We live in challenging times with many people feeling intense anxiety and other Mental Health concerns related to COVID-19 and other health and mental health inequities. This includes young people. The workshop intends to give some understanding of mental health and wellness concerning our current life experiences. The hope is that

1. participants would have a better account of mental health and wellness at the end of the workshop, and

2. become familiar with some powerful tools (some decolonized and indigenous) in managing life stressors.

About Dr. Leonard Edwards.Ph.D

Dr. Leonard Edwards, Ph.D. is a Registered Clinical Social Worker, Lecturer & Course Developer with more than 10 years’ experience in the human service field. Leo completed his Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) fromYork University, Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Toronto and Ph.D. in Social Justice and Education from Lancaster University, UK.

Leo is a therapist and healing educator in private practice providing psychotherapy and counselling (strong emphasis on decolonizing therapy) with BIPOC adults living with mental health and other life challenges. He is also employed in a leadership role in the Office of Health Equity at one of Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospitals and one of the world's leading research centers. When Leo is not doing his clinical and leadership work he can be found lecturing at a community college in Toronto.

Leo is actively involved in community organizing and voluntarism around mental health and homelessness.

Please note this event will be recorded.

About The Africa Centre

Council of Advancement of African Canadians in Alberta (CAAC) operating as “Africa Centre” is a charitable organization based in the most northern city of the global north. Using a Pan-African approach, Africa Centre works with diverse communities of African descent in Alberta. The organization strives to bring African diversity of heritage, culture, and contributions to building a stronger community in Alberta, Canada. Our mandate is to create a thriving community with full participation in all aspects of life while maintaining cultural and heritage attributions of African identity. The Centre strives to deliver this mandate through community engagement, empowerment, preservation of traditions, and cultural heritage.

About Taibu

TAIBU Community Health Centre (CHC) is a multidisciplinary, non-for-profit, community led organization established to serve the Black Community across the Greater Toronto Area as its priority population. We are located in the Malvern neighbourhood of Scarborough in Ontario. TAIBU also serves all the residents of the Malvern neighbourhood bounded by McCowan Rd to the West, Pickering Town line to the East, Highway 401 to the South and Steeles Avenue to the North.

TAIBU is a Kiswahili word is used by well-wishers as a greeting that means, “Be in Good Health”. The name encapsulates the vision of TAIBU, which is promoting “healthy, vibrant and sustainable communities creating our own solution.”

TAIBU Community Health Centre provides comprehensive primary healthcare in combination with health promotion programs and activities. We also work in close partnership with other community-based health and social services.

Note: The information gathered from this event may be used in the future to provide various services to support Black Youth in the future. Your name will not be released at any time, and if you wish not to provide information, you may inform the moderators at any time through the event.

Event's from this project are funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada