforts and unpacking the nuances of Black haircare.

Lanxin Jiang BW
MEMBERSHIP AND REVENUE STRATEGIST

LANXIN
JIANG

SHE/HER

Chinese-Canadian living in Oakville. Currently working in the non-profit space supporting Social Purpose Organizations with capacity-building. Passionate about storytelling, impact measurement and bubble tea.

Hans Xu black and white
DEVELOPER AND DIGITAL COORDINATOR

HANS
XU

HE/HIM

Full-stack developer passionate about making accessible, easy-to-use software. Staunchly anti-bloat, but learns React out of necessity. Interested in cybersecurity and best practices for online privacy.

yara's headshot
ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

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 Moss Park.

 

Abbie's headshot
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

ABBIE
NORTH

SHE/HER

Vancouver Island native now studying in Toronto. Wakes up early for no apparent reason and always says yes to an iced Americano.

Didhiti Kandel BW
NEWS INNOVATION FELLOW

DIDHITI
KANDEL

SHE/HER

Nepalese-Canadian journalist living in Scarborough City Centre. Avid hydration advocate who loves to binge-read books in one sitting. Make sure you're drinking water.

James Westman Headshot
VIDEO INNOVATION FELLOW

JAMES
WESTMAN

HE/HIM

Humber journalism graduate. Existential threat observer. Explored every park and trail in Toronto, with a map to prove it. Believes the Leslie Street Spit is the city's best hidden gem.

Anthony headshot
VIDEO INNOVATION FELLOW

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.

WhatsApp Image 2024-01-11 at 1.43.09 PM
STORYWORKS INTERN

HARUKA
IDE

SHE/HER

Journalism student at Centennial College. Raised in Japan as a triplet and passionate about understanding how people’s identities are shaped. Currently exploring nature in Toronto as a squirrel lover.

original-6177283F-0FB0-4B0E-9E70-A242BA90B0A1
STORYWORKS INTERN

MELANIE
KALOGIROU

SHE/HER

University of Toronto student in the joint journalism program with Centennial College. Grew up in Scarborough, passionate about inclusive storytelling, and loves talking about entertainment and music. 

FREELANCERS

Steven Zhou
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

STEVEN
ZHOU

HE/HIM

Investigative journalist, producer and editor based in City Place focusing on extremism, politics and Islamophobia.

Aparita Bhandari
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

APARITA
BHANDARI

SHE/HER

Grew up in New Delhi before moving to Toronto to study English lit at University of Toronto. Now lives near Yonge and Finch. Tells print and audio stories, while trying to resist Toblerone bars.

Shireen Ahmed
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

SHIREEN
AHMED

SHE/HER

Multiplatform sports journalist. Instructor at Toronto Metropolitan University. Loves sports, but doesn't love the systems of oppression that surround them. Proud resident of Mississauga. Adores cats. Drinks coffee as a tool of resistance.

Huda Hassan
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

HUDA
HASSAN

SHE/HER

Writer from Scarborough, Black feminist cultural studies scholar and eldest daughter. Currently examining the connections between art, place-making and power.

Photo of freelance repoter Megan Kinch
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

MEGAN
KINCH

SHE/THEY

Labour journalist and union electrician from Toronto. Most recently published in Briarpatch Magazine, West End Phoenix and Spacing. A resident of Kensington Market who enjoys playing weird music in the park late at night.

Photo of Teru Ikeda
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

TERU
IKEDA

HE/HIM

Freelance writer in an AI world. Shooting mid-range jumpers in 2023. Walking contradiction and aspiring basketball nerd.

Anthony Milton headshot square
FREELANCE ELECTIONS REPORTER

ANTHONY
MILTON

HE/HIM
Born and raised in Toronto, now based at College Street and Dovercourt Road. Toronto Metropolitan University Master of Journalism grad. Writes about politics and culture in the city.
Photo of Camilla Faragalli
FREELANCE REPORTER

CAMILLA
FARAGALLI

SHE/HER

Italian-Canadian with a post-grad degree in journalism from Centennial College. Focused on social issues and interested in the words we choose to tell our stories. Fierce devil’s advocate with a good chance of winning at Scrabble.

Aloysius Wong
FREELANCE FEATURE REPORTER

ALOYSIUS
WONG

HE/HIM

Toronto Metropolitan University Master of Journalism graduate. Lives in North York where he prays that the Eglinton Crosstown will eventually be completed.

Isabel Armiento B&W
FREELANCE REPORTER

ISABEL
ARMIENTO

SHE/HER

Book lover and freelance journalist living in the Annex. Works as the editorial director of Aardvark Book Club. Curled up with a good book or in a mosh pit (there’s no in-between).

Masahda Lochan-Aristide BW
FREELANCE REPORTER

MASAHDA
LOCHAN-ARISTIDE

SHE/HER

Scarborough native pursuing her journalism degree at Toronto Metropolitan University. Passionate about travel. Currently writing to highlight arts and culture, and its place in society.

Photo of Jacob Krone.
FREELANCE VIDEO EDITOR

JACOB
KRONE

HE/HIM

Mississauga native and graduate of McMaster University’s psychology, neuroscience and behaviour program. Currently exploring storytelling through video.

Without our team driving us forward, The Green Line can’t arrive at our next destination. Help keep us going so we can continue to tell stories that help underserved Torontonians navigate the city.

WHO WE ARE

A person’s values reveal so much about
their character, so in that spirit, here’s
what we stand for.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

I created The Green Line for kid Anita, that born-and-bred Scarborough girl who grew up near McCowan and Finch feeling disconnected from the rest of Toronto, but who also had a lot of pride in who she was and where she came from. Growing up, I often made the long trek downtown — the symbolic centre of Toronto — by taking the 129 bus near my childhood home to the RT, before transferring to Kennedy and heading west on the green line for school, work and play.

There are a lot of kids like that across this city. Some of them come from Rexdale, others from Willowdale. But all of us share the same deep connection to the places that shaped who we are today.

And who are we today? Gen Zs. Millennials. Underserved Torontonians. In other words, the driving force behind Toronto’s culture and sense of community. So, now is the time to pay it forward by taking action on the issues that matter to us and our people.

Join The Green Line movement. Help us redefine Toronto through the way we live and the stories we tell.

ANITA LI

Founder & Editor-in-Chief
The Green Line

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