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Regent Park’s a good community, especially the programs, but he should experience living in Regent Park before he says anything.

6. Mufthaz Munaz, 27





Customer service representative, Royal Bank





Backstory

I worked at Enterprise Rent-a-Car and had no opportunities. I looked for ways to get into a company with some options, but I was applying and it never worked out. Then Employment Services said there was a position at RBC. We worked on my résumé, did a mock interview and I got the job. I see myself moving up.





The neighbourhood

I put the TV on and there’s a shooting at Regent Park. Whose day is it? Someone I know? Someone my brother knows? After some time, it becomes part of your life.





The future

There’s been huge improvements in the last few years — huge. I have a feeling the troublemakers have been moved out. My uncle’s lived in Regent for 30 years and he wouldn’t leave his apartment after 8 p.m., but now, things are cool. My mom goes out, she’s OK. Hopefully someday I’ll buy a house, until that time, I’ll be in Regent Park.

7. Marufa Hoque, 23





Graduate, University of Toronto, health studies and biochemistry degree





Backstory

My dad’s not part of our family, but we’re part of a big Bangladeshi community — in my building, I have loads of Bangladeshi aunties. We have a social life outside of Regent Park. I have an older brother and a younger sister and we’ve never had any trouble with crews. I don’t know if they’re gangs, but we’re not part of any crowd.





Message to Mayor Ford

I’m unnerved about Ford becoming mayor because a lot of his comments, saying, “We don’t need more immigrants in this city” — I’m an immigrant. I think of myself as a Canadian first, immigrant second, but I don’t know how people perceive me. I hope Mr. Ford knows that, like, with the TTC, we don’t have a car, and it matters. Removing social programs? This place really helped me: They sent me job postings and helped me with a résumé. If I get a job tomorrow, it will be because these services helped me. They matter, Mr. Ford.