Our Partners
Funding Organization
Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) and Ontario Trillium Foundation Funding Partner
Over the past seven years, the Ontario Trillium Foundation has made significant contributions to the well-being of Ontarians. The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) recognizes the impact that healthy and resilient families have on the future success of young people. Supporting families in which young people thrive, the Family Innovations Test Grant supports parents, guardians and caregiver-led grassroots groups in testing new ideas, exploring different approaches and researching important issues.
Funding Organization
The Black-Mandated Funding Framework, a grant distributed by The City of
Toronto, aims to address funding gaps and historical underinvestment in
community organizations and groups that serve Toronto’s Black communities.
The Empress Walk is utilizing this grant to build an Autism Knowledge Hub
and Cultural Resource Centre for ACB (African, Caribbean, Black) parents,
families and individuals with Autism in Toronto.
organizational mentor
Stolen From Africa-Vole D’Afrique Organizational Mentor
Stolen From Africa-Vole D’Afrique:(SFA)began as a t-shirt campaign in 2004. Highlighting social justice issues and stories of oppression on street apparel sparked interest, ignited ideas and encouraged dialogue. For the past 20 years, SFA has worked diligently on developing culturally-relevant educational resources and programming for youth and students experiencing exclusion within the education system.
Other Partners
The Creative Child
Located on Eglinton Avenue West, in midtown Toronto, The Creative Child is a creative arts hub offering a wide range of programs. They foster a love of the arts and specialize in Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Culinary Arts, and Martial Arts programs for children and families. The company firmly believe that arts classes cultivate important skills that benefit a child’s development. The Creative Child is working with The Empress Walk Initiative to develop unique, art-based workshops to provide all neurotypical and neurodivergent participants a fun experience in a nurturing environment.
Other Partners
Holistic Vibrancy
Holistic Vibrancy is led by Negus Medhin who is a seasoned, multi-disciplinary instructor of African performance and healing arts. Medhin incorporates African drumming, dancing, yoga, tai chi, aromatherapy and massage to create powerful wisdom and healing circles that specifically address the traumatic effects of oppression and Anti-Black racism. These programs are customized to promote physical and mental health recovery through active group participation and a deeper understanding into the benefits of African and Caribbean ancestral wisdom, culture and customs. Contact Negus Medhin at negus@holisticvibrancy.com.
Other Partners
The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd. The MEHRIT Centre is longstanding organization started by Dr. Stuart Shanker, distinguished research professor, specializing in relieving the impacts of excessive stress on child development and behavior with their self-regulation model. The organization works with many governments, agencies and institutions in understanding and building programs related to parenting and education. Dr. Shanker led a groundbreaking initiative called the Mitchell and Ethel Research Initiative where he studied the effects of self-regulation and DIR Floortime on parents and children with Autism. The Empress Walk Initiative is using the online modules from the MEHRIT Centre to train parents and children with Autism in DIR Floortime and self-regulation.
Other Partners
Kinark Child and Family Services Kinark Outdoor Centre has been providing children’s mental health services for decades and only became known as Kinark Child and Family Services in 1983. In 2000, Kinark’s services expanded when we began operating Syl Apps Youth Centre and began providing interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kinark has more than 700 employees and 50 volunteers, including the Board of Directors. Kinark serves close to 9,000 children and youth across our three program streams: Autism, Community-Based Child and Youth Mental Health, and Forensic Mental Health & Youth Justice Services. The Empress Walk Initiative plans an annual excursion to the Kinark Outdoor Centre to expose our participants to the benefits of green space and Autism programming.
Other Partners
Immigrant Women in Business Immigrant Women in Business (IWB) is a non-profit social enterprise association. IWB specializes in integrated multicultural joint ventures that help organizations, governments and private corporations engage and connect with Canada’s diverse ethno-cultural communities to build profile and brands. Our members are committed to improving the world through positive leadership, compassion and dedication to learning, growing and giving.We Believe through a Giving Spirit we will foster the helping of Women to grow personally and professionally, and by Building Stronger Relationships and Providing Value to others we constantly strive to become better Role Models and overall Human Beings.
