Moving Forward: Canada and the UN International Decade for People of African Descent (UNPAD)

Dr. Anaduaka is an early career researcher and applied economist with extensive teaching, research, mentoring, and consultancy experience. Interested in interdisciplinary research, she enjoys working on child protection and development, adolescent and youth health and well-being, the economics of education, gender, and migration projects. She is currently a co-principal investigator on a project that aims to empower adolescent girls in Sub-Saharan Africa through education entertainment to prevent tobacco use, improve financial knowledge and competence, improve aspirations, and increase reproductive health knowledge. Dr. Anaduaka is a junior fellow of the Pan-African Scientific Research Council (PASRC), a member of the Association for the Advancement of African Women Economists (AAAWE), and a member of the UNCTAD Institute. She is the co-founder of Global South Research and Policy Group (GSRPG), an online organization that provides advice and consulting services on scholarship search. She is also a co-founder of Kuzaa, an organization that seeks to promote awareness of maternal mental health through interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based research, and community engagement.

Benjamin Denga is a University of Alberta (Ed Policy Studies) alumnus and currently the Acting Manager of Applied Research at NorQuest College - the largest community college in Alberta. One of his previous roles at the college was Anti-Racism Advisor of the Reimagine Higher Education initiative. Through the Reimagine Higher Education initiative, he led a multidisciplinary team of educators, instructors, professionals, and leaders to develop an Anti-Racism Curriculum & Pedagogy Toolkit which is now being widely used at NorQuest and other post-secondary institutions to advance anti-racism in educator and leadership practices. Benjamin is passionate about translating research to practice for the benefit of all community stakeholders including the most vulnerable. He is also invested in the advancement of inclusive practices and anti-racist pedagogies in both local and global/international education spheres. During his time as a UAlberta graduate student, Benjamin pioneered the creation of the Black Graduate Students Association (BGSA) and was privileged to serve as its founding president. In his first year as president, he inspired the Association and its leadership to win the prestigious 2019 University of Alberta EDI Award because of the extent of their community impact a year following inauguration. Benjamin has led several institutional and community-based projects that have contributed to centering equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism into organizational systems and educator practices. In a recent example, he was research lead for a major community-based project that collected and analyzed data from thousands of Grades 4 to 12 students, their parents/legal guardians, teachers, and school administrators. The findings directly contributed to the creation of the first ever equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism (EDIAR) strategy for the Edmonton Catholic School District (2^nd largest school district) in Alberta. Benjamin has an unwavering and practical commitment to breaking down barriers and promoting equity for Black, Indigenous, and racialized peoples through systemic and policy initiatives. He strives for education and community futures that fully embrace equitable integration for historically marginalized groups and communities.

Grace-Edward Galabuzi is an Associate Professor in the Politics and Public Administration Department, Toronto Metropolitan University and a Research Associate at the Centre for Social Justice in Toronto. He is the author of Canada's Economic Apartheid: The Social Exclusion of Racialized Groups in the New Century (CSPI, 2006) and co-editor of Race and Racialization: Essential Readings (CSPI, 2007; 2018) and Colonialism and Racism in Canada (Nelson/Thomson, 2009). He has conducted research and published widely on topics related to social justice, inequality, and social exclusion, social determinants of health, employment equity and the racialization of the Canadian labour market, and the social economic status of racialized groups in Canada. In addition to his academic career, Dr. Galabuzi also worked in the Ontario government as a senior policy analyst on justice issues, and he is a former provincial coordinator of the Ontario Alliance for Employment Equity. He has been involved in many community campaigns around social justice issues such as anti-racism, anti-poverty, community development, human rights, education reform, anti-poverty, and police reform. He is a frequent contributor to public debates on social justice issues in Toronto. He holds a Ph.D in Political Science from York University.

Rochelle Ignacio (she/her) is a social entrepreneur who weaves community building, anti-racism, and supporting local in the curation of her social-purpose projects. Her range of experiences and qualifications include founding Black Owned Market Edmonton, Black Owned Makers and Feed the Soul Dining Week. As the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, Rochelle leads the organization in embedding principles of equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism into their work. She uses her knowledge and considerable skills in building and fostering positive safety cultures and inclusive work environments through partnering with communities across Canada to improve the inclusion of people who are systematically denied opportunities that enable their full and authentic participation in society.

