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<figure id="figure-5n3k8r1ywkmgv4w4tm"><img id="5n3k8r1ywkmgv4w4tm" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/1be5cmjy8gu5eYXawTEJaEYtIMIwUQ9t45ej4vcR1eXX8lVRpoH840Oa6cLbNE1z.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/1be5cmjy8gu5eYXawTEJaEYtIMIwUQ9t45ej4vcR1eXX8lVRpoH840Oa6cLbNE1z.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;"></figure>To mark Islamic History Month, the Ismaili Council for BC and the Foundation for a Path Forward are hosting a special dialogue with Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia, in conversation with Dr. Amyn Sajoo, author and scholar at SFU.This timely discussion will explore how Canadians can take meaningful action to address Islamophobia and strengthen our shared values of inclusion and belonging.📅 Sunday, October 26 | 2:30 p.m. 📍 Ismaili Centre Vancouver 🔗 Register here:&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://iicanada.org/events/community-engagement/islamic-history-month-dialogue-amira-elghawaby-and-dr-amyn-sajoo" href="https://iicanada.org/events/community-engagement/islamic-history-month-dialogue-amira-elghawaby-and-dr-amyn-sajoo">https://iicanada.org/events/community-engagement/islamic-history-month-dialogue-amira-elghawaby-and-dr-amyn-sajoo</a>

REGISTER NOW | Islamic History Month with Amira Elghawaby and Dr. Amyn Sajoo

Interview and round table discussion at business convention and presentation. Audience at the conference hall. Business and entrepreneurship symposium

The Foundation for a Path Forward is honoured to announce that its co-founder Yusuf Siraj will be speaking at the Polarization in the Public Square conference on October 21, 2025, in Toronto. Hosted by Digital Public Square as part of Public Safety Canada’s “Megaweek”, the event will bring together experts and community leaders from across the country to address the growing challenge of social and political polarization in Canada.Yusuf will join the panel “The Power of Community: Canadian Civil Society Responses to Polarization”, highlighting the Foundation’s work—especially its Breaking Bread | Building Bonds initiative—as a model for fostering dialogue, empathy, and connection across communities.Learn more about the event here: <a data-mce-href="https://luma.com/yvg2miux" href="https://luma.com/yvg2miux" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">https://luma.com/yvg2miux</a>

(Upcoming) Foundation Set to Talk at the "Polarization in the Public Square" Conference

<figure id="figure-1p1vnd91wmgjn1osd"><img id="1p1vnd91wmgjn1osd" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1P9qc3GQS1KDLMUj8C16L2yCBQnwHXaeO8Ftpht0gD37BHVJZU0rXn1DOPuen98q.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1P9qc3GQS1KDLMUj8C16L2yCBQnwHXaeO8Ftpht0gD37BHVJZU0rXn1DOPuen98q.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The Foundation for a Path Forward is proud to partner with the Strong Cities Network and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities on the launch of Prevention Academy Canada, a national initiative funded by Public Safety Canada that officially launched on September 11, 2025. The Academy is now underway, equipping municipal leaders and local officials with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to address rising hate, extremism, and social polarisation in communities across the country.Across Canada, municipalities are on the frontlines of responding to growing divisions and threats—both online and offline—that undermine community safety and cohesion. Yet many local governments, particularly smaller ones, face limited resources and competing priorities. The Prevention Academy directly addresses this gap by empowering mayors, councillors, senior administrators, and community leaders to understand the hate landscape, strengthen digital and social resilience, and implement coordinated prevention strategies tailored to their communities.<figure id="figure-71bnu51qgmgjn2gr9"><img id="71bnu51qgmgjn2gr9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/27eMIyUmgBQ2XT6ld5zH9yrAt3cFVi0xR3Ndk1P5PgwmWC3C90F1dMQUx1J75yJj.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Building on the success of the Strong Cities Prevention Academy model in the United States, Prevention Academy Canada tailors its curriculum to the Canadian context, aligning with existing safety and well-being efforts. The ten-month program features a series of ten learning modules, combining expert-led sessions, peer-to-peer exchanges, and hands-on planning. Participants will engage on key themes such as:<ul><li>Countering online hate and disinformation through digital literacy;</li><li>Building community resilience using a public health approach;</li><li>Developing referral systems for individuals at risk of radicalisation; and</li><li>Managing crisis communications and post-incident response.</li></ul>The Foundation for a Path Forward brings to this partnership its deep experience in community resilience, anti-racism, and social innovation. Since 2020, the Foundation has reached more than 750,000 individuals, built over 200 organisational partnerships, and delivered programming across Toronto, Calgary, and Moncton. Its grassroots networks, interfaith partnerships, and expertise in public safety and inclusion are helping ensure the Academy’s implementation is both effective and community-driven.With sessions now in progress, the Foundation continues to play a central role in connecting local leadership with community expertise, embedding equity and inclusion throughout the Academy’s design. Together with the Strong Cities Network and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities, this partnership represents a major step toward building safer municipalities, stronger institutions, and a more united Canada committed to prevention and resilience.

