About

Bukola Ojemakinde, a chemical engineer and prominent community leader in Calgary, has made a significant impact by establishing two non-profit organizations over the past five years. One of these, the Ladies in the Family Foundation (LIFF), is dedicated to fostering healthier relationships, promoting emotional well-being, and helping women and their families integrate more effectively into Canadian culture. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Calgary African Community Collective (CACC), the Distress Centre of Calgary, and the Women’s Centre of Calgary, Bukola addresses critical mental and physical health challenges faced by Black girls, women, and seniors.

Bukola’s dedication to community service has earned her several accolades. She was recognized as one of Suncor’s five employees making a difference and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. As the Executive Director of the Bridge to Oasis (BTO) Foundation, she received the Innovative Leadership Award at the Bhayana Awards. Additionally, she serves on the board of directors for the Calgary African Community Collective and is a member of the Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, where she supports Calgary’s initiatives in these areas. She also acts as a Grant Committee Advisor for the Calgary Foundation.

In 2024, Bukola was honored with the Immigrant of Distinction Award (Community Service) by Immigrant Services Calgary. As an Ideation Specialist and Program Manager, Bukola oversees numerous impactful projects led by LIFF and the BTO Foundation. These include LIFF’s “HerConnect,” “Cook for Inclusion,” “BE-GIRL,” and “Light Up Our Podium” initiatives. Her unwavering commitment to improving lives and strengthening communities continues to inspire many.

Oluyinka, a counselling Therapist in Calgary since 2006, has a passion for family relationships to thrive through therapy and the power of healing. Her mission includes trauma work, awareness of mental well-being, emotional intelligence, generational gaps, family conflicts and culture clashes.

Oluyinka’s Hope Alive Ministry serves Faith and African Caribbean communities with counselling therapy and mental health presentations. Oluyinka is a board of director with Association of Counseling Therapists of Alberta (ACTA) and member of Professional Association of Christian Counsellors and Psychotherapists (PACCP). She co-authors ‘Walk With Me – A 30 Day Devotional’ with her daughter, Oluyomi, containing poetry and encouragement on overcoming negative emotions.

Hope Alive Ministry serves Faith and African Caribbean communities with counseling therapy and mental health presentations. Its mission includes trauma work, mental well-being awareness, emotional intelligence, generational gaps, family conflicts, and culture clashes.

Noreen Sibanda is an experienced clinician, speaker, psycho-educational workshop facilitator and a sessional instructor at Concordia University. She has presented at both local and international conferences and has reviewed and developed anti-racism and mental health curricula for organizations and postsecondary institutions.

Noreen currently serves as the Executive Director of Alberta Black Therapist Network and is a University of Alberta alumni, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women and Gender studies. She also holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and is a practicing Registered Provisional Psychologist and owner at Kaizen Psychological and Consulting. Noreen has appeared on podcasts, television and radio shows and is the 2022 NBCA Professional of the Year, recipient of the 2022 Momentum Mental Health Award for outstanding leadership in the mental health community and for founding ABTN, and a 2023 nominee of the Health and Wellness Superlative Awards.

Noreen is a proud executive member of When African Women Talk and is currently applying her passion for mental health, education, social change, and womens rights through her employment as a community-based mental health therapist.

Afro-Canadian woman, originally from Ivory Coast, Joelle Kacou is a bilingual (English/French) professional specializing in crisis management, mental health support, and community engagement. With experience in mental health services, including as a Mental Health Support Facilitator with Action for Healthy Communities, Joelle has honed her skills in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention.

Her leadership roles, including as a Research Analyst and Head of Office for the Elections Campaign for the Republic of Ivory Coast in Alberta, have further strengthened her project management and communication skills. Joelle is committed to advocating for marginalized communities and fostering inclusive environments for Black women and girls.
Joelle Speaks French and English

Nicole is deeply passionate about youth and women’s empowerment, as well as all issues related to gender. Outside of work, she dedicates her time to volunteering with organizations that focus on empowering Black female youth, promoting gender equity, and advancing climate justice.