Domale  Dube Keys, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the  Department of Women’s and Gender Studies  at the University of Alberta. She is a transborder Black feminist scholar who teaches and researches in the areas of feminist organizing, race, gender, and sexuality to support movement-building around the globe for social and environmental justice. Her current book manuscript on Ogoni women’s nonviolent organizing was awarded the National Women’s Studies Association’s First Book Prize and will be out May 2025 with the University of Illinois Press.

Joseph Luri Kichere, commonly known as Joseph Luri, is a respected natural community leader, educator, and an advocate for immigrants and refugees, particularly people of African descent. He is one of the original members who founded the Africa Centre and made Edmonton his home in 1998. Joseph is a true community-minded individual with a passion for community development. He is a founding member of the Sudanese Christian Fellowship and the South Sudanese Community Association in Edmonton. He has supported students while working in schools as a settlement practitioner between 2007 and 2014. With a background in business, Joseph holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Diploma in Social Work. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Provincial Crime Prevention Award twice and the Men of Honour Award.

Dr. Linda Kongnetiman-Pansa is an experienced Social/Racial Justice Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the management consulting industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Crisis Intervention, Family Therapy, Program Evaluation, and Case Management, she is also a dedicated mental health advocate and practitioner. With a notable thirty-four-year tenure in not-for-profit, human services and health care and a committed social justice, anti-racist practitioner, preparing professionals for working in global context and integrating research into practice and advancing anti-racist practice in different organizations. Linda's diverse experience positions her to collaborate with teams and organizations that require diverse experience. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) focused in Social Work from the University of Calgary.

Kemoh Mansaray is a community leader, educator, and an advocate who is committed to transforming services for immigrant and refugee families in our Edmonton community. He works tirelessly to build connections for Edmonton's newcomer communities with various agencies, programs, and supports.

Mansaray served in various board positions for many organizations that includes Edmonton Multicultural Coalition, the Claireview Multicultural Centre as the Founding Board Chair, and the Sierra Leone Association of Alberta, among others. He has also served as a community representative on the Advisory Committee to the City of Edmonton’s Council Initiative on Public Engagement advocating more inclusive public engagement practices for all Edmontonians.

Mansaray is married with two children. He came to Canada in 2002 and studied Nursing and Human Service Administration at MacEwan University with a diploma and bachelor's degree respectively. He is currently working in Lloydminster as the Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership (LLIP) Supervisor, an initiative by the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Mansaray is Africa Centre's Chairperson and co-chair of the community engagement committee.

Mansaray continues to promote empowerment and advocates for systemic change that can bring a voice to the communities that are being served. Mansaray is the 2016 winner of Obsidian “Future Leader" award for his dedication and the work he does in his community and the African community at large.

Dr. Joseph Mensah is a Professor of Geography at York University, and a former Associate Director of the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migration of African Peoples at York University. His research focuses on globalization and culture; race, gender, and employment; and African development. Best known among his publications is his Black Canadians: History, Experience, and Social Conditions (Fernwood, 2002, with second edition in 2010). Originally from Ghana, Dr. Mensah is a founding member of the University of Ghana Pan African Doctoral Academy (PADA). Among many competitive awards and grants, Dr. Mensah was the recipient of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa’s (CODESRIA) Inaugural Diaspora Visiting Professor Fellowship at the University of Ghana.

