Sankofa K–3 Black Heritage Collection

Racquel Brown is Literacy Coordinator at Peel District School Board and an experienced educator with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Redeemer University College. She is the founder of the Empower & Equip ministry initiative, which aims to provide churches and parents with the tools they need to be a positive guiding force in the lives of children and youth.

Matthew Webbe is an Afro-Latinx Caribbean educator, currently a Superintendent of Education K-12, who is also the superintendent of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Multilingual Learning. As a child of Caribbean immigrants who came to Canada in the 1960s, Matthew has consistently advocated for students and believes in putting the needs of children first. As a former teacher and school administrator in the Toronto District School Board and a former community services worker, Matthew has worked in Parkdale, Church/ Wellesley, Regent Park, Malvern, Kingston Rd-Galloway, St Jamestown and the St. Lawrence areas of Toronto. Matthew wants to ensure diverse students see their identities, histories, lived experiences, and voices noted in the Ontario curriculum. Matthew is an avid advocate for human rights, social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-oppression, and is committed to fighting systemic change within Ontario education and the social services fields.

Matthew is a lifelong learner and instructional leader with excellent knowledge of curriculum, special education, Education Law, and human rights policies and regulations. Matthew has had extensive experience as a certified and skilled negotiator and mediator. Before a career in public education, Matthew was an urban planner, data analyst, communications specialist, museum gallery educator, employment services facilitator, and social worker in not-for-profit and governmental agencies.

Maureen Kassy is an elementary school teacher at L’école du Parc in Regina, Saskatchewan.

George McAuley is an Ontario educator with more than 20 years of teaching experience in the classroom. Committed to social justice and removing barriers that limit the potential of marginalized people, George has served as the Coordinator of Anti-Racism Education and high school mathematics and science at the LDCSB (London District Catholic School Board). A graduate of Western University, having earned a BSc (Mathematics), BEd, and MEd (Anti-Racism Education), George continues his work as an administrator with the LDCSB, with a focus on culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy and culture shift at the system level. As a proud father and Juno-nominated recording artist with interests in music, sports, and reading, George’s social justice passion extends beyond the education sector.

Linette Ballantyne is a teacher and former guidance counsellor and learning coach. She has presented a talk for the Toronto District School Board’s “Unleashing Learning” conference at the Canadian National Exhibition 2023, which covered the topic of Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s “Five Pursuits” guide for teaching. She was also an early supporter and mentor in the Toronto District School Board’s 2010 initiative “Young Women on the Move,” a mentorship program that connected female students with teachers. Linette is currently an elementary school teacher with the Toronto District School Board.

Wendie Wilson is Executive Staff Officer – BIPOC Engagement and Advocacy with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. She is a mother, educator, artist, writer, and community advocate with a Master of Education, specializing in Africentric Leadership, from Mount Saint Vincent University. Wendie is a member of the African Nova Scotian and Black Food Sovereignty working group for the Halifax region’s JustFOOD Action Plan, an initiative working to effect positive food system change. An active visual artist, she designed the African Nova Scotian flag to represent the culture and heritage of her community.

Cicely Belle Blain is a community speaker, activist, author, and consultant. They are dedicated to combatting oppression and opening up dialogue about the importance of shared community. Cicely Belle has a Bachelor of Arts in Russian, Central European, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Certificate in New Media Journalism from Simon Fraser University. They have received literary accolades for their poetry collection, Burning Sugar, and have made notable contributions to the community through developing an Intersectionality Toolkit for the city of Vancouver. Cicely Belle is the founder of the Vancouver chapter of Black Lives Matter and the founder and CEO of Bakau Consulting Inc., an organization that specializes in intersectional, anti-racist, and liberation-oriented consulting. In addition to running Bakau Consulting, Cicely Belle is an instructor in Executive Leadership at Simon Fraser University, a board member with the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and the Editorial Director at Ripple of Change magazine.

Jessica Amadi is a French Immersion teacher, education researcher, and community leader. She is passionate about raising marginalized voices and cultivating culturally inclusive student experiences through projects such as the annual creation of a Black history mural at her school. Jessica has a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Regina. She has participated in a Black in Saskatchewan panel communicating her experiences as a Black K–12 educator in Saskatchewan and is an active advocate for change through being a vocal and present supporter of Black Lives Matter. Jessica is currently a teacher with Regina Catholic School Board and the Vice President of the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, a cross-cultural not-for-profit organization that addresses and work toward cultural diversity and building anti-racist communities.

Karen Murray is System Superintendent, Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression at the Toronto District School Board, where she oversees the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement. She is a dedicated, equitable leader and activist focused on supporting and improving the learning and development of young people. As an international speaker, lecturer and presenter, she works with educators, superintendents, and administrators to foster greater understanding of equity, anti-oppression, anti-racism, and anti-Black racism. Karen is an honours graduate of York University’s Urban Diversity, Faculty of Education Program and received York University’s Teacher of Excellence award in 2006.

Tenisha Inengi is an experienced insurance analyst and community organizer. She focuses on the importance of inclusive environments and removing as many barriers as possible for marginalized youth. Tenisha has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Diploma in Business Administration and Management from the University of Regina. She is currently the Secretary for the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan as well as an Operations Analyst with Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI).

