Meet the Volunteer Board of Directors

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Victor Adarquah (He/Him)

Victor Adarquah is currently a graduate student at the University of Toronto’s Institute of Medical Science. Once finished with graduate studies, his aim is to continue the journey into medical school so that he can one day become a clinician-scientist who improves health outcomes either through research or by addressing health disparities in clinical settings. His goal is to examine specifically how anti-Black racism exacerbates the vulnerabilities faced by people with disabilities and offer steps towards creating a more equitable future for ALL. 

 Toluwani Ajayi (She/Her)

Toluwani Ajayi is a recent graduate from the University of Alberta. With our organization, she is curating her passion for advocacy in areas related to increasing accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity of black persons in health care. As the Education and Awareness officer, she utilizes her research and analytical skills to investigate relevant policies, programs, and literature focused on the intersection of disability and Blackness. 

In addition, her strong communication skills allow her to create social media campaigns and community learning events to educate the public on disability, Blackness, and 
intersectionality. Toluwani hopes to continue to develop herself in the healthcare policy space

Samantha Santoro (She/Her)

Samantha has extensive experience working in research in healthcare, environmental, economic, and social justice contexts. She has an interest in all work that contributes to the building of new worlds centred around, in the words of Robyn Maynard, "the multivalent needs of those who least have access to a livable life." 

She is a Policy Officer at the ASE Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities working to dismantle anti-Black racism and ableism, and she also actively volunteers with organizations that work in the areas of social, environmental, and/or racial justice to construct a more equitable, habitable future. 

Jaiah Howe (She/Her)

In Fall 2022 Jaiah returns to her second year at George Brown College in the Assaulted Women and Children’s Counseling & Advocacy program where she aims to fues her passion for women's health and wellness, birthwork and research. She has a variety of interests including social justice, the intersections of blackness, reproductive and disability justice, community care and equitable policy.

 Continuing her work to support students throughout this past year, Jaiah returns for her second summer at ASE Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities as a Youth Development Officer. One of her projects for this summer is to develop a national student-led caucus for students with disabilities that upholds youth advocacy, social inclusion, peer mentoring, steering and information sharing at the heart of collaboration.

Tsion Kebede (She/Her)

Tsion Kebede is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Health Sciences at Western University. Her passions lie in health equity and justice to ensure the well-being of marginalized communities. 

Tsion Kebede is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Health Sciences at Western University. Her passions lie in health equity and justice to ensure the well-being of marginalized communities. 

She has held several roles in community service work, more recently working as a youth development officer & volunteer researcher with ASE Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities to find the disparities in resources and services available for individuals that sit between the intersections of blackness and disability in Canada. 

Isabella Lau (She/Her)

Isabella is a rising junior with several experiences in volunteer work serving the community to address topics like homelessness, social and environmental justice, and gender-inequality. Her passions lie in graphic design, social media, sustainability, and community building. 

She hopes to use her strong communication and marketing skills as the Marketing and Communications Officer at ASE Community Foundation to help raise awareness and dismantle anti-Black racism and ableism. In the future, she plans to pursue Business related studies in Toronto and continue community building work to empower other racialized youth and people with disabilities.

Fanta Ly 

Fanta Ly is completing a J.D/ B.CL. Candidate at McGill University’s Faculty of Law. She is pursuing an impact-oriented career at the intersections of law, policy, and advocacy. 

As Research Officer at ASE, she draws on evidence-informed advocacy strategies to explore the intersectional manifestations of anti-Black racism. She is particularly interested in the intersections between legality, organizational responsibility, and disability.

Colleen Ford (She/They)

Colleen is a recent graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied Communication Studies.  She has a variety of interests including social justice, sustainability, inclusive design and filmmaking.

She is a Web Developer at ASE Community Foundation for Black Canadians with Disabilities. One of her projects for this summer is to develop a digital accessibility toolkit that offers resources, tips and suggestions as how to ensure accessibility is at the forefront of digital world.