With over eight years of experience working with youth, women, and vulnerable populations, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work.

Originally from the beautiful country of Jamaica, she served as the Coordinator for the Science & Technology Education Unit at the Scientific Research Council before migrating to Canada. In this role, she implemented programs designed to popularize STEM education in primary and high schools across the island.

Ekene Balogun has a MA in Counselling Psychology and has worked with children, youth, Individuals, and families for over 25 years. Ekene started her career working with “high risk”/vulnerable youths, young mothers, and victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in London UK. Ekene has a wealth of experience working with individuals that have experienced trauma, depression, grief, self-harm, anxiety, stress, bullying and anger.

Ekene graduated in 2004 with a BSC in Social Science & Criminology. After graduating Ekene worked with the Metropolitan Police in London UK, then went onto work with the biggest charity in London NSPCC to protect children from child abuse.

After migrating to Canada in 2012, Ekene went onto to complete a master’s in counselling psychology and endeavors to find the unique blend that is best for her client. There is a famous quote that says, “Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% is how we react to it”. Ekene believes we gain important pieces of wisdom through experience and Ekene’s goal is to reconnect individuals with the hope that change can happen, barriers can be broken, and that the quality of a person’s life can be maximized.

Modupe Olagundoye holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and is a Canadian Certified Counsellor-Qualifying (CCC) with over 10 years of experience in the human services sector. As a compassionate mental health practitioner, I provide support to individual adults, children, and youth in a secure environment.

My expertise includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and narrative therapy (Tree of Life Narrative), consistently yielding positive and effective outcomes across diverse cultural backgrounds. I am dedicated to creating a safe space for clients to openly share their deepest fears and facilitate personal growth. Committed to continuous professional development, I strive to enhance my skills to better assist clients in navigating their challenges.

I firmly believe that clients are the architects of their lives, and my role is to accompany them on their journey, working collaboratively to identify solutions that align with their individual needs and meet them where they are.

Amanda is a dedicated community social worker, with over a decade of experience in the social service field. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and is registered with the Alberta College of Social Work. She has experience creating and implementing programs tailored to meet community needs, with a particular emphasis on youth and family support. She has a deep commitment to equity, racial justice, diversity, inclusion and decolonization, Amanda brings her lived experiences as a Black woman to the forefront of her practice.

In Addition to her community focused work Amanda has collaborated with the United Nations and the Inter Council Network as a youth delegate, contributing to global discussions on the status of women and gaining valuable insights into policy and advocacy.

Amanda is Passionate about creating meaningful change and is inspired by the resilience of her clients and the power of grassroot community development. Amanda Speaks English and Ndbebele/Zulu

Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi is a globally recognised gender equality advocate with extensive years of experience in deploying effective solutions to challenge systemic social barriers that promote violence against women and girls through policy and grassroots advocacy. She has implemented community initiatives, programs, and public relations campaigns that improved knowledge, attitudes, and practices on violence prevention, fostered access to social services for women and girls, and empowered citizens to become more aware of their rights to fight against inequalities and violence in their daily lives.

Through her previous engagements, Oluwaseun collaborated with and scaled the capacity of state and non-state actors to implement policies and programs that advance women’s rights and safety. She is a Founding Member of the Feminist Coalition and Council Member of Nala Feminist Collective, two feminist movements advancing women’s rights, access, and accountability measures to mandate that African governments uphold their Generation Equality Forum (GEF) commitments. Oluwaseun holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Swansea University, UK. 

Ibukunoluwa is a dynamic and purpose-driven professional with expertise in finance, administration, and specialized welfare services. With a master’s degree in accounting, she has made significant contributions to the financial sector, excelling in financial planning and analysis. Beyond numbers, Ibukunoluwa is deeply invested in people.

She has implemented tailored support systems that cater to individuals with diverse needs in mental health, disabilities, and elderly support. Her ability to integrate financial acumen with human-centered solutions makes her a unique blend of precision and empathy. Fluent in English and Nigerian, she is committed to driving meaningful change through structure and service.