Colin H. Johnson identifies as a Gay, Black man, a long-term HIV survivor and a Person Who Uses Drugs. He works as a consultant with governments, NGOs, ASOs, private enterprise, and universities on issues of racism, anti-oppression, homelessness, decolonization, decriminalization, HIV, Hep C, stigma, Harm Reduction, safe supply, mental health, and addictions especially as it impacts ACB (African, Caribbean, Black), Queer and other marginalized populations.
Colin serves as the Chair of the THRA (Toronto Harm Reduction Alliance) and Vice Chair of the Board of PASAN (Prisoners AIDS Support Network). Additionally, he sits on the Toronto Decriminalization for Substances Working Group. He graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) with a Certificate in the AODA (Accessibilities for Ontarians with Disabilities) and is pursuing a Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions at Toronto Metropolitan University. He is passionate about soccer and F1 racing.
Pauline E. Bullen is a Feminist scholar committed to the principles of teachers as cultural workers. As a Qualitative, Ethnographic and Action researcher, her approach has been to engage knowledge and theory as a resource for facilitating civic action and social change. Pauline earned her PhD in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education from OISE/University of Toronto (2007). She has 20 years of experience with the Toronto District School Board as a Secondary Teacher/Guidance Counsellor and Equity and Human Rights Instructional Leader skillfully trained to create and implement programs to address social inequities that affect historically marginalized groups. Pauline also has over 15 years of experience teaching and designing programs at the City University of New York, The Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe and the University of Guyana as Director of the Institute of Gender Studies (2017-2022) and working as a Consultant with UN organizations.
Ingrid Palmer (she, her) is an award-winning speaker, bestselling author, and social justice consultant. She is the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility Leading to Belonging *(IDEAL) Chief Officer at Realize.
As a visually impaired former foster kid Mrs. Palmer’s life mission is to combat ableism, challenge bias, promote universal belonging, drive systemic change and debunking myths and stereotypes of stigmatized identities.
Her acclaimed storytelling and writing highlights traditionally unheard perspectives of intersectionality, marginalized leadership, and community capacity.
Ingrid’s dedication to advancing equitable principles is deeply rooted in her living experiences of early childhood trauma, foster care, disability, and gender-based violence.
As an advocate, Mrs. Palmer has championed issues in the housing, poverty, education, disability, and child welfare sectors. She has been instrumental in initiatives of poverty reduction, decent work, and gender equity.
Ingrid is a graduate of York University and Harvard Business School, as well as being certified in group facilitation, DEI, and Mental Health First Aid. She is an experienced moderator and has coordinated important discussions with experts on topics of systemic and social improvements.
Ingrid has participated in the creation of education resources, organizational reform, developed and presented workshops at Canadian and US universities. Her voice and insights have contributed to panel debates, and global platforms on the topics of women’s empowerment, disability justice, and building youth resilience. She brings her leadership to the convening and amplification of historically unheard voices, while building community and connection between diverse partners.
Ingrid is committed to participating in creating pathways to success and opportunities for communities and individuals facing adversity. Her background in service includes the Child Welfare PAC, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, CHEERS Mentorship for Black youth from care, and Black Voices United.
Ingrid has appeared on CTV, Global News, Breakfast Television and in publications such as Toronto Life, the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. Ingrid Palmer, avidly pursuing a life of purpose and impact.
Emmanuel A. Frimpong is a second-generation Ghanaian-Canadian, born and raised in the Toronto environ. He earned his Bachelors in Criminology, Masters in Political Science, and is currently a PhD student in the Graduate Department of Political Science at York University, specializing in Canadian and Black politics. His commitment to help break the cycle of lovelessness and fear in society, and to change the socio-political injustices that for far too many people, are accepted as a way of life, are evinced by his various acts of service. Emmanuel presently holds the position of Community Representative for his TCHC neighbourhood, where he monitors the implementation of the Community Action Plan and advocates for the needs of his community. He also serves at his local church—Faith Transformation Centre—where he helps to facilitate a safe, inclusive and non-judgmental space for young adults. In his spare time, Emmanuel likes to meditate, read books, or watch film.
As a queer, non-binary, neurodiverse, first-generation Nigerian, Nkem Ogbonna is passionate about championing the Black Feminist Disability framework (Bailey, 2019) to design and implement innovative public health solutions. Nkem believes that amplifying often silenced Black voices, particularly those with intersecting identities, is critical to our collective liberation. They aim to always center the lived experiences of their communities within healthcare, particularly through community-based research, policy analysis, stakeholder education, and program development. Currently, Nkem works at Lakeridge Health as an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism Consultant, where they draw on their non-profit experience working for B3 organizations such as Ase Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands; as well as youth-led disability and LGBTQIA+ organizations.
Kiaunna Bennett is a registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers with over 5’ years of experience developing and facilitating content around Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Currently pursing her Master of Social at the University of Toronto, Kiaunna’s work has an emphasis on anti-oppressive practice, anti-Black racism, and social justice advocacy. She has delivered over 80 workshops and trainings for youth and adults with an overarching goal of addressing systemic change at the highest levels in the private and public sector from a holistic framework.
