This program will offer a video podcast series on Zoom and broadcasted live on Instagram and Facebook. Our aim is to share cultural identity-based content while raising awareness about mental health symptoms and challenges navigating the justice system.

03

September

Virtual Event, Zoom

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Culture appropriate mental health services for BLACK YOUTH

Black youth disproportionately access mental health through forensic and emergency care pathways

Black youth disproportionately access mental healthcare through both forensic and emergency care pathways, which suggests that Black youth are not receiving care unless they are either interacting with the justice system or are symptomatic enough to need intensive intervention (Anderson et al 2013) These disproportionate rates of involuntary entryways to care may be due to both the systemic over-policing of this population and a simultaneous delaying of care until symptoms can no longer be managed (Fante-Coleman et al 2020)

About Acacia Youth Wellness

Who we serve

Youth ages – 12 – 29 who are experiencing mental health challenges, such as social anxiety, anti-social behaviours, and community members who are interested in learning more about addressing mental health and available services, through an anti-racism/oppression, person-centred framework, to address mental health issues with cultural competent staff.

What

We will be inviting community-based speakers who have experience working with Black youth coupled with ACB Mental Health professionals to provide psychoeducational workshops.
We will invite ACB consumer/survivors of the mental health services to share their lived experiences
We will be inviting ACB individuals who have had interactions with the police and the justice system to share advice and proactive measures for interacting with police

Purpose

All workshops will be rooted in Black identity-based experiences with the purpose of equipping youth and families with the tools to navigate the mental health system and other services.

Services offered:

Virtual psychoeducational
workshops
Crisis intervention
Solution focused brief counselling
Service referrals

What is Under the Acacia Tree

Under the Acacia Tree is our video podcast series on Zoom and broadcasted live on Instagram and Facebook.

Our aim is to share cultural identity-based content while raising awareness about mental health symptoms and challenges navigating the justice system.

Let’s Talk Black Mental Health!

Trisha Islam

Trisha Islam is the Director of All That Kids Can Be at United Way East Ontario (UWEO). Trisha focuses on bringing together people and resources to ensure children, youth, and families are ready for school, have safe and stable housing, and are supported to navigate mental health, substance use, and addictions challenges.

She is a Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant and hopes for communities across East Ontario to be places where children and youth feel safe and seen, can be themselves, and have access to whatever they need to reach their dreams. Trisha brings knowledge and experience from working alongside youth-led collective impact initiatives across Canada, community and international development, social policy, food security, and financial empowerment.

Hedaia Leandre

Hedaia is a 22 year old who is simultaneously studying Business Administration at Algonquin College and Medical Office Assistant at ABM College. She is passionate about community building, social inclusion and finding ways to be sustainable. She is also someone who loves to learn and research about the origins of certain topics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing and baking sweets.

Hedaia decided to join the Building Black Youth Future Resilience Advisory Committee because she wants to contribute to the knowledge-development of the Black youths in our community. She believes that she will also have the opportunity to learn new skills and meet like-minded folks.

Nicole Greaves

Nicole is a community leader and advocate with a message of collaboration and positive engagement that facilitate individual and community well-being. She is a Holistic Care Consultant and Registered Nurse with many years of experience in the health and wellness sector.

Nicole is intentional about volunteering, mentoring and learning with families, seniors and youths from diverse communities. She is also the founding Director of “Ubuntu ConneXions Community Inc. with the vision of promoting and embodying community unity, collaborative works and caring to make a difference in our lifes’ journey.

She believes that self-care is a necessary investment plan for the mind and body. Her self-care investment portfolio includes rest, physical movement and spending time with family and friends embracing grace and gratitude.

Nicole welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the collective works of the Somali Centre for Family Services’ BBYFR Steering Committee

Ubuntu,

Nicole

Tolorunlogo Akinrinola

Tolorunlogo Akinrinola is a Nigerian-born Canadian passionate about combating racial inequalities through education, art, and community building.

Tolorunlogo is a graduate of the University of Ottawa Masters of Education program, as well as a graduate of the third cohort of the Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today Black Diplomats Academy (BDA Academy) - where he was selected as a delegate to the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent. He won the Rising Star award at BDA Academy. Tolorunlogo is also an artist who has had his work featured at the Ottawa Art Gallery and in exhibitions in London and Toronto.

Tolorunlogo is an up-and-coming policy analyst looking to dismantle the School-to-Prison pipeline that disproportionally affects youth of African descent. Currently, he is the Director of Future Paths Network and an Executive Board Member of Minds-On, both grassroots non-profit organizations that aim to shape an equitable future for Black and racialized youth. On his ‘off days’, Tolorunlogo enjoys various hobbies, such as diverse cuisines, music, poetry, writing, origami, basketball, and reading.

Nicole Greaves

Nicole welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the collective works of the Somali Centre for Family Services’ BBYFR Steering Committee

Ubuntu,

Nicole

Anne Musene

Anne L. Musene is a 22 years old and hold an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in International Development and Globalization from the University of Ottawa. Anne is currently completing my Graduate Certificate in Project Management at Algonquin College. Anne is passionate about topics of economic growth, environmental protection, community building, and social inclusion. In her free time, Anne enjoys researching interesting topics, reading, learning new languages, teaching violin and piano, and co-directing children's music ensembles.

Anne joined the Building Black Youth Future Resilience Advisory Committee to be more involved and contribute to the best of my capacities in our Black youth community. Moreover, it is an excellent opportunity to develop new skills, connect with new people, and build resilience overall. Anne is looking forward to learning more about the BBYFR project and contributing to its evolution.

Ahmed Awad

Ahmed is a 5th year student studying at Western University in the Medical Sciences program. Ahmed is thrilled to be part of the BBYFR Project Advisory Committee and look forward to helping Black youth explore the many opportunities in the STEM fields.

Samira Awad

Samira is currently a fourth-year Science student at the University of Ottawa. Samira is excited to be part of the BBYFR Project Advisory Committee and to be able to help Black youths succeed in their education and secure a job.

Chanda Jones

Chanda Jones is the Founder and CEO of Future Paths Network, a grassroot non-profit dedicated to supporting black youth transitioning from foster care. As an ambassador of the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada, she is an advocate for positive change. Chanda's passion lies in offering mentorship and creating nurturing environments for young individuals in entrepreneurship, entertainment, and culture. As a youth program consultant, she helps organizations achieve effective engagement, contributing to the prosperity of black youth and fostering community connections. Chanda's impactful work centers on bridging pathways to new opportunities and creating a brighter future for the youth she serves.

03

September

Virtual Event, Zoom

Culture appropriate mental health services for BLACK YOUTH

Black youth disproportionately access mental health through forensic and emergency care pathways

Who we serve

What

Purpose

Head Office

Youth Office

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Trisha Islam

Hedaia Leandre

Nicole Greaves

Tolorunlogo Akinrinola

Nicole Greaves

Anne Musene

Ahmed Awad

Samira Awad

Chanda Jones