Achieving success doesn’t have to come at the cost of enjoying life. A group of University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) alumni is committed to helping others find that balance, while empowering young adults and opening doors to accessible professional opportunities.
This is the purpose of the recent establishment of the DuoVida Foundation and DuoVida Collective, created by Guelph-Humber alumni Priya Puran (Justice Studies, class of 2024) Tenisha Noel (Justice Studies, class of 2024), and Humber Polytechnic alum Isabella Iannone. The name translates to “double life,” representing the duality of working hard and playing hard. In fact, the group’s motto is, “Where celebration drives success.”
“My personal vision behind starting DuoVida was to bring social life and professionalism together in a way that builds real community… When people feel connected, supported and seen, they show up stronger in every area of their lives,” Noel said, who along with Puran, was inspired to champion representation for Black and Caribbean youth, and other marginalized communities.
The DuoVida Foundation is the part of the organization where free professional development opportunities are planned and held, such as workshops or networking events. On the other hand, the DuoVida Collective is the part of the organization that encourages connection through fun events to let loose and decompress.
For example, in fall 2025, the trio planned and executed an event as part of the DuoVida Collective called The Last Fete. Initially slated to be a “Friendsgiving” event, the idea blossomed into a Thanksgiving dinner welcoming young adults – with an emphasis on international students who didn’t have family nearby to celebrate with. The Last Fete doubled as a food drive benefitting the Knights Table in Brampton, Ont. The purpose of the event was to create a “family atmosphere” and have a good time.
Puran, who’s currently in graduate school pursuing a master’s degree in Socio-Legal Studies, feels her time at Guelph-Humber has prepared her for launching and running DuoVida. Being in the Justice Studies program opens doors to careers beyond policing or working in the legal system. Puran noted that through the classes, student groups, experiences, and mentorship she had at U of GH, she felt confident to embark on this path.
“People go into the Justice Studies program to seek justice, but there are other ways of doing that. Guelph-Humber helped me realize that it’s not just a one-size-fits-all career box, and that we can take what we learn and pioneer our own pathway,” Puran said.
Furthermore, Puran cited Justice Studies instructor Dr. Laura MacDiarmid as a mentor at U of GH, supporting her and Noel on their academic journeys inside and outside the classroom. It was also her Canadian Social Problems and Issues in Social Welfare courses that exposed her to social problems she wasn’t previously aware of. She felt enlightened about finding solutions to various social issues.
“Guelph-Humber helped us with developing leadership skills, community engagement, and bettering our research abilities,” Puran said.
Armed with the tools to succeed from Guelph-Humber, the Last Fete became the group’s first fun event. Puran described the event as a “rewarding experience” because DuoVida was able to “put a smile on everyone’s face and give back to the community.” Through systemic barriers marginalized groups may face, including root issues they learned about at U of GH, making all DuoVida events free gives people equal opportunity and an ability to gain social and professional ability, where they’re able to move up the class ladder, she explained.
And if there’s one message she could share with Guelph-Humber students and fellow graduates, Puran said that it would be that you don’t have to have a perfect idea to get started on a passion project or make a difference. You’ve got to learn to love the journey as much as the outcome.
“When you follow your passion, you never really work a day in your life. And when you add passion to your work, it turns your work into something meaningful, and turns that struggle into purpose,” Puran said, reflecting on her path from Guelph-Humber.
DuoVida is on Instagram at @duovidacollective and @duovidafoundation.
To learn more about the Justice Studies program, click here.