Meet the team | Amandla Olwazi

Meet the team behind the project

We are committed to addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by Black individuals in Canada. Our team members bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, as well as a deep understanding of the importance of culturally sensitive and relevant mental health services. With our collective expertise, we are working to create a community-centered approach to mental health care that prioritizes the needs and experiences of Black communities. Get to know our team members and their unique contributions to the Amandla Olwazi Project.

Project Team

Liben Gebremikael

CEO, TAIBU CHC, Ontario

Solomon Lome

Project Coordinator, TAIBU CHC

Saffiyyah Waithe

Research Assistant, TAIBU CHC

Shanice Chin

Research Assistant, TAIBU CHC

Project Advisory Committee

Charlotte Lwanga

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Ebenezer Ayim

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Antoinette Zloty

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Maymuna Mohamed

TAIBU CHC

Hathor-Ra Phoenix Adwoa

Volunteer, Alberta

Odion Welch

Volunteer, Alberta

Manal Salibi

Collaborator, PHAC

Selina Kunadu-Yiadom
Ribbon Rouge Foundation, Alberta
Neil Price
LogicalOutcomes, Ontario
Nancy Zagbayou
Évènement Hoodstock, Quebec
Aseefa Sarang
Across Boundaries, Ontario
Abena Ado
Aspire For Higher Elite Basketball, Ontario

Collaborators and Partners

University of Toronto Scarborough:
leads the write-up of the literature and scoping review
Network for the Advancement of Black Communities:
provides leadership and expertise in the formulation and implementation of Knowledge Mobilization and Networking
Women’s Health In Women’s Hands:
provides expert advice on community development and engagement with vulnerable and marginalized communities

Allied Psychological Services:
Provides leadership and expertise in mental health knowledge from Afrocentric and clinical perspectives
Logical Outcomes:
Third-Party Evaluator

Liben Gebremikael

CEO, TAIBU CHC, Ontario

Liben Gebremikael

As the first executive director of TAIBU Community Health Centre, Liben Gebremikael has led the organization for the past 14 years. Today TAIBU has strong community roots and has become a recognizable agency that is committed to addressing the impact of anti-Black racism on the health and wellbeing of Black communities.

Liben Gebremikael has over 30 years of experience in primary healthcare, social services, mental health, and community capacity building and development field. He holds an MA in Migration, Mental Health & Social Care from the University of Kent (UK), a Masters Certificate in Healthcare Management from Schulich School of Business. He has completed Community Health Leadership Program at the Rotman School of Management. In 2021, he completed the Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Organization program at the Harvard Business School.

Solomon Lome

Project Coordinator, TAIBU CHC

Solomon Lome

Solomon Lome is a Public Health professional with over 15 years of international experience developing and managing various community health and social service projects and programs. He has worked with local and international not-for-profit relief and development organizations and academic institutions both in Canada and internationally. Solomon holds a Master of Science in International Health from University College London, England.

He has extensively worked on promoting the health and well-being of marginalized communities including HIV and STBBI programming, stigma reduction, mental health, and community-based research. Mr. Lome has been engaged in various community-based research activities. Collaborating and working with individuals and agencies who strive to end inequalities and racism is the foundation for his work.

Saffiyyah Waithe

Research Assistant, TAIBU CHC

Saffiyyah Waithe

Saffiyyah is a dedicated researcher who has been actively involved in the TAIBU project for the past two years. Alongside her role in the project, she is pursuing a doctorate in Social Justice Education, driven by her passion for empowering marginalized communities, particularly the Black Muslim community in Canada. Saffiyyah's work revolves around critically examining the intersections of race and religion, employing both critical race theory and critical creative praxis as her guiding frameworks. Beyond her academic pursuits, Saffiyyah is deeply committed to holistic healing and liberation for individuals and communities. She recognizes the importance of embracing avenues for Black joy, art, and wellness practices as essential components of empowerment. Saffiyyah believes in fostering spaces that encourage self-expression, promote resilience, and amplify the voices of marginalized individuals. Her dedication to social justice and well-being extends beyond research and academia, as she actively seeks to create positive change and uplift those around her.

