MISSION
As influencers, enablers and convenors, we work to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada.
VISION
A Canada where Black communities, in all our diversity, enjoy optimal health and well-being, and thrive
VALUES & PRINCIPLES
Africentricity
We recognize that our common ancestry and shared experience of facing anti-Black racism and colonialism serves as an anchor to building healthy and resilient communities. As such, we strive to centre the needs, histories, cultural expressions and lived experiences of Black people in all our diversity through our work. We acknowledge that Black people’s social identities are multiple and interlocking and that health inequities must be viewed and addressed through an intersectional lens which includes, but is not limited to; race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, disability, and immigration status.
Social justice
We centre social justice as a fundamental principle in our work and recognize the multiple and compounding ways that our identities and social locations intersect with our health and wellbeing. Our work is grounded in an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework and a commitment to ensuring an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. We actively seek to dismantle systematic barriers that impact our health. We specifically strive to centre Black two-spirit, queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender-expansive, and non-binary, as well as Black Muslim and Afro-Indigenous communities in our work.
Partnership
We believe that to improve the health and well-being of Black communities, we must collaborate and work in partnerships. Strong partnerships are founded on common objectives, values, reciprocity and accountability. To achieve collective impact, we rely on common agendas, shared measurement systems, mutually reinforcing activities, and continuous communication and backbone support. We see partnership as integral to community and capacity building and we believe that by leveraging our strengths and ingenuity cooperatively, we can dismantle barriers.
Catalytic Leadership
We strive to ignite our communities and be at the forefront of driving change, and delivering results. We believe that leadership begins with a strong shared vision and a commitment to build networks and engage seasoned and emerging leaders across sectors. We are committed to promoting and fostering Black leadership, centering our agency and platforming our voices to deliver results and impact.
WHAT WE DO
We centre Black communities in defining the challenges and barriers affecting our health and well-being. We provide a platform for Black people to establish a common voice around systemic problems, and we work to co-design and mobilize the tools, skills, partnerships and investment needed to implement solutions that improve health outcomes across Canada.
WHO WE SERVE
We serve all Black people and recognize our diversity as our strength. We understand that despite our many differences, we are united by our shared history, ingenuity and resourcefulness and that together, we will find lasting solutions to the systemic and structural barriers tha compromise our health and well-being.
OUR APPROACH
We invest in the community through an approach that starts with listening to communities. We ensure every solution we co-create is built on a foundation of solid data, a shared vision, and moves quickly from idea to implementation — always with the goal of systems-level change.
OUR TEAM
STAFF
Paul Bailey
Executive Director
Melissa Booker
Researcher
Ameerah Craigg
Manager Health Promotion & Community Engagement
Tiyondah Fante-Coleman
Researcher
Maame Obeng
Program Manager
Deneece Plummer
Health Promotion Specialist
Racquel Simpson
Program Manager
Fiqir Worku
Researcher
Joy Nortei
Health Promotion Specialist
Danayi Munyati
Health Promotion Specialist
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lydia-Joi Marshall
Chair
Samiya Abdi
Vice-Chair
Ngozi Iroanyah
Secretary
Adrian Palmer
Treasurer
Dr. Adom Bondzi-Simpson
Director
Phil Gagnon-Joseph
Director
Tatenda Musewe
Director
Sume Ndume-Eyoh
Director
Bukola Salami
Director
OUR HISTORY
The Black Health Alliance is established. Our Founder, Dr. Christopher Morgan, seeks to bring influencers and organizations together to advocate for Black Health.
Black Health Alliance makes a submission to the Commission on the Future of Healthcare in Canada. It was one of a few which discussed racial disparities in healthcare facing Black Canadians and provided workable solutions, making recommendations to create an equitable, and sustainable healthcare system.
The Black Health Alliance leads a major research study: How do Black youth in Scarborough Access Healthcare?
Black Health Alliance is awarded $900,000 in funding from the Government of Ontario to establish TAIBU Community Health Centre, an organization with the primary mandate to serve the Black communities across the Greater Toronto Area.
BHA becomes a registered charity.
Successful grant application for cervical and breast cancer project – in collaboration with professionals from St. Michael’s Hospital; TAIBU CHC; McMaster University Health Sciences Centre and Olive Branch of Hope.
A Sound Mind: Mental Health in the Black Community Forum. First of its kind, this forum generated open dialogue on the barriers, personal and systemic, that interfere with addressing mental illness in the Black community.
Secured joint funding of $1M towards shifting the system around Black Youth Mental Health with CAMH, East Metro Youth Services, TAIBU and Wellesley Institute.
2000
The Black Health Alliance is founded. Our founder, Dr. Chris Morgan, sought to bring influencers and organizations together to advocate for Black Health
2005
The Black Health Alliance leads a major research study: How do Black youth in Scarborough Access Healthcare?
2006
Black Health Alliance is awarded $900,000 in funding from the Government of Ontario to establish TAIBU Community Health Centre, an organization with the primary mandate to serve the Black communities across the Greater Toronto Area.
2012
BHA becomes a registered charity
2014
Successful grant application for cervical and breast cancer project – in collaboration with professionals from St. Michaels’ Hospital; TAIBU CHC; McMaster University Health Sciences Centre and Olive Branch of Hope.
2015
A Sound Mind: Mental Health in the Black Community Forum. First of its kind, this forum generated open dialogue on the barriers, personal and systemic, that interfere with addressing mental illness in the Black community.
2018
Secured funding of towards shifting the system around Black Youth Mental Health.
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