Trent Daley fights for Edmonton’s most vulnerable populations
Age: 29
Job Title: Operations Manager, Islamic Family and Social Services Association
Serving people at risk isn’t just a job for Trent Daley. Having lost his childhood best friend to suicide, and intervening for friends and family dealing with addiction, this fight is personal.
After a car accident put his university education on pause, and parenthood (he’s a father of four) put his career on the backburner, Daley still managed to forge an impressive career for himself serving Edmonton’s most vulnerable populations.
Struggling with a concussion following his accident, overcoming alcoholism and then-undiagnosed ADHD, Daley’s journey informed his grit as well as his passion for those on the margins.
“I really care about making Edmonton a better place to live. I think that there’s a lot of wonderful things happening here.”
After a stint working in government as a political staffer, Daley found his footing in the non-profit sector. Talk to Daley and you’ll immediately hear his passion for serving the community.
Heading up Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, working in harm reduction, and addressing Islamophobia and hate crimes, he’s worked across the city with different marginalized people. Volunteering with Al Rashid Mosque during the polar vortex in 2019, Daley coordinated and recruited volunteers while supporting people accessing the temporary shelter. This experience inspired him to work for a housing-first organization, invest in youth mentorship programs and developed in him a stronger commitment to justice within his anti-racism work. Now, he uses his work to advocate for a deeper equality that addresses the structural inequities that keep people on the margins.
“The city’s plan to grow to two million people is fun to talk about, but we need to make sure it includes everyone.”
This article appears in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Edify