Shanice Chin

Research Assistant, TAIBU CHC

Shanice Chin

Shanice Chin is a research assistant at TAIBU Community Health Centre for the Amandla Olwazi Project. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Human Biology at the University of Toronto and is completing her Masters degree in Public Health at Western University. Upon completion of her studies, she endeavors to work in the area of policy to help advance the interests of equity-seeking groups.

Shanice has always had a passion for people and a heart for the community. She has a deep desire to see communities thrive and living well, and is committed to work that allows people to lead healthier and happier lives. Her areas of interest include wellness as well as equity as it pertains to race, education, health, and employment.

Charlotte Lwanga

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Charlotte Lwanga

Charlotte is a Co-Director for EpiTree Consulting Inc.

Her background and experience include several years of experience in social, political, economic, health and mental health programs, research and evaluation here in Canada as well as internationally. She has worked in various policy and research capacities involving planning, designing, leading and contributing to the implementation of policy, research and evaluation projects using a data-driven, community development as well as a whole of government approaches. Charlotte has a strong background in policy analysis, research and both qualitative and quantitative evaluation
methodologies.

Charlotte holds a Master of Science degree in Family Social Sciences from the University of Manitoba, Master of Arts degree in Population Studies from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Demography and Economics from the University of Zambia.

Ebenezer Ayim

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Ebenezer Ayim

Ebenezer Ayim holds MA in Disability Studies at the University of Manitoba, Canada and BSc. Psychology from the University of Cape Coat, Ghana. He was born in Ghana and received his bachelor of science degree in Psychology from the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana in 2013. His background and experience includes years of research in mental health, intersectionality, disability, race, health inequity using community participatory and systematic review as research methodologies. He has worked as Community Mental Health Officer in Ghana, research assistant at UCC and research coordinator at the Network of Budding Psychologists, UCC.
Ebenezer is currently an Associate Member of the Pan-African Scientific Research Council and a research assistant in a three-year (2019-2021) provincial project: “Towards Positive Change to Promote Mental Health and Wellbeing for Black Canadians in Manitoba”.

Ebenezer is working on topics such as “Impact of Black Life Matter Movement for Black persons with disabilities”, “All Voices Count: Ensuring Inclusion and Polling Place Accessibility of the Disabled Community in Ghana during Voting” and “Social Determinant of Mental Health among Black Canadians with disabilities. He interns to establish “Psychological Institute for Excellence in Education and Research”, a non-profit research institute that will enhance the education and research skills for persons with disabilities in the global south.

Ebenezer believes persons with disabilities in the Black community are likely to experience intersecting layers of discrimination, racism, stigmatisation and social exclusion as a result of their dual identities as members of a disabled and racialized subculture, with adverse effects on their mental health. Ebenezer, hope to see a society where such barriers that prevent Black persons with disability from achieving their mental wellness are addressed.

Antoinette Zloty

Barbados Association of Winnipeg

Antoinette Zloty

Antoinette Zloty, BSW, MSW, is a Private Consultant who resides in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. She immigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1968 from Barbados. She is Project Leader for a federally funded project titled “Towards Positive Change to Promote Mental Health and Wellbeing for Black Canadians in Manitoba”, through the Barbados Association of Winnipeg, Manitoba where she supports people through the age span. She establishes local, national and international connections to foster informed decision-making and improvements in programs and services. Her broad career experience across many target groups in Northern rural and urban Manitoba, includes counselling, casework, policy and program analyses, creation and hosting of public affairs TV program “Transitions”, resource and legislative development. She is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal through the Canadian Home Care Association and the Association on Gerontology and a nominee for other awards.

Maymuna Mohamed

TAIBU CHC

Maymuna Mohamed

Maymuna (May) Mohamed is a writer, and arts educator based out of Toronto. In her role as an arts educator, she facilitates programs that use narrative-based art activities to reclaim power and spark meaningful conversations. She has opened for The Roots and Shane Koyczan with her poems. She currently manages the IMARA Generation Project based out of TAIBU Community Health Centre, a mental health education project for Black youth & families in the GTA.