Dr. Misheck Mwaba is the College’s 6th President and CEO. He has been a proud Calgarian since 2017, bringing extensive knowledge to Bow Valley College and the Calgary community. He has a breadth of experience across the Canadian post-secondary sector and internationally. Before joining Bow Valley College, Misheck was the Dean of Media, Trades, and Technology at Niagara College. His professional experiences include designing experimental facilities and managing research and development projects at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, and teaching and research at several post-secondary institutions, including the University of Zambia, Eindhoven University of Technology, Carleton University, University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College. Misheck’s academic journey started as a mechanical engineering student at the University of Zambia. After achieving a Master’s and Ph.D., he arrived in Canada in 2003 for a postdoctoral fellowship at Carleton University. After working at Atomic Energy of Canada as a mechanical R&D engineer, he embarked on building a career in post-secondary education, first as a chair of Mechanical & Transportation Technology at Algonquin College. In 2017, he moved west to Alberta, first as Vice-President of Academic at Bow Valley College, before being appointed President and CEO in November 2020. In January 2023, Misheck was appointed to a three-year term on the Calgary Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors. He is also a member of the Vertigo Theatre Board of Governors, a director of the Windmill Microlending board, and serves as a council member of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). He was previously the chair of the Alberta Comprehensive Community College Presidents and other board experience also includes Vice-Chairing the Niagara Industrial Association; Chairing the Council of Deans of Trades and Apprenticeship Canada; Vice-Chair of the Pembroke Regional Hospital Board; Member of the Arnprior Regional Health Board; and Council Member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Most recently, Misheck was appointed chair of the Government of Alberta’s newly created Foreign Credential Advisory Committee. In 2022, Dr. Mwaba was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and an Alberta Newcomer Recognition Award.

Dr. Philomina Okeke-Ihejirika is a Full Professor in Women’s and Gender Studies, University of Alberta. She is also Director of the $2.5 million SSHRC-funded Partnership on Research with African Newcomers and the Pan African Collaboration for Excellence (PACE), and the co-lead, Central Region, for the federal government’s $5 million Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub BEKH). With broad interests in transnational, post-colonial, and intersectional feminist theories, and community-based participatory methodologies, she investigates gender and international migration, and gender and development in Africa. Dr. Okeke-Ihejirika is a Killam scholar, Carnegie fellow, among many other awards. She is a founding member of the College of Mentors for African Universities, and a collaborating researcher with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. 

Enyinnah Okere is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of the Edmonton Police Services' Office of the Chief. In his role, he oversees leadership, vision, and strategic direction of the Corporate Communications Division, Legal Services and the Value and Impact Division. Enyinnah previously held the position of COO of EPS' Community Safety and Well-being Bureau, where he was integral in establishing the bureau's direction.

Enyinnah spearheaded the EPS LGBTQ2S+ apology and led the Commitment to Action initiative – the Service's largest public engagement initiative with Edmonton's racialized community. He also chairs the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.

Outside of his role as COO, he serves as co-founder of REET Institute, a social impact platform designed to mentor high school students to become the next generation of commercial real estate industry leaders.

Dr. Temitope Oriola is an internationally recognized scholar in criminology and terrorism studies. He has established a strong reputation as an expert on police reform. Oriola's research has garnered national and international recognition as well as awards from community-based organizations. Professor Oriola served as special adviser to the Government of Alberta on Police Act Review and produced recommendations that were passed into law through The Police Amendment Act, 2022. Professor Oriola’s research focuses on policing and the use of force by police, terrorism studies, and resource-related conflict. A decorated researcher and teacher, his expert perspective has been engaged by think tanks and/or media organizations in countries like Australia, the US, Canada, Nigeria, Senegal, South Korea, and China.

Dr. Osakuade has been practicing medicine since 2002, starting his medical career in Nigeria and graduating from the University of Ibadan with a medical degree (MBBS), after which he completed his training as a family physician in Scotland. He practiced as a family physician in England from 2009 to 2015, during which time he was certified by the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). He also obtained a Diploma of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (DRCOG), a Post Graduate Certification in General Practice (PgCertGP) and Post Graduate Certification in Medical Education (PgCertME), as well as a Diploma in Diabetes in the United Kingdom. He was involved in Medical Education for family physicians for 5 years in the UK. In 2015, Dr. Osakuade and his family moved to Canada, where he became certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC); he has been working as a Family Physician and Emergency Room Doctor in Alberta.  

