Meet The Team
Small in size but mighty in mission.
We bring together experience in philanthropy, operations, brand building, and community engagement, united by a shared belief that families should never have to choose between diapers and other essentials.
The Hearts Behind Baby Love
Julia Miller Black - Co Founder
Julia Miller Black is a dedicated community leader and one of the visionary co-founders of Baby Love Beginnings. With a background in philanthropy and early childhood programming, she brings both deep expertise and compassion to the mission of addressing diaper need across Toronto.
In addition to her role at Baby Love, Julia serves as the Managing Director of the LesLois Shaw Foundation, a private foundation focused on education and gender equality, where she champions accessible, high-impact solutions for families. Her leadership has strengthened communities both locally and internationally through a commitment to dignity, opportunity, and long-term change.
In 2022, Julia co-founded Baby Love alongside Tanya Taylor, driven by a belief that no parent should have to choose between diapers and other essentials. Today, she’s deeply involved in the organization’s programming, partnerships, and outreach, ensuring that every initiative is grounded in empathy, impact, and community care. Whether she’s launching new efforts or connecting directly with families, Julia brings purpose, warmth, and vision to everything she does.
Tanya Taylor - Co Founder
Tanya Taylor is a celebrated fashion designer and one of the co-founders of Baby Love Beginnings. Known for her vibrant, size-inclusive collections, Tanya has built a brand rooted in creativity, confidence, and care, values she now brings to her work supporting families through Baby Love.
Born and raised in Toronto, Tanya studied finance at McGill University before pursuing fashion at Central Saint Martins and Parsons School of Design in New York. Since launching her namesake label in 2012, she has become a leading voice in inclusive design and social impact, using her platform to advocate for mental health, voter engagement, and community well-being.
In 2022, Tanya co-founded Baby Love alongside Julia Miller Black, inspired by her own experience as a mother and her deep belief that every parent deserves dignity and support. At Baby Love, her influence is all over the organization’s creative direction and visual storytelling, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the warmth, empathy, and joy at the heart of the mission. Whether she’s designing collections or helping tell Baby Love’s story, Tanya is driven by the power of community and care.
Rachel Truant - Executive Director
Rachel Truant is an experienced fundraising and community leader who serves as the current Executive Director of Baby Love Beginnings. With more than 15 years of senior leadership experience across Toronto-based organizations, Rachel brings strategic clarity, operational strength, and a deep commitment to advancing equity for families.
Most recently, Rachel served as Senior Director of Philanthropy at Safehaven, where she revitalized and scaled fundraising programs, significantly increasing annual revenue and strengthening donor engagement. Prior to that, she spent five years leading resource development at Abiona Centre and played a key role in helping launch Baby Love, giving her a strong, firsthand understanding of our work, partners, and impact. Her career has been defined by building sustainable funding models, cultivating meaningful partnerships, and translating vision into measurable results.
Rachel has been connected to Baby Love’s mission from its earliest days and understands firsthand the urgency of addressing diaper need in Toronto. As Executive Director, she is focused on strengthening systems, deepening partnerships, and ensuring the organization continues to grow with intention and care. She brings a thoughtful, collaborative leadership style and a deep respect for the families and community organizations at the heart of Baby Love’s work.
Zeeniya Zuhair - Program & Operations Coordinator
Zeeniya Zuhair is the Program and Operations Coordinator at Baby Love Beginnings, where she helps ensure that diapers and essentials move seamlessly from warehouse shelves into the hands of families across Toronto. With nearly a decade of experience in the nonprofit and social impact sector, Zeeniya brings both care and precision to the behind-the-scenes work that makes Baby Love’s programs possible.
Before joining Baby Love, Zeeniya worked in philanthropy and youth-serving organizations, including the Peter Gilgan Foundation and Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre. Her background spans research, grant evaluation, and national event coordination, always with a focus on improving systems so organizations can better support the communities they serve.
At Baby Love, Zeeniya manages inventory, coordinates partner distributions, supports volunteer events, and helps track the organization’s impact as it grows. She is known for her steady presence, thoughtful problem-solving, and deep commitment to ensuring families can count on the essentials they need, month after month.
Jessica van Rooyen - Executive Director (on Maternity Leave)
Jessica van Rooyen is a seasoned marketing and brand strategist who joined Baby Love as Executive Director in 2024, bringing more than a decade of experience growing purpose-driven consumer brands. A mother of two young children, Jess was drawn to Baby Love’s mission on a deeply personal level and inspired by the chance to channel her skills toward building a more equitable start for families in Toronto.
Before Baby Love, Jess held senior leadership roles at companies like Uber Eats, Unilever, and Properly, where she led high-impact marketing campaigns, launched national partnerships, and built teams from the ground up. She’s known for combining strategic clarity with creative execution and for rallying people around meaningful ideas.
At Baby Love, Jess leads organizational strategy, fundraising, and partnerships. She helps scale operations while keeping families at the heart of the mission. Her work is rooted in the belief that every parent deserves dignity and that with the right support, communities can create lasting change.