Foundation for a Path Forward Teams Up with the Strong Cities Network for Prevention Academy Canada

<figure id="figure-uehlan5u2mgjmhnwo"><img id="uehlan5u2mgjmhnwo" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/38oWKgjCoENHpWBUOQGJo8Ki7IfLKA222JYXvkiUbkMlISiizFes0v6979itzriU.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="35%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/38oWKgjCoENHpWBUOQGJo8Ki7IfLKA222JYXvkiUbkMlISiizFes0v6979itzriU.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 35%;"></figure>Municipalities across British Columbia came together on September 3–4, 2025, for a two-day conference in Vancouver on countering online harms and protecting social cohesion. Organized under the Strong Cities–North America initiative, the event brought together elected officials, community leaders, academics, and practitioners to examine the growing challenges of hate, disinformation, and digital threats at the local level.<figure id="figure-p7souzra4mgjmnpyb"><img id="p7souzra4mgjmnpyb" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/28SBEONULaDiZQl12cpCmBkPOEJ1MFOmTyyXPuhBcGKOXm9qZY9ZtrNfNYmlGwcJ.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="25%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/28SBEONULaDiZQl12cpCmBkPOEJ1MFOmTyyXPuhBcGKOXm9qZY9ZtrNfNYmlGwcJ.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;"></figure>The Foundation for a Path Forward (F4PF) played a central role in shaping the discussion throughout the conference. On the first day, F4PF Co-Founder Tariq Tyab joined researchers and academics to highlight the ways in which online conspiracy narratives and gendered forms of abuse are particularly harmful to marginalized communities in British Columbia. His contribution grounded the conversation in the lived realities of municipalities, emphasizing both the risks and the opportunities for community resilience.<figure id="figure-a22pr1espfmgjmo932"><img id="a22pr1espfmgjmo932" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/202Av3T4zDIZCqG8nGYgivzuEm55Vi4E6kOCkvjJHBtO0GxdI1iZC3Nc9TQMK0TB.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/202Av3T4zDIZCqG8nGYgivzuEm55Vi4E6kOCkvjJHBtO0GxdI1iZC3Nc9TQMK0TB.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Later that morning, F4PF Co-Founder Yusuf Siraj presented findings from the Centre for Civic Governance’s report, “Inclusive Networking &amp; Support for Public Officials in Rural Environments: Addressing Systemic Racism and Online Harms in Local Governance across BC.” His presentation shed light on how local officials, particularly in smaller and rural municipalities, are uniquely vulnerable to targeted online abuse. By outlining practical recommendations, he provided municipal leaders with tools to better protect themselves and their communities.The Foundation’s leadership continued as Yusuf Siraj moderated a conversation with municipal leaders from across British Columbia, including representatives from New Westminster, Nelson, and Courtenay. This session gave city officials the chance to candidly share their perspectives on the state of online harms in their communities, illustrating the varying impacts across urban and rural contexts. By guiding the dialogue, F4PF ensured that municipal voices remained central to the conversation and that practical lessons from different regions were elevated.<figure id="figure-4zngg2mvnmgjmojf6"><img id="4zngg2mvnmgjmojf6" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2ftQzaMxD69FLbcv5HzjNnRtV8txiTSP5sTSj74VJxReCPtFQuvI5oFNhUN3uFO6.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2ftQzaMxD69FLbcv5HzjNnRtV8txiTSP5sTSj74VJxReCPtFQuvI5oFNhUN3uFO6.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Across both days of the conference, the contributions of the Foundation for a Path Forward emphasized the importance of equipping municipalities with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to respond to online harms. By presenting research, moderating critical discussions, and framing local challenges in a way that resonated with participants, F4PF reinforced its role as a bridge between community-based expertise and policy-level initiatives. The conference ultimately underscored that tackling online threats to social cohesion requires not only international cooperation but also the leadership and active engagement of organizations rooted in the communities most affected—an approach that the Foundation for a Path Forward exemplified throughout the event.