Sarah Adomako‐Ansah is an experienced educator with a passion for diversity, leadership, representation, and technology. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and taught grades three to six for eight years. Sarah co-founded the Black Teachers Association in 2020 to help teachers to best support their students at the height of the pandemic and joined the board of The Black Bookshelf Project with the goal of bringing more representation into classrooms. From 2021 to 2023, she was Teacher in Residence at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Sarah is currently the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Consultant for the Edmonton Catholic Schools Division.

Cicely Belle Blain is a community speaker, activist, author, and consultant. They are dedicated to combatting oppression and opening up dialogue about the importance of shared community. Cicely Belle has a Bachelor of Arts in Russian, Central European, East European, and Eurasian Studies from the University of British Columbia, as well as a Certificate in New Media Journalism from Simon Fraser University. They have received literary accolades for their poetry collection, Burning Sugar, and have made notable contributions to the community through developing an Intersectionality Toolkit for the city of Vancouver. Cicely Belle is the founder of the Vancouver chapter of Black Lives Matter and the founder and CEO of Bakau Consulting Inc., an organization that specializes in intersectional, anti-racist, and liberation-oriented consulting. In addition to running Bakau Consulting, Cicely Belle is an instructor in Executive Leadership at Simon Fraser University, a board member with the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and the Editorial Director at Ripple of Change magazine.

Coleen Birkett is an established teacher, writer, and consultant. She is dedicated to bringing the Black Canadian experience to the classroom. Coleen has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Environmental Health from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), and a Bachelor of Education from OISE at the University of Toronto. She has uplifted education through her work writing curriculum for the Ontario Black History Society, teaching and developing workshops all around the world from Central America to West Africa, and co-authoring the textbook Black History: Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Coleen is the co-creator and presenter of the See Us, Learn Us: Teaching the Black Canadian Experience webinar and is also currently a teacher with the Toronto District School Board.

Greg Birkett is a writer, educator, and speaker. Greg has a Bachelor of Arts in History from York University, and a Bachelor of Education from OISE at the University of Toronto. He is the playwright of two Toronto Fringe Festival plays, Do You Remember Me, and Pieces of a Black Women’s Soul. Greg is the founder and executive producer of God Is Awesome (G.I.A.) Productions, an organization that engages youth to communicate positive and educational messages through artistic means. He has written and consulted on curriculum for the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ontario Black History Society. Greg is the co-author of the books Black History: Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas and The Great Black North poetry anthology. He is also the co-creator/presenter of See Us, Learn Us: Teaching the Black Canadian Experience, a nationwide webinar on education. Greg is currently a teacher with the Toronto District School Board, and a senior writer with CBC Kids Digital.

Marsha Griffiths is an experienced teacher who is passionate about creating classroom environments wherein students can feel safe and empowered to harness their knowledge, pursue their goals, and find success through their education. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education from Niagara University. Marsha is currently a teacher with the Peel District School Board.

Natalie Mascoll is an elementary school teacher with the York Region District School Board.

Christian Mbanza is an educator and community organizer. He is passionate about increasing representation for the Black community in the Canadian Prairies, especially in Saskatchewan, and combatting institutional racism. Christian has a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education from the University of Regina. He works in community outreach through Black in Saskatchewan, an organization dedicated to addressing issues of social inequality and anti-Blackness. Christian is currently a teacher with the Regina Catholic School Board.

Tisha Nelson is an experienced educator, principal, and author. She is an advocate for inclusion, community engagement, breaking barriers, and motivating students to lead and learn. Tisha has a Bachelor of Arts in History from York University, a Master of Teaching from OISE at the University of Toronto, and a Doctorate in Philosophy in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development from OISE. Tisha was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year award at York Region District School Board in 2017 and is the author of Rights and Equality, a book addressing social justice advocation. She has co-hosted a voicED Radio reading and discussion of The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole, a book addressing modern racism in Canada, and was a course instructor and blogger with the Elementary Teacher’s Federation of Ontario. Tisha is currently an elementary school principal with the York Region District School Board and a curriculum developer for Lakehead University.

Jay Williams was a mentor, educational leader, and speaker. He was dedicated to addressing issues of Black masculinity, the importance of accessible education, and using culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy (CRRP) as a framework of analysis. Jay was a Coordinator of Equity with the Toronto District School Board and worked with the Black Student Success and Excellence initiative at the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and Model Schools for Inner Cities. Jay Williams passed away in February 2024.

Rajean Willis is a social worker, writer, social justice advocate, and speaker. She is passionate about community outreach and representing Indigenous and African Nova Scotian culture. Rajean has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University and is currently a PhD candidate at Mount Saint Vincent University. She presented the keynote speech for Halifax Municipality’s International Women’s Day Conference in 2021 and gave a TEDx Talk entitled “Tuning Into Your Resiliency” on the resiliency of African Nova Scotians and the importance of community in 2020. Rajean is the co-author of children’s book Water Love and is the founder and host of “The Rajean Willis Show” on YouTube, a show that discusses difficult real-world issues. Rajean is currently a social worker, runs counselling services, and is an instructor at Dalhousie University.

Wendie Wilson is Executive Staff Officer – BIPOC Engagement and Advocacy with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. She is a mother, educator, artist, writer, and community advocate with a Master of Education, specializing in Africentric Leadership, from Mount Saint Vincent University. Wendie is a member of the African Nova Scotian and Black Food Sovereignty working group for the Halifax region’s JustFOOD Action Plan, an initiative working to effect positive food system change. An active visual artist, she designed the African Nova Scotian flag to represent the culture and heritage of her community.