Keenan Pascal is the CEO and founder of Token Holdings, an Edmonton-based manufacturing company. Token Holdings is the parent company of Token Naturals, a cannabis manufacturing facility, and a sister company Token Bitters which manufactures and distributes mocktails and beverages to local and international markets. Before Token, Keenan spent over eight years gaining financial and consulting experience at major banks paired with numerous entrepreneurial endeavours, angel investing, and an industrial and residential real estate portfolio. Keenan has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and an MBA from UBC Sauder School of Business. With a mandate to stay engaged with his greater community, Keenan sits on the board of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, Innovate Edmonton's Advisory Council, the National Black Coalition of Canada, and the University of Alberta’s Business Advisory Council.

Dr. Samuels-Wortley’s research explores the intersection of race, racism, and the criminal justice system through empirical mixed-methods approaches. Dr. Samuels-Wortley and her team engage in research to better understand how bias and discrimination impact racialized peoples experiences and perceptions of the police, court, and correctional system through the Criminological Research Advancing Racial Equity Lab (cRARE Lab). This includes an exploration into the use of predictive AI technologies within criminal justice processes and the role they play in exacerbating racial inequities in Canada. Her research interests include algorithmic bias, racial bias and discrimination in the Criminal Justice System, youth diversion, and youth victimization, among others. Dr. Samuels-Wortley has served as a member of the research committee for the Learning Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Correctional Service Canada, and is currently a research member with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

Noreen Sibanda was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in Canada, where she has spent the last decade working in the community supporting refugee and immigrant families and the African Caribbean and black Communities. Some of her notable work includes working on youth participatory research projects with the University of Alberta- Community-University partnership, coordinating summer youth programs, and more recently focusing on bringing awareness to mental health to marginalized individuals. Her passion to destigmatize and increase access to mental health services has led her to work within schools and with community-based organizations offering counselling services at a sliding scale to eliminate barriers. After years of working within the system, she recognized the need to have allies and a network of black therapists, this led to the creation of the Albertablacktherapistsnetwork (ABTN). The ABTN are a group of licensed and regulated professionals working in the field of mental health and addictions that aim to normalize experiences, destigmatize accessing therapy within the black community and reduce barriers and inequalities experienced by people of color. Noreen currently serves as the Executive Director of ABTN. She is a University of Alberta Alumni, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women and Gender studies. She also holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is a practicing Registered Provisional Psychologist in Edmonton. Noreen is an experienced speaker having facilitated multiple psycho-educational presentations, presented at conferences both locally and intentionally and an anti-racism and mental health curriculum reviewer and developer. She also seasoned guest appearances on podcast, tv and radio engagement. She is the 2022 NBCAA Professional of the year, and Momentumwalkin’s outstanding leadership in the Mental Health sector

Beginning his business career in the food industry as one of the province’s first Black franchise owners, Dr. Rustum Southwell has come to be known for his capacity building in marginalized communities, business acumen, and his impactful legacy as the founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI), previously African Canadian Business Development Centre. As an organization, BBI addresses the specific needs of the Black business community in Canada. Dr. Southwell dedicated his expertise and time to BBI, leading to the creation and expansion of hundreds of Black-owned and operated businesses across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. In addition to his impact at BBI, he co-founded the FACE Coalition and the Supporting Black Canadians Communities Initiatives. In further dedication to the community, Dr. Southwell has served on numerous committees and boards, including the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Waterfront Development Corporation (now Develop Nova Scotia), and United Way Halifax, and served as chair of the African Heritage Month Committee and Hope Blooms Youth Ventures Inc. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond and Platinum Jubilee Medals are among his many accolades. He is inducted into the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame and the Order of Nova Scotia.

Shirley Anne Tate is the Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Feminism and Intersectionality and Full Professor, Sociology, University of Alberta. A Jamaican descendant of African enslaved and Chinese and Indian indentured people, she is bilingual in Jamaican Creole (Patois) and English. Drawing on her background, her research interests and foundational theory in Black decolonial feminist thought and approaches to critical cultural analyses is grounded in Caribbean decolonial and Caribbean feminist decolonial thinking. She has published extensively in the areas of intersectional institutional racism, racism, affect, hybridity, creolization, beauty and Black anti-racist aesthetics, 'race' performativity, Black/white mixed-race lives, and the “race”d and gendered body in enslavement and freedom. Her international academic leadership on the topic of intersectional institutional racism, decolonization and antiracism in universities spans more than a decade.