Along with her academic and professional background in Social Work, Kiaunna also incorporates her own lived experiences into her work to make way for a greater understanding and compassion for social issues. Through policy, research, and practice Kiaunna is dedicated to advancing the overall well being of marginalized communities within the city of Toronto.
Heather Effah is a Ghanaian Canadian woman, born and raised in Toronto (a word that originates from the Mohawk word “Tkaronto”). She has been practicing as a social worker for nearly 10 years and currently works in the child welfare sector leading anti-Black racism work. Heather engages, trains and collaborates with various community stakeholders in the pursuit of equitable outcomes and improved experiences for Black children, youth and families in Toronto.
Heather holds a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from the institution now known as Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Social Work Degree from York University.
Heather is looking forward to guiding and supporting The Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti- Black Racism through bringing her knowledge, experience and passion to the Partnership and Accountability Circle.
Amin Ali is wrapping up his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto in public policy, sociology, and history. He joins the Partnership and Accountability Circle with a range of experiences in applied policy work, focusing on education and health policy.
This includes education governance by serving as a Student Trustee on the Toronto District School Board and working in health and education think-tank research at People for Education and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Amin has also worked in healthcare improvement in the federal public sector, in Ontario politics as staff to Members of Provincial Parliament at Queen’s Park, and as a stakeholder engagement professional in government relations consulting and currently with the Department of Community Partnerships and Engagement at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Outside of work, you can usually find him hiking on Toronto’s wonderful urban ravine system or reading a good Star Wars novel.
Kayla Webber is a doctoral student in the Department of Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, specializing in women’s and gender studies. Her research commitments are housing precarity, Black and Indigenous communities, models of wellness, anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, Black affirmation, gender-based violence, and transformative justice through the lens of storytelling and hood feminism (an intersectional approach based on the premise that true equality and inclusivity means seeking to support all women, including those of colour). Webber’s ancestors and bloodlines are from Trinidad, Grenada, and Nova Scotia. However, she was born and raised in the Eglinton West Little Jamaica community in Tkaronto. Webber is an 1834 Fellow alumnus, a Writing Fellow for the Philanthropist Journal, a CHEC-CCRL Emerging Housing Scholar, Bloom 23 Emerging Leader, co-chair of the Indigenous Education Network, co-founder of Auntie’s Place, Member of Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy Advisory Group and Vice-Chair of the For Youth Initiative (FYI), a non-profit that supports Black, racialized, and newcomer young people navigate the unique barriers and challenges they face as they transition to adulthood.
Stévia (Stay-Vee-Uh) has worked in advocacy for over 13 years. His passion, coupled with his background in Sociology, Mental Health and Education, led to the founding of the first holistic educational charity in his home country. He worked tirelessly in the fight for human rights and equality in LGBTQ+, youth and education, before being forced to seek asylum in 2018.
Since moving to Tkaronto, his work with his community continued, focused on intersectionality of African, Caribbean, and Black people living with disabilities, Trans, Non-Binary and 2Spirit people, newcomers, and people who use drugs. His commitment to equity for all Black lives lead to the founding of Ubuntu – Black Trans, Non-Binary and (Afro-Indigenous) 2Spirit Collective. Stévia dedicates his time to creating and facilitating programs for, and helping Black Trans+ people, access programs and services related to their social, physical and mental wellbeing.
Joseph Smith’s doctorate is in the Humanities and encompasses key notions amongst the disciplines of philosophy, psychology, religious studies, and literature with a focus on the philosophies of self-consciousness within the west and the intellectual background of black consciousness.
• He is a TDSB Vice Principal;
• Co-founder of the non-profit organization Generation Chosen which seeks to interrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty;
• Founder of Anchored Minds Foundation — a charity designed to support burgeoning B3 non-profits in the area of mental health as well as support underserved community members through scholarships and hardship funding.
• Runs a boutique consulting agency called Anchoring Minds Inc.
• And is a founding member of the Foundation for Black Communities which is a philanthropic organization designed to adjudicate grants, develop policy, and liaise with government and the philanthropic sector to serve Black-led and Black-serving non-profits and charities.
“For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change” – Audre Lorde
A driven visionary, community activist and impassioned social justice advocate who empowers and mobilizes residents to make communities stronger, Tamasha Grant, a mother of two kings, brings 20+ years’ experience in the community development and violence prevention and intervention space. From her role as a change agent working within the gray areas to remove systemic barriers in communities by bringing awareness to the racial disparities in systems where racialized people are disproportionately impacted, Tamasha is the lead consultant for Nubian Rising Consultation Services which supports institutions, not for profit and grassroots organizations develop community safety and wellbeing strategies along with building and strengthening their infrastructure utilizing anti-Black racism, anti-oppressive, trauma informed approaches to better support Toronto’s most vulnerable communities. She holds a degree in Psychology, certificates in Global Action and Engagement and Early Childhood Education, serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for Jane Finch Community Tennis Association, is an active member of numerous tables that support effort for the advancement of Black/Afrikan economics and stability, Ward Representative for the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee, and School Council Safety lead for the Toronto District School Board.