Addressing Systems, Exploring Impacts and Embracing Equity (IWD)
Equity promotes justice, fairness and impartiality within the processes, procedures, and distribution of resources by systems or institutions. To tackle equity, people need to understand the root causes of outcome disparities in society. Equity aims to ensure fair treatment, access, equality of opportunity and advancement for everyone while also attempting to identify and remove the barriers that have prevented some groups from fully participating.
Learn how we can all #EmbraceEquity. It’s not just something we say, write about, or think about, it is something we must EMBRACE. Each one of us can actively support gender equity within our own sphere of influence by challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and seeking out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change and allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women.
Join our webinar panel to discuss how individuals, community and organizations can contribute to these efforts. Join us to gain understanding of how we can all work together, become more confident to express ourselves, and allow everyone to be included.
Meet the moderator and guest speakers:
Moderator: Nagad Hersi:
Nagad Hersi, a mental health outreach worker and community developer. Nagad has worn several hats within the community to advocate for equity and diversity. As an art enthusiast, Nagad spends her free time immersed in visual arts.
Guest Speaker: Jacklyn St Laurent:
My journey in learning about mental health started when I was a student in the Social Work program at Collège la Cité in Ottawa (Ontario). From that moment, I have been passionate about developing a safe space where people can begin their healing process. My clinical background has been inspired by my ancestors’ history. In my antiracist interventions, I use a holistic and spiritual lens, as well as a relational approach.
I hold a master’s degree in Counselling and Spirituality from Saint Paul University, and I am currently a PhD student in the same program. Under the supervision of Dr. Buuma Maisha, PhD, RP, CCC, my thesis research is focused on women’s sexual health, more specifically women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse and who self-identify as being hypersexual. I am a part-time professor and clinical supervisor in the School of Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality at Saint Paul University. I also involved in research on Black women’s sexual health in Canada at Montfort Hospital in Ottawa, under the supervision of Dr. Marie-Hélène Chomienne, and on suicide prevention in racialized communities, with Dr. Jude Cénat at University of Ottawa.
I am currently engaged in helping members of Ottawa’s racialized communities to regain their wellness by volunteering with the Ottawa Black Mental Health Coalition and by partnering with community networks such as the Canadian Women of Color Leadership Network, as their Wellness Director.
Guest Speaker: Mona Abow
Mona’s background is in Business Coaching and Consulting. She’s passionate about supporting ambitious Black entrepreneurs to become an empowering force and launch a lucrative online business they’ll love. She’s the founder and CEO of The Boundless Mindset and the Chnge Mker Innovation Hub . “I’ve seen too many brilliant, high achieving POC in unfulfilling jobs out of fear and desperation. Recognizing our greatness helps us to stand in our power and demand more out of life”. This is what Mona helps her clients to practice – Stepping into their authentic power.
When Mona is not empowering her clients to launch their exciting businesses, she’s hosting her podcast – The Boundless Mindset and spending time with her three children and their beloved cat – Nunu.
*Participants who are registered for this event will receive a zoom link*
A special thank you goes out to the South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre for their support of this conversation