Wayne Thomas is an Edmonton-based consultant and facilitator who focuses on social innovation and human-centred design methods. He is a former educator and also has experience working with the public service sector. Wayne holds a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Educational Psychology focused on Technology in Education. He is also a PMI-certified project manager and is very involved in the systemic design community in Alberta. 

Barhet Woldemariam (she/her) brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to community advocacy, particularly in promoting the health and well-being of equity-deserving groups. Originally from Eritrea, Barhet has spent most of her life as a settler in what is now known as Canada. 

With over a decade of experience, Barhet has worked within various organizations and held roles focused on addressing inequities at both individual and structural levels. She prioritizes meaningful community engagement, facilitating complex dialogues with stakeholders, and influencing policy and program changes. 

As the current Executive Director of the Centre for Race and Culture (CFRAC), Barhet is at the forefront of efforts to transform anti-racism education. Her work centers on creating inclusive spaces that champion cultural diversity and foster understanding across communities. Under her leadership, CFRAC is pioneering innovative projects that incorporate creative expression to break down barriers in understanding the effects of racism.

Beyond her role at CFRAC, Barhet is a prominent leader within the community. She serves as a Board Member of End Poverty Edmonton and the HIV Legal Network, co-chairs the CHABAC Network Steering Committee, and is the former Board Chair of the Alberta Association for Immigrant Serving Agencies.

Originally from Eritrea, Barhet currently resides in Edmonton and frequently spends time in Ontario with her family.

Dr. Sophie Yohani is a registered psychologist and professor of Counselling Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her current research examines African and Middle Eastern migrants’ mental health, psychosocial adaptation, and community-engaged practices. Dr. Yohani also engages in interdisciplinary research and community psychology programming focused on the well-being of African/Black families and communities in Canada. Her published research examines topics within critical multicultural counselling and social justice including work with survivors of sexual violence, genocide, and war, family, child and youth wellbeing, and access to health services. Dr. Yohani is the past recipient of the University of Alberta’s Killam Annual Professorship and EMCN’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the achievement and contributions of an immigrant in education and health in Alberta. 

As a healthcare practitioner, researcher, and advocate, Dr. Yohani’s work over the last 27 years has ranged from practice in traditional clinical settings to mental health promotion, research, and training within community and university settings. She is former co-director of the Division of Clinical Services (Faculty of Education) at the University of Alberta, and serves as expert consultant for various non-profit and public sectors including Office of the Child & Youth Advocate (Alberta) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (Mental Health of Black Canadians Initiatives). Dr. Yohani is passionate about mentoring and training mental health professionals in Canada and internationally, including in her birth country, Tanzania.

Dr. Maroro Zinyemba currently serves as dean of the Faculty of Skills and Foundational Learning (FSFL) at NorQuest College in Edmonton AB. Maroro has been with the college for 15 years, during which she has held various leadership roles. The Faculty of Skills and Foundational Learning, which Maroro currently leads, houses diverse programs that include Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), English as a Second Language Intensive Program (ESL), Settlement Studies Diploma Program, Academic Upgrading, Teaching English as an Additional Language Professional, Inmate Education, as well as Integrated Training Programs. At least six thousand adult learners, over half of who are newcomers to Canada, are enrolled annually in programs offered in this faculty. 

Maroro serves as a member of the National Language Advisory Board (NLAB), as well as on the Colleges and Institutes Canada Newcomer Advisory Committee. She is Chair of the Alberta Deans of Foundational Learning. In addition to her role in postsecondary leadership, Maroro has personal interest in, has facilitated lectures and presentations on, and has conducted research in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in post-secondary education. She is also the author of the Postsecondary Leaders' Thoughts on Diversity and Inclusion: Now What? (2023 Peter Lang International Academic Publishers).