Foundation Speaks and Moderates at the Strong Cities Network Conference in Vancouver

<figure id="figure-7rklldz1ewmf10gaan"><img id="7rklldz1ewmf10gaan" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/132eZXeihVriGcZVtgwcjGbv0uIRVRdCY1OGj9NLytkYNZK0u7a10rfuG4SB4Mig.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 0% 60%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionX="0%" data-positionY="60%" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Foundation for a Path Forward joined the BC Muslim Association and KidsPlay Foundation to host the Guns, Drugs, and Gangs Public Safety Forum at Surrey Jamea Masjid. Supported by SACH BC, Moving Forward Family Services, and Penny Appeal Canada, the forum drew more than 500 youth, parents, and community leaders to confront the urgent crises of gang violence and the toxic drug epidemic threatening Surrey’s young people.<figure id="figure-k1sp7bn30lmgicpzvo"><img id="k1sp7bn30lmgicpzvo" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25zxTCBJQl6mnlkzd6I8owUUuKGJe00nuVS6f60JpzklhLdxEs9o7hOCpEn4qoJJ.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25zxTCBJQl6mnlkzd6I8owUUuKGJe00nuVS6f60JpzklhLdxEs9o7hOCpEn4qoJJ.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The program brought together speakers whose lived experiences and professional expertise gave weight and urgency to the conversation. Yusef-Andre Wiley, a former Blood gang member from Los Angeles, shared his powerful journey from incarceration to becoming a respected motivational speaker and community mentor. His testimony illustrated both the dangers of early recruitment into gangs and the possibility of redemption when communities rally to support youth. Maulana Osama Raja, Imam at the BCMA Surrey Delta Masjid, provided a faith-based perspective on resilience and responsibility, urging Muslim youth and families to anchor themselves in values that protect against exploitation. His leadership reinforced the role of spiritual guidance in countering destructive influences.<figure id="figure-w0bexmbinbmgicrngb"><img id="w0bexmbinbmgicrngb" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2c1KsycZfYq1H6ED2NfhOR85QL9EO9cw9YqTThhkwM3itdjQEPO5T9IFarFdxA3f.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 10%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="10%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2c1KsycZfYq1H6ED2NfhOR85QL9EO9cw9YqTThhkwM3itdjQEPO5T9IFarFdxA3f.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 10%;"></figure>Surrey-Panorama MLA Bryan Tepper contributed a provincial policy perspective, drawing on his role in shaping community safety and public health initiatives to highlight how the government must align with grassroots partners to address the dual crises of gangs and toxic drugs. Surrey City Councillor and Crime Stoppers Executive Director Linda Annis offered a municipal and public safety perspective, stressing the importance of civic leadership and community-driven initiatives in disrupting recruitment pipelines.<figure id="figure-l59jzfwvzmgicsav1"><img id="l59jzfwvzmgicsav1" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34RrUFmduvfqnQLZRIaayvgEzyzotEcMUv1NN1uHHN1Bv6UzPPBIaNYLzZJwCfyA.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34RrUFmduvfqnQLZRIaayvgEzyzotEcMUv1NN1uHHN1Bv6UzPPBIaNYLzZJwCfyA.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Kal Dosanjh, founder of KidsPlay and a Vancouver Police Department detective, built on this message by emphasizing how prevention, mentorship, and youth engagement programs can offer alternatives to gang life. Gary Bains, a Punjabi-Canadian hip-hop artist with The Bains Brothers, shared how music can empower youth to express themselves, resist negative influences, and build identity, using his platform with KidsPlay Foundation to bridge art and advocacy. Gursher Bains, financial advisor, drew on his background to highlight how gangs prey on young people’s desire for fast money. By teaching youth how to manage finances responsibly and recognize manipulative tactics, he demonstrated how practical education can be a frontline defense against recruitment.<figure id="figure-iyfujwtehjmgicuj4c"><img id="iyfujwtehjmgicuj4c" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3auoGUIPeqIUf6Ue0TIbQHcUKVQxvNb13Y2uc6qNTIkG0sCj5v6k2XRzxggJgkPO.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3auoGUIPeqIUf6Ue0TIbQHcUKVQxvNb13Y2uc6qNTIkG0sCj5v6k2XRzxggJgkPO.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Shenan Charania, a life coach and speaker with KidsPlay, recounted his journey from drugs and gang life to personal transformation, emphasizing the power of mentorship, self-awareness, and redemption. Sartaj Sandhu, a clinician and youth leader with Moving Forward Family Services, offered professional insight into how mental health support and compassionate community engagement are key to preventing addiction and gang involvement. Mufti Mohamed Mouadh added further depth by underscoring the moral and ethical imperatives of community vigilance, linking spiritual values to practical prevention strategies. Together with other speakers, they presented families with tools to recognize recruitment tactics and resources to intervene early. Together with other speakers, they presented families with tools to recognize recruitment tactics and resources to intervene early. Together, their stories underscored the importance of creativity, mentorship, and empathy in protecting and empowering youth.<figure id="figure-zk3v9lozidmf12430h" class=""><img id="zk3v9lozidmf12430h" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32tizAhs5FHLmh5AP7wtFOHrLzgA5jFTCQg33l3mZqwnvwPmn7gk69SC7B9Mmh9q.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 90%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="90%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/32tizAhs5FHLmh5AP7wtFOHrLzgA5jFTCQg33l3mZqwnvwPmn7gk69SC7B9Mmh9q.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 90%;"></figure>Statistics underscored the urgency of their message: gang-related homicides now account for nearly half of all murders in B.C., and toxic drugs remain the leading cause of death for British Columbians aged 10–59. Children as young as 10 are being groomed online, with recruiters exploiting vulnerabilities, peer pressure, and even romantic manipulation.<figure id="figure-mogev6552tmf124p9c"><img id="mogev6552tmf124p9c" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aTgXEZR67k2syLXDHlJyUxEVi331i02QF7VXk8XkEQYCDyMjRWgzUFOxthN8zrKs.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aTgXEZR67k2syLXDHlJyUxEVi331i02QF7VXk8XkEQYCDyMjRWgzUFOxthN8zrKs.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>By convening religious leaders, survivors, educators, and grassroots organizations, the forum offered more than warnings—it created a roadmap for prevention. Families left with tools to spot recruitment tactics, resources for intervention, and the assurance that their community stands united in safeguarding the next generation.<figure id="figure-es2ovttlqmf1257e2"><img id="es2ovttlqmf1257e2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30ftmPBM2dovUALTfLStryuyspKk4IYdr7YekmwLOi7g4tP7NjiWcLI9Jnnyq1io.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/30ftmPBM2dovUALTfLStryuyspKk4IYdr7YekmwLOi7g4tP7NjiWcLI9Jnnyq1io.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>The Foundation for a Path Forward sees this forum as a turning point. By fostering collaboration across faiths and sectors, the event showed that communities need not accept the normalization of gangs and drugs. Together, Surrey took a stand to reclaim its neighborhoods and protect its youth.

