Appointment of Members to the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee

Considered

• 2021-03-31 · Civic Appointments Committee · adopted

  Decision as filed

  The Civic Appointments Committee recommends that: 1. City Council appoint the following 14 individuals to the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, at pleasure of Council, for a term of office ending on November 14, 2022 or until the completion of its mandate, whichever comes first: Theophilus Adjei Apefa Adjivon Deborah Barnes Justice Betty Beverly-Jean Daniel Monicke Hanson Halimo Hashi Juanita Kwarteng Adam Lake Justine Namara Charis Newton-Thompson M.

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  Ann Phillips Moliann Weir Maya Yaya 2. City Council direct that the balance of Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (March 22, 2021) from the Executive Director, Social Development Finance and Administration remain confidential as it relates to personal matters about identifiable individuals who are being considered for appointment to the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee.

  Clerk’s note

  Candidates' biographies: Theophilus Adjei Theo is currently an Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Counsellor at the Toronto Harbour Light Ministries: Residential Treatment Program. Theo has also helped organize youth mentorship programs in the communities he's lived in and non-profit community advocacy organizations to have their say in the structural changes occurring in their residing neighbourhoods. Theo takes great pride in being able to connect his passion for supporting others in his profession.

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  Apefa Adjivon Apefa Adjivon youth advocate and program design expert. She has supported numerous organizations in the creation of mentorship programs for Black Youth, supporting over300 young people in the Greater Toronto Area. As a speaker and advocate, she has addressed over 25,000 people worldwide, discussing youth empowerment, gender equity, and social justice. For her impact in advocacy, she has been recognized as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women and one of Canada's Top 30 Under 30. Deborah Barnes I posses over twenty-five years of experience as a social worker, sociologist and advocate. I have taught in higher Ed. in both Canada and the USA. I have been a community advocate throughout my life. I have serving as an advisor, chaired committees, served as a subject matter expert and sat on boards of directors. I have a BA, BSW, MA and completing my dissertation in sociology and equity studies. I was born in Jamaica and migrated to Canada over 45 years ago. Justice Betty Justice Betty is the co-founder of Révolutionnaire, a digital education and action platform for change makers. Justice is a champion for youth empowerment and underrepresented voices in the political sphere. She is particularly passionate about issues related to racial equity and access to education. Justice is also the co-founder of a social entrepreneurship program that has taught 200+ high school students across four continents. Previously, Justice worked as a management consultant. Beverly-Jean Daniel Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education and consults with organizations on diversity training and developing cultural competence. Dr. Daniel is currently an Assistant Professor at Ryerson University in the Child and Youth Care Program. For more than 25 years her academic work has investigated race and racialization as it relates to urban education. Monicke Hanson I am a young black female that has grown up in the city of Toronto. I was raised in a single parent household by a strong Jamaican parent, who immigrated to Canada at the young age of 18. I have had to grow up really fast because, we were not considered wealthy or rich. Many of the things that we needed we had to earn and strive for. I am speaking from a place of strength and not from a place of deficit. We made sure that we survived, by any means necessary. Halimo Hashi My name is Halimo Hashi. I am a black critical social worker living in one of Canada's most diverse communities, Scarborough. I work in many fields including forensics, mental health, settlement and academia. In my positions of hospital and community worker, as well as university lecturer, I champion a critical and intersectional lens that honors the lived experience of my clients and students. I am a firm believer of bottom-up solutions that place the power of change in the hands of the people. Juanita Kwarteng The stories we tell matter. I'm a data-driven digital professional that uses storytelling to execute inclusive brand programming while equipping leaders with the tools they need to build diverse, inclusive teams within a culture of belonging. I have strong experience creating and implement business-driven Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. I am proficient in key concepts such as allyship, building a culture of belonging and inclusive leadership. Adam Lake Adam Lake is a Toronto born community activist and advocate who has decided to use his voice to voice the various forms of discrimination that intersect. He wants to ensure that vulnerable populations' experiences are heard and represented within the Parliament of Canada, Canada's Court System, and lawmaking agencies. Adam is committed to fighting social and racial injustice to build an equitable society for the future generation. Justine Namara Justine is the Associate Director, Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Skills for Change. An internationally trained lawyer, Justine brings over ten years' experience in championing people-centred development solutions from the grassroots through to global policy change. A strong champion and advocate for inclusive, sustainable growth for all, Justine brings in-depth expertise and strategic insights to working with diverse stakeholder networks to drive impact. Charis Newton-Thompson As a retiree, Charis Newton-Thompson graduated with her PhD from OISE /UT in June2020. She was previously employed as an educator in Guyana, Jamaica and Canada for over 30 years. As a volunteer in Black communities Charis began her service in Toronto with Black Education project as a tutor over 30 years ago. She continues her advocacy work currently as a member of the African Canadian Advisory Committee of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Charis is passionate about racial uplift. M. Ann Phillips Dr. M. Ann Phillips is a community health professional, advocate, educator, subject matter expert and change agent. She works at the intersections of social determinants of health, anti-racism, environmental justice, gender equity, health equity, public health, sustainable development and social justice. A long-time resident of Toronto, Ann has also worked in Calgary, Alberta and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Moliann Weir I am a self-identified Black woman who wears many hats, a mother, student and a professional. I have over fourteen years of experience in the public sector in various capacities, including housing, education and the criminal justice system. I have been working in the Black community for over 20 years as a volunteer as well as a professional. I work extensively with Black youth and families with lived experiences in the child welfare system. I am a knowledge seeker who loves to read. Maya Yaya Maya is an experienced project manager skilled in outreach, resource development and policy research. As a Sociology and Political Science major at the University of Toronto with a keen interest in social development, Maya wishes to improve opportunity and access for Black Torontonians. As a service-focused leader with excellent communication skills in French and English, Maya strives to ensure that anti-racism is practiced within all communities to benefit - by extension- all Torontonians.