Hathor-Ra Phoenix Adwoa

Volunteer, Alberta

Hathor-Ra Phoenix Adwoa

The words “You Are What You Think About” by Earl Nightingale and “ It is the mind that makes the body” by Sojourner Truth are few phrases that inspired Hathor-Ra to start her journey in Human Services and her Healing from Childhood traumas over the last 20 years. Dedicating her personal life as a Spiritual Doula and Mental Health instructor which has led her to other paths: Mentoring, Intuitive Counseling, Spiritual Advisor, Indigenous African Eldership and Inspirational Speaking. Hathor-Ra has now found ways to express her zest for life, lead, influence and support healing while working in all professional, personal and community spaces.
Hathor-Ra born and raised in Toronto and now living between Toronto and Alberta; continues to have a history of serving her community as: a Case-Manager for Municipal and provincial Governments, Support Counselor for Corrections Ontario, Nurse Assistant, program developer for youth and adults, program manager, Crisis Prevention Intervention Co-Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid Certified Instructor (with Mental Health Commissions of Canada) and many other social-profit / for-profit organizations across Canada. Hathor-Ra is also dedicated to the decolonization of the health care systems for the Black Canadians. She has taken leadership roles: Lead for the African Caribbean Black (ACB) Caucus of Alberta, Edler for the USHARI Edlership Advisory Board for the Canadian Institute for People of African Descent and Co-Chair for the Amandla Olwazi – The Power of Knowledge of Project Committee.

Using her formal experience, education along with her personal experience with challenging adversities, Hathor-Ra has developed a keen ability to discover why people and systems become “Stuck” and how they can truly take “Action” to achieve equity and healing. As Hathor-Ra utilizes her skills while leveraging her love for the community and healing. She has committed herself to continue to build relationships across Canada to support and facilitate equity and healing.

SHORT Micro Bio:
Hathor-Ra started her journey in Human Services and Mental Health. Now offering her contagious zesty personality while dedicating her life to Spiritual Healing as a Spiritual Doula and a Mental Health Instructor. Hathor-Ra served as: a Case-Manager for Municipal and provincial Governments, Support Counselor for Corrections Ontario, Nurse Assistant, a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Mental health advocate. Past Lead for the African Caribbean Black (ACB) Caucus of Alberta, past Edler for the USHARI Edlership Advisory Board for the Canadian Institute for People of African Descent and now Co-Chair for the Amandla Olwazi – The Power of Knowledge of Project Committee.

Presently working for Taibu Community Health Centre as a Black Focused Social Prescriber Navigator; Hathor-Ra continues to support health equity and community healing from an African centered approach while dismantling anti-black racism within the various systems in Canada.

Odion Welch

Volunteer, Alberta

Odion Welch

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Odion Welch is an Amazon internationally recognized best-selling author for her novel Breakthrough. She is currently pursuing a doctoral of leadership with a focus in social justice. She holds a certificate in Business Management from Macewan University, a degree in Human Resources & Labour Relations from Athabasca University, a recruitment designation from the Association of Professional Recruiters, and a Master of Arts in Leadership at Royal Roads University. She has received the Fil Fraser Award from NBCC, The Community Builder Award from Edify, The Rising Star Alumni Award from Athabasca University and more.

Suffering from depression and anxiety all her life, she aspired to share her story to help minorities, particularly women and children. Odion’s vulnerability to show how she broke through personal struggles demonstrates that we are not alone. That there is hope when dealing with mental illness, and together, we can fight the stigma surrounding mental health. She uses vulnerability and conversations to empower women to overcome their struggles, whether family, finance or connections. Through her work and her book, she has created, supported and implemented panels, workshops, and organization rebranding. Not only that, she has engaged in a Western Canada book tour, hosted a panel at Edmonton Comics Expo and spoke at Kingsway’s International Woman’s Day Panel.

Although her accomplishments are vast at such a young age, she believes these come by finding a balance between persistence, perseverance and self-care. Her desire drives her to show the next generation they can become the person they needed growing up.

Manal Salibi

Collaborator, PHAC

Manal Salibi

Manal Salibi is a Senior Policy Analyst and Knowledge Mobilization lead on the Mental Health of Black Canadians (MHBC) Initiative at the Public Health Agency of Canada. MHBC supports community-based projects across Canada to develop more culturally-focused knowledge, capacity, and programs aimed at improving mental health in Black communities.

Manal is a graduate of the University of Waterloo with a Master in Public Health. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology with Biotechnology from the University of Ottawa and she completed a University of Toronto and SickKids Learning Institute Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate.