Written by Chandra Kala Sharma
“My journey in communication started with a dream, a dream to be a TV reporter, but life happens and dreams change,” says Luis Augusto Nobre.
Luis Augusto Nobre (He/Him) moved to Canada in 2016 with the intention of utilizing his expertise and knowledge acquired in Brazil. However, the initial days were far from smooth sailing for him. He faced numerous challenges as a newly-arrived immigrant without a formal education in Canada. Nonetheless, he remained undaunted and set out to fill any gaps in his knowledge and experience through volunteering and acquainting himself with the work culture.
Eventually, in 2019, Luis found his place at Pride at Work Canada, where he joined as a Communication and Marketing Coordinator. In this role, he was able to apply his knowledge and skills to develop effective strategies and initiate marketing campaigns for the organization’s events and promotions. His role also involved fostering partnerships with stakeholders, which he excelled at and found immense satisfaction in.
“The journey from Marketing to Senior Communications Coordinator was a kind of movement from doer to thinker,” says Luis. “Every day is different, and I love doing the work because every day I am learning something,” he adds.
Luis’s passion for language is truly remarkable. He takes great pride in being able to communicate and create content in both French and English, which has not only increased engagement but also supported inclusion in the workplace.
Pride at Work Canada has over 300 proud partners and community partners. According to Luis, the work that they do is critical in tackling issues such as changing laws against vulnerable communities, discrimination, and prejudice. Their goal is to influence laws, policies, and the community itself to promote respect and celebrate individuals’ differences. Luis is passionate about celebrating Canada’s diversity and creating a safer space for queer and transgender individuals.
Seneca College is one of Pride at Work Canada’s recent partners. The organization is helping the college promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace by providing educational support such as workshops, seminars, and employee engagement activities to create a sense of belonging and respect for differences.
Effective communication plays a vital role in such an organization, and some of Louis’s favourite milestones at Pride at Work Canada include building a website, publishing annual reports, and helping the community during the pandemic by organizing events to create a safer space. Luis is passionate about his work and has a desire to make a difference in the community. However, he acknowledges that sometimes, individuals in such positions become the face of a movement before it even occurs, which is the beauty of being in this field.
Luis sheds light on how the expertise and experiences immigrants bring from their own country can improve organizations and businesses. He acknowledges that prejudice exists in the workplace and that we need to change the lens through which we view potential employees. Numerous qualified individuals are waiting to be selected who are not given the opportunity due to factors such as race, colour, or language.
As a final note, Luis advises everyone never to lose hope. Dreams may change, but we should never stop dreaming.
