Social Entrepreneurs are Changing the World
You are welcome to attend an interview with Ilona Dougherty, founder of Apathy is Boring.
An activist and artist from an early age, Ilona’s diverse experiences range from being a Canadian delegate to the United Nations at 17 years old to producing concerts across Canada. Along the way, she gained extensive and hands-on experience in band and artist management, workshop facilitation and organizational strategic planning.
In 2004, Ilona co-founded Apathy is Boring (), a national nonpartisan charitable organization that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. Through concerts, social media, workshops and election campaigns, they work to get the message out that apathy is boring and democracy is sexy.
As Apathy is Boring’s current Executive Director, she has accompanied the Governor General of Canada as a Delegate on the 2009 State Visit to the Ukraine and Norway, been featured by the national media (Canada AM, The Current, The Ottawa Citizen), and given thousands of youth the tools they need to get involved in their communities.
Ilona’s interest has always been in fusing art and social change, which she continues to make a primary focus. She has won awards including the Yukon Women’s Award: Young Women Leader, and was recently named as an Ashoka Fellow. She was also featured in the book “Notes from Canada’s Young Activists,” compiled by Severn Cullis-Suzuki. Ilona continues to speak around the country about innovative ways to reach 18 – 35 year old Canadians and engage them in public policy. Recent speaking engagements include the Governing Under the Midnight Sun Conference, Community Foundations of Canada Conference, University of Toronto, Ŕ¦°óSMÉçÇř, Ottawa University, Global Youth Assembly, Yukon Volunteer Bureau, Volunteer Bureau of Montreal and Association of Yukon School Councils.
