Hon. Uzoma Asagwara

Uzoma Asagwara (they/them) was born in Winnipeg to Igbo Nigerian parents.

They were first elected as the MLA for Union Station in 2019, when they became
the first non-binary MLA in the Manitoba legislature and one of the first Black
MLAs elected in Manitoba’s history. They served as the official opposition critic
for health and as an MLA, became the first Black person to pass a law, with their
bill to recognize Somali Heritage Week.

Asagwara is a registered Psychiatric Nurse and Addictions Specialist. They were
the University of Winnipeg Athlete of the Year in 2005–06 and in 2007, they set
the Canadian Interuniversity Sport scoring record with 28.05 points per game.
Asagwara was also a member of the Canada women’s national basketball team.

In 2023, they were re-elected as MLA for Union Station and was appointed
Manitoba’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care.

Dr. Natasha Ali

Dr. Natasha Ali’s is a registered psychologist practicing in Winnipeg. She was born in in Montreal, but her family is from Trinidad & Tobago where she grew up.

She runs a private practice and works at the University of Manitoba. In terms of her work with the Black community, she has specific experience working with our Black Muslim community.

Phyllis Reid-Jarvis

Phyllis Reid-Jarvis, a Professional ICF Certified Coach (PCC), holds a master’s degree in public health (MPH) and a Graduate Certificate in Health and Ageing from the University of Manitoba’s Community Health Sciences Program. Phyllis is certified as a Psychological Health and Safety Workplace Advisor through the Canadian Mental Health Association; she is also a Certified Meyers-Briggs Personality Type Practitioner (MBTI) with Psychometrics Canada.
Phyllis spent the first 15 years of her career working as a Dietitian and a Diabetes Educator in a public health capacity. She spent the past 7 years working as an educator and organizational development consultant. She brings over 25 years of combined experience in the fields of health, organizational development, leadership, advocacy, and professional coaching. As the founder and CEO at Ultimate Potentials, Phyllis helps leaders use the principles of integrative leadership practices to create and sustain diverse, psycho-socially safe, and healthy workplaces.

Emmanuella Shaibu

Currently attending Fort Richmond Collegiate. A part of The Know Your Roots club, a black student union focused on uplifting the black population at Fort Richmond, and educating the public about social justice. Also a member of the Gay Straight Alliance Club and Feminist Club. 

Aspiring spoken word poet and activist. Dreams of being a human rights lawyer to fight against social injustice and systemic issues facing the black community.

Abdikheir Ahmed

Abdikheir Ahmed, Executive Director- Aurora Family Therapy Centre Recognized community leader in the non-profit sector with specializations in immigration and refugee resettlement, poverty reduction, and community empowerment. A dynamic, highly motivated individual with extensive experience in program development and delivery, providing strategic visioning and leadership. Over 10 years’ experience managing programs for non-profit organizations and working with communities and people from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds both locally as well as internationally. Fluently multi-lingual: speaks and writes English, Swahili, Somali and basic Arabic

Antoinette Zloty

Antoinette Zloty, BSW, MSW, immigrated to Manitoba, Canada in 1968 from Barbados. She was the 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. Her career experience in Northern, rural and urban
Manitoba, includes counselling, casework, policy and program analyses, resource and legislation development. She created and currently hosts a public affairs TV program “Transitions”. She is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal through the Canadian Home Care Association and the Association on Gerontology.

Daniel Hidalgo

Daniel Hidalgo is the founder of CommUNITY204 and Sabe Peace Walkers. Both organizations
exist to support various demographics within the marginalized community. They utilize a relationship-based harm reduction approach with a culturally sensitive lens. Daniel is employed as an Action Therapist providing community connection, mentorship, wellness and guidance to our youth at-risk. Daniel was fortunate enough to be the recipient of the CBC future 40 under 40 award in Community Activism/volunteerism, Lieutenant Governors Community Leadership Award and the Queen Platinum Jubilee Award. He also sits on the board of directors for The Manitoba Harm Reduction Network as the Vice President.

Leslie Hackett

Leslie Hackett is an individual and relational therapist in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She completed a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Winnipeg in 2014, and has worked in various therapy and counselling jobs since 2010. She currently maintains a full-time private practice and provides clinical supervision to students in Marriage and Family Therapy training. Leslie has twice co-facilitated Project Heal, a program for providing mental health support and education to Black Winnipeggers. Leslie was born in Winnipeg to parents from the Caribbean, and is the mother of a 12 year-old daughter.

Elizabeth Mahmoud

Elizabeth Mahmoud, a dedicated graduate of social work from the University of Manitoba, channels her passion into advocating for child welfare and marginalized communities. With over a decade of experience in the child welfare system, she is focused on addressing child protection concerns and supporting the Newcomer population. Mahmoud’s commitment extends to understanding newcomer issues and the ripple effects families experience when faced with limited resources. She firmly believes in creating a secure space for mental wellness discussions and exploring the impact of child welfare on the mental health of newcomers. Mahmoud brings valuable experience in working with Indigenous people and black youth emphasizing the significance of trauma-informed services and promoting family wellness.

Nina Condo

Nina has been involved in community development for 18+ years. The great majority of this times, she worked in non-profit leadership roles and front lines.  Nina develop post secondary curriculum and teach at the university of Manitoba Social Work Faculty.  Her education background in mental health and social work enables her to apply gender equity lens as social change, cultural humility for successful integration, and best practices in working with diverse populations that leads to transformational change.

Through her work, Nina has help community-based organizations to develop policy to enhance service delivery, Nina and other sector leaders, submitted a recommendation letter advocating for the University of Manitoba Social Work curriculum revision to include foundation and core course on Immigrants and Refugee practices.

 Nina has developed frameworks and recommendations on best practices for practitioners working within gender-based violence sector, settlement sector and she championed the development and implementation of the Mental Wellness Coalition in Elmwood while securing multi-year funding.

She serves on various local boards including St Boniface Hospital Board, Winnipeg School Division-Equity Advisory Committee, University of Manitoba Social Work- Program review Committee, Manitoba Agencies of Newcomer Serving Organization as well as at the National Gender-based Violence Strategy Network.  She has received several award nomination and most recently she received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (Manitoba).

Nedu Ejeckam

Nedu Ejeckam is a Registered Social Worker currently living in Toronto where he works with Black Youth doing mental health counselling, psychoeducation and group facilitation. Nedu approaches his practice from an anti-oppressive and intersectional lens, understanding the unique barriers faced by Black youth within Canada. He also recognizes the strength, creativity and joy that comes with working with and supporting the Black community. Nedu has a passion for supporting the Black community. As a child of immigrants from Nigeria, family, community, and perseverance were all deeply ingrained in him as core values to anything he does.”