• 2021-04-07 · Toronto City Council · adopted

  Clerk’s note

  Appointees' biographies: Theophilus Adjei Theo is currently an Addictions and Concurrent Disorders Counsellor at the Toronto Harbour Light Ministries: Residential Treatment Program. Theo has also helped organize youth mentorship programs in the communities he's lived in and non-profit community advocacy organizations to have their say in the structural changes occurring in their residing neighbourhoods. Theo takes great pride in being able to connect his passion for supporting others in his profession.

  Show the rest of Clerk’s note, 6,249 more characters as filed

  Apefa Adjivon Apefa Adjivon youth advocate and program design expert. She has supported numerous organizations in the creation of mentorship programs for Black Youth, supporting over300 young people in the Greater Toronto Area. As a speaker and advocate, she has addressed over 25,000 people worldwide, discussing youth empowerment, gender equity, and social justice. For her impact in advocacy, she has been recognized as one of 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women and one of Canada's Top 30 Under 30. Deborah Barnes I posses over twenty-five years of experience as a social worker, sociologist and advocate. I have taught in higher Ed. in both Canada and the USA. I have been a community advocate throughout my life. I have serving as an advisor, chaired committees, served as a subject matter expert and sat on boards of directors. I have a BA, BSW, MA and completing my dissertation in sociology and equity studies. I was born in Jamaica and migrated to Canada over 45 years ago. Justice Betty Justice Betty is the co-founder of Révolutionnaire, a digital education and action platform for change makers. Justice is a champion for youth empowerment and underrepresented voices in the political sphere. She is particularly passionate about issues related to racial equity and access to education. Justice is also the co-founder of a social entrepreneurship program that has taught 200+ high school students across four continents. Previously, Justice worked as a management consultant. Beverly-Jean Daniel Dr. Beverly-Jean Daniel holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education and consults with organizations on diversity training and developing cultural competence. Dr. Daniel is currently an Assistant Professor at Ryerson University in the Child and Youth Care Program. For more than 25 years her academic work has investigated race and racialization as it relates to urban education. Monicke Hanson I am a young black female that has grown up in the city of Toronto. I was raised in a single parent household by a strong Jamaican parent, who immigrated to Canada at the young age of 18. I have had to grow up really fast because, we were not considered wealthy or rich. Many of the things that we needed we had to earn and strive for. I am speaking from a place of strength and not from a place of deficit. We made sure that we survived, by any means necessary. Halimo Hashi My name is Halimo Hashi. I am a black critical social worker living in one of Canada's most diverse communities, Scarborough. I work in many fields including forensics, mental health, settlement and academia. In my positions of hospital and community worker, as well as university lecturer, I champion a critical and intersectional lens that honors the lived experience of my clients and students. I am a firm believer of bottom-up solutions that place the power of change in the hands of the people. Juanita Kwarteng The stories we tell matter. I'm a data-driven digital professional that uses storytelling to execute inclusive brand programming while equipping leaders with the tools they need to build diverse, inclusive teams within a culture of belonging. I have strong experience creating and implement business-driven Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. I am proficient in key concepts such as allyship, building a culture of belonging and inclusive leadership. Adam Lake Adam Lake is a Toronto born community activist and advocate who has decided to use his voice to voice the various forms of discrimination that intersect. He wants to ensure that vulnerable populations' experiences are heard and represented within the Parliament of Canada, Canada's Court System, and lawmaking agencies. Adam is committed to fighting social and racial injustice to build an equitable society for the future generation. Justine Namara Justine is the Associate Director, Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Skills for Change. An internationally trained lawyer, Justine brings over ten years' experience in championing people-centred development solutions from the grassroots through to global policy change. A strong champion and advocate for inclusive, sustainable growth for all, Justine brings in-depth expertise and strategic insights to working with diverse stakeholder networks to drive impact. Charis Newton-Thompson As a retiree, Charis Newton-Thompson graduated with her PhD from OISE /UT in June2020. She was previously employed as an educator in Guyana, Jamaica and Canada for over 30 years. As a volunteer in Black communities Charis began her service in Toronto with Black Education project as a tutor over 30 years ago. She continues her advocacy work currently as a member of the African Canadian Advisory Committee of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Charis is passionate about racial uplift. M. Ann Phillips Dr. M. Ann Phillips is a community health professional, advocate, educator, subject matter expert and change agent. She works at the intersections of social determinants of health, anti-racism, environmental justice, gender equity, health equity, public health, sustainable development and social justice. A long-time resident of Toronto, Ann has also worked in Calgary, Alberta and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Moliann Weir I am a self-identified Black woman who wears many hats, a mother, student and a professional. I have over fourteen years of experience in the public sector in various capacities, including housing, education and the criminal justice system. I have been working in the Black community for over 20 years as a volunteer as well as a professional. I work extensively with Black youth and families with lived experiences in the child welfare system. I am a knowledge seeker who loves to read. Maya Yaya Maya is an experienced project manager skilled in outreach, resource development and policy research. As a Sociology and Political Science major at the University of Toronto with a keen interest in social development, Maya wishes to improve opportunity and access for Black Torontonians. As a service-focused leader with excellent communication skills in French and English, Maya strives to ensure that anti-racism is practiced within all communities to benefit - by extension- all Torontonians.