Promoting Health Equity in Racialized Communities
As part of the celebrations for Black History Month and the International Decade for People of African Descent, please join us at this year’s black history forum.
The forum will provide the opportunity to explore racial disparities in health and work, especially the link between good jobs, income and well-being for racialized communities. We also investigate whether legislative changes like Bill 148 go far enough in addressing income disparities and health outcomes for racialized communities.
Date: February 23, 2018
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Location: Toronto Regional Office, 31 Wellesley Street East, Toronto
Forum presenters include:
Akilah Haneef-Jabari, Senior Public Engagement and Education Advisor, Anti-Racism Directorate
Donna Alexander, Social Worker, Substance Abuse Program for African and Caribbean Youth, Center for Addiction and Mental Health
Butterfly Sabrina Gopaul, Community Health Worker, Black Creek Community Health Centre
Download the International Decade for People of African Decsent Posterpad_poster1.pdf
Download the forum flyer2018_black_history_forum.pdf
Please see biographies below for more information about the presenters.
Health Equity Forums and Seminars
Please also join the Workers of Colour and Black Creek Community Health Center for health equity forums and seminars occurring through February. Download the flyer black_health_month_posterf.pdf
February 14
Harm Reduction: “Shooting vs. shooting up”
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Yorkgate Mall, 1 York Gate Blvd, North York
Download the poster black_health_harm_reduction_event_poster1.pdf
February 21
Black Mental Health Seminar: Culturally Responsive Diagnosis and Treatment and the Roots of Colourism with key-note speaker: Dr. Joseph Park
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: Humber River Regional Hospital, 1235 Wilson Ave, Toronto
Dowload the poster black_health_month_event_poster_-_mental_health_seminar2018.pdf
February 28
Black Health and Wellness
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location: Yorkgate Mall, 1 York Gate Blvd, North York
Information about the presenters:
Donna Alexander
Donna Alexander graduated from the University of Toronto in 2005 with a Master of Social Work specialization in Addiction and Mental Health. She previously worked in Correctional Services and Residential Treatment Service before transitioning to the Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in 2006.
Donna previously served as Vice President of The Black Health Alliance, and currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee for the Children’s Aid Society, as well as the Police and Community Engagement Committee.
Donna also serves on the Black Experience in Health Care Initiative out of Mount Sinai Hospital and lectures on treatment related issues at colleges and universities as well as facilitates training for staff at community based agencies on Cultural Safety and Health Equity.
Butterfly Sabrina Gopaul
Butterfly Sabrina GoPaul works with a number of grassroots movements in the Jane and Finch area and across the city of Toronto. She has been an active resident member with Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty [JFAAP] for almost 10-years, responding to the social determinants of health in the community of Jane and Finch/Black Creek. Recently, winning some huge victories with $15&Fairness Campaign, the removal of School Resource Officers, Cops in Schools, from Toronto District School Board and new federal dollars for a National Housing Strategy.
She graduated in Journalism Print & Broadcast with honours from Humber College and was the first Brown woman and single mother who earned the Board of Governors Achievement Award. Butterfly is a Community Health Worker at Black Creek Community Heath Centre with a focus on advocacy, community mobilization and community development.
As a resident, she’s the Head News Correspondent for Jane-Finch.com; founding member of the LIFE movement and Freedom Friday (as a BCCHC staff); former host for CHRY 105.5FM, News Now; resident member of West-Side Arts Hub Collaborative; former Executive Board member for Schools Without Borders; just to list a few.
She is a mother to sons/Suns, 22-year-old, ‘Zea' and Five-year-old Jullwelyn Zakiah and a grandmother to her four-year-old granddaughter Trinity.
Butterfly is an advocate for issues related to children/youth, women, access to education/employment, policing/community safety, social justice using the arts and affordable housing. Butterfly voices passionate viewpoints about her lived experiences and her vision for a stronger, more organized and mobilized Jane and Finch community and City of Toronto.
Recipient of Awards:
2011 – Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration ~ Volunteer Service Award: JaneFinch.com
2013 – Mayworks The Min Sook Lee ~ Labour Activist award
2014 – International Women Achievers’ ~ Community Development award
2015 – OPSEU Region 5 Human Rights & Equity award