Completing a degree while working full-time is no small feat, now imagine doing it during a global pandemic. Asare Kester-Akrofi (MPPAL ’20) is a recent graduate of York's Master of Public Policy, Administration and Law (MPPAL) program, working full time in public service and is an active community volunteer.
When Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu (BA ’10) was hired in January 2020 to take the helm of Toronto’s Obsidian Theatre as its new artistic director, she had no idea how much the world would change by the time she started the job in July.
After completing two degrees from York, Sarah Embaye's early career success took her to Los Angeles to work at a Black led startup before returning to Toronto where she now works as a partnerships coordinator at MLSE LaunchPad.
Named by the Women Executive Network (WXN) as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, Stachen Frederick (BSW ’13) has over 20 years of experience in the field of community and program development both nationally and internationally. She is the founder of BrAIDS for AIDS, and the executive director of Weston Frontlines Centre, a youth charity in Toronto.
York alumnus, Joseph Smith (BA ’11, BEd ’12, MEd ’14) is a man who wears many hats. He is a PhD student, an educator, researcher, consultant, volunteer leader and co-founder of Generation Chos3n, a not-for-profit organization that supports young adults in the Jane and Finch community.
In 2001, Brandon Hay (MES ’16) discovered he was going to be a dad for the first time. After visiting community centres seeking out help for Black fathers, he realized there were no resources available for him. While working at his factory job overnight, Hay came up with an idea in response to the isolation he felt as a new Black father as well as to the lack of spaces for Black men to discuss parenting issues and concerns facing the Black community as a whole.
Former MP Jean Augustine (LLD '11) helped establish Black History Month in Canada. Now, efforts to fundraise for an endowed chair in her name at York are kicking into high gear.