Keynote presentation will highlight:

1. Initiatives of the Anti-Black Racism (ABR) Unit with the City of Toronto;
2. Successes of the ABR Unit and existing challenges facing Black communities in Toronto; and
3. Responsibility of post-secondary institutions in combatting anti-Black Racism (with a focus on tools and opportunities to advance the work).

Keynote Speaker

Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant
Director, Community Resources Section
Social Development, Finance and Administration
City of Toronto

Aina-Nia Ayo’dele Grant is the Director, Community Resources Section of the City of Toronto. Prior to this, she served as the Manager of the City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit. She was the lead project consultant for the Confronting Anti-Black Racism initiative that began in 2016 to address anti-Black racism in Toronto. Aina-Nia was integral to the creation of the five-year Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, which was approved by Toronto Council in December 2017.

Before joining the City, Aina-Nia was a leadership development trainer and life coach, and consultant for issues within racialized communities, particularly issues of gender and racial equity and African indigenous practices. As a public speaker, she has addressed academic, corporate, faith and civil society audiences across Canada, USA, the Caribbean and Ghana. Aina-Nia is the founder of Sacred Women International and was named one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women for 2018. In 2016, she was named one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada. She has been recognized by the Ontario government for her contributions to community in 2015 and in 2008 was nominated as one of Toronto’s Most Inspiring Women. She has received recognitions by both the Canadian and USA media. Her documentary film, Remembering Her Power, premiered at the 2018 Parliament of World Religion in Toronto. Aina-Nia is featured in the web series, Souls of Women.