Foundation Hosts the Second Guns, Drugs, and Gangs Public Safety Forum in Surrey

On June 28, 2025, the Foundation for a Path Forward and Coding in Colour hosted the second session of the Transformative AI training series — a free, hands-on program designed to help nonprofit staff, community leaders, and frontline professionals understand and harness the power of AI in their day-to-day work.<figure id="figure-h6evcd3unbmcj1i1xs"><img id="h6evcd3unbmcj1i1xs" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/6rmgr3tqdmFat14hbEicVvAQfXBsBapkaWk9LAl9VUqsmiCJpGvR5HKJFF35X5Hc.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure>Over the two-hour online training, participants explored how to use tools like ChatGPT to write faster, plan smarter, and focus more deeply on their mission. With real-life demos, accessible language, and no technical background required, the session offered a welcoming space for professionals to learn how AI can work for them — not against them.Led by instructors Yusuf Siraj and Sabrina Smai, the session emphasized practical, responsible, and values-based uses of AI. The training helped demystify AI’s role in nonprofits, highlighting real-world applications in program management, communication, and decision-making.Building on the success of the first session held earlier in June, this second session showed continued interest across sectors in building future-ready digital skills — especially in organizations that serve racialized and equity-seeking communities.As AI becomes more embedded in the tools we use daily, the Transformative AI program ensures that those advancing justice, inclusion, and equity aren’t left behind.More sessions and in-depth learning options are on the horizon as the Foundation works to support changemakers who want to lead in an AI-powered world — thoughtfully, ethically, and with impact.

Foundation for a Path Forward

Foundation News

REGISTER NOW | Islamic History Month with Amira Elghawaby...

(Upcoming) Foundation Set to Talk at the "Polarization in...

Foundation for a Path Forward Teams Up with the Strong Ci...

Foundation Speaks and Moderates at the Strong Cities Netw...

Foundation Hosts the Second Guns, Drugs, and Gangs Public...

Foundation's Second Transformative AI Training for Nonpro...