AABSW is building community, connections and support for Black Social Workers in Alberta
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Kehinde is a Nigerian of Yoruba ethnicity. She immigrated to Canada in 2016. She holds degrees in Business and Social Work. Kehinde received her social work degrees (BSW and MSW) from the University of Calgary, Alberta.
During her undergraduate program in 2017, she was a recipient of the PURE (Program for Undergraduate Research Experience) award grant. She conducted a research on the immigration experiences of Nigerian women in Calgary. For this research, she was awarded the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Internationally Focused Research. Kehinde has published papers during her business career and she recently published with other authors on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Alberta. Throughout, her social work education she maintained a position of research assistant and graduate assistant at both Mount Royal university and University of Calgary. Kehinde believes strongly that research can be used as a tool of activism and social justice.
In June 2018, she was honored with the Recognition of Excellence Award-Student Leadership, Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, and in May 2019, she was awarded Clarice Chodak Recognition of Excellence in Social Action by the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. Kehinde is an alumni of the University of Calgary’s scholar academy.
Kehinde’s interests are in research, community development, mental health, immigration experience and anti-Black racism. She is an avid social worker with 5 years experience working and volunteering in the profession. She considers herself a global nomad having lived in over 15 countries in various continents. Her diverse experiences have influenced her worldview, her ability to adapt and her appreciation of other cultures.
She is a co-founder of the Alberta Association of Black Social Workers and the current President.
Dayirai (Dye-Rye) Kapfunde MSW RSW, is a Registered Social Worker who lives and works in Alberta, Canada and is registered to practise in Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia. She currently works in mental health while also successfully operating her private practise business Journeys of Life Counselling Services Inc., on a part-time basis. Dayirai holds a BA/BSW degree from McMaster University; an MSW degree from Ryerson University and an Addictions Diploma through McMaster University. Further, she is also currently a Commissioner of Oaths in and for Alberta with her appointment expiring February 4, 2023. Dayirai is a Designated Capacity Assessor, Registered Circle of Security Facilitator; and most recently part of the first cohort of Therapeutic Play Practitioners through the RMPTI.
According to Dayirai, she ‘became Black when she came to Canada’, prior to that, her entry point was that of being a ‘girl child, and woman.’ She is passionate about social justice and continues to advocate for the empowerment of ‘marginalised’ individuals/families to authentically use their voices.
Dayirai has had the honor of holding a seat at the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) Council table since 2018 and recognises that there would be no protection of the public without the legislated regulatory side of the social work profession. She believes that both the ACSW and AABSW carry significant roles related to the social work profession, even though their mandates are separate and distinct. The recent passing of Bill 46 resulting in the separation of the ACSW into individual Regulatory and Association organisations means that Dayirai cannot serve on both boards.
She is a co-founder of the Alberta Association of Black Social Workers.
Adrianna Cooper was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is 7th generation Black Canadian. Her ancestry were among the first Black settlers in Alberta, Canada and have many deep ties from the east to west coast.
Adrianna received her degree in social work from the University of Calgary. She has experience with adoption, mental health, research, family and parenting support and currently post secondary advising. Throughout her undergraduate degree she was involved in research studies around mental health in minority groups and how to better serve minority communities to enable them to thrive.
When Adrianna became involved in the social work field, it exposed her to issues that she became deeply passionate about. These passions led her to wanting to start a group for Black social workers where they could lean on, learn, support, and thrive with each other while making change in society. Adrianna is passionate and enthusiastic about Black issues regarding anti-Black racism, education, mental health, and intergenerational trauma within the Black community. Her interests include mental health, self development and strengths for clients, research and helping build and bring together the Black communities in Alberta and Canada. Adrianna is also a business owner and a strong advocate for Black small businesses that are owned and operated by Black people.
She is a co-founder of the Alberta Association of Black Social Workers.
Neisau Ramcharan was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and is of Guyanese parentage. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work from Ryerson University. During undergraduate studies, she completed a minor in public administration and in graduate studies, a thesis on race, identity, and culture. In addition, she is also trained in non-profit and voluntary sector management.
A seasoned social worker, with over 10+ years of experience in rehabilitation, community development, schools, primary care, private practice and mental health, she currently practices in both Alberta and Ontario.
She is a co-founder of the Alberta Association of Black Social Workers.
Cynthia Okafor is a proud Calgarian, born and raised, and has been practicing in the field of social work for almost twenty-years.
She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary and later obtained a Master’s degree with a specialization in community development and social policy from Carleton University.
Currently, Cynthia works as an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Consultant within the public sector. She also runs a part-time consulting practice where she provides Training, education and awareness in the area equity and anti-racism, and works with organizations in working through a change management process using a racial equity lens.
Cynthia is passionate about racial equity and social justice and works tirelessly to create an environment that acknowledges, embraces and values differences. She believes that true change happens when individuals are given the opportunity to engage in real, raw and authentic conversations and the tools to actively work towards removing barriers at the systemic and institutional level.
Marva is a social worker, advocate and assistant professor at Mount Royal University in the Department of Child Studies and Social work. A graduate of the University of Calgary, she holds a BSW and MSW in social work specializing in Leadership in the Human Services, certificate in Disaster Management, and trainer/facilitator in Mental Health First Aid and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).
Marva’s current interest is in anti-Black racism, anti-oppression, and critical race theory approaches to social work practice. She encourages students to stay curious and to question knowledge continuously.
Marva’s current research interest is in sequence migration with a focus on The Personal Stories of Jamaican Adults who migrated to Canada as Children.
Other teaching and research interest include: ” Voices of Immigrants and Refugees in Disaster Management”; “Equity in Education”; ” Transnational Feminisms”; “The role of Parents/Grandparents in Family Structures”; “Gender and Sexual Diversity”; ” The Complexity of Caregiving from Afar.”
Marva sticks close to her Jamaica roots and organises the “Quick Response Project” that provides resources for individuals struggling with the outcome of COVID-19.
