Giselle Dildy is the Lead Collaborator and Program Coordinator for the The Empress Walk Initiative. She has over fifteen years of experience working in commercial real estate with a Bachelors of Arts in Radio and Television. She possesses highly developed organizational, communication and a range of coordination skills. However, she began with humble beginnings at church as the leader of the Young Women's Department. Giselle became a member of an Autism parent group supporting families of children with Autism. She has DIR/Floortime training and self-regulation. Giselle was the Vice-President of the Lawrence Heights Community Daycare. During the pandemic, she transitioned to working at the Blackhurst Cultural Centre as an Instructor and Program Coordinator for the Windows-to-Opportunity Program which teaches art, STEM and culture to at-risk black youth. Giselle’s professional work and voluntarily experiences have reignited her desire to seek new ways for improving the quality of life and education for ACB (African, Caribbean, Black) and racialized families, children and youth in Canada.
Sharon Emmons is the Treasurer and Childcare Coordinator for The Empress Walk Initiative. Sharon is a compassionate community leader, parent, grandparent and seasoned Early Childhood Educator. She is very active with the Children’s Ministries Department at her church and Pathfinders Club, a world-wide youth organization that focuses on the social and spiritual development of young people. Sharon is a seasoned Early Childhood Educator currently working at the Faywood Arts-Based Elementary School. She is highly trained in educating both neurotypical as well as students with disabilities. Sharon understands the education system in Ontario and can guide black parents on how to better work with educators and administrators in order to yield the best results. Sharon knows how to create innovative programs from her experiences in delivering quality lessons that serves a variety of learners while adhering to Ministry guidelines. She strives to empower parents with an understanding of how to successfully navigate the system and to break down the barriers for students desiring a quality education.
Sophia Stanberry is the EDI Specialist (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) that assists in producing the foundational research and overall strategic planning for the Initiative. Sophia facilitates workshops about identifying barriers in socio-economic and political systems, taking a deeper look into Anti-Black racism, discriminatory practices and policies affecting ACB and racialized communities.Sophia is registered social worker with an extensive 30-year long career that spans several sectors including education, economic development and empowerment, immigration, community health, art, culture and recreation as well as various municipal services. Sophia possesses a Bachelors in Social Work and a Masters in Immigration and Settlement. She is an expert on service navigation, trained at the Child Development Institute, and has consulted for the TDSB and Toronto Catholic School Board. Her lived experience encompasses her time as a single mother of two neurodiverse adult children (ADHD, dyslexia and sensory dysfunction disorder). Her last appointment was the Director of Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Affairs at the City of Kitchener.
Dr. Morris is a psychologist, professional coach and policy developer specializing in women’s empowerment as well as advocating for the rights and education of vulnerable individuals. Dr. Morris has a Teacher’s Certificate, is a Certified Professional Coach and has a Doctorate in Philosophy. She is trained in Public Policy Development and Community Engagement. She has developed public policies for governments and public institutions throughout the Caribbean, Guyana and South America. She is the Founder and Strategic Program Manager for the Ontario College for Development Training (OCDT), a private career college for personal and professional training. She was a vital member of the Black Business Professional Association (BBPA), a part of the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators and the Program Director for the Ontario College of Research and Development. Dr.Morris is the President for the African Women in Leadership Organization and was selected to be on a UN initiative to research domestic violence against women and girls. She is a transformational change agent with the determination to improve the lives of women around the world.
Amani Ausar is the Education Liaison for the Initiative who will inform our parent participants about the ways in which students with Autism can be better integrated into the general student population. Amani is a caring and passionate high school educator in Toronto, specializing in African-Canadian studies and Career Development. He worked at Downsview Secondary School for several years bringing together ACB community leaders and organizations who mentored young ACB students in generating ideas, providing tutor support as well as aiding in student success by guiding students in completing class projects. He is a key faculty leader in developing an annual black student-led TDSB conference that garners great support from students and faculty, building a pathway for improving the system for black students and teachers. Now a Vice-Principal, Amani desires to lead in the change to make education more accessible, inclusive and engaging for a multicultural, neurodiverse students and their families.
Khady Ndoye is the Administrative Assistant for the Initiative. Having worked as a Digital Marketing Assistant and Talent Acquisition Coordinator. She has skills in administrative support, digital marketing, and stakeholder engagement over the past few. As a neurodivergent individual, Khady has lived experiences that she would like to share in support of families navigating the same challenges. She is a mover and shaker who loves to build projects from scratch and bring them to fruition. Khady Ndoye is an Educator and a Digital Strategist Consultant who helps businesses and organizations flourish and grow through digital marketing, online training and communication. Speaking eight languages, including French, English and Swahili, Khady founded LaPolyglotte a bilingual platform that encourages the global dissemination of African languages. In 2016, she won the best Espoir entrepreneurs and the same year she was invited at the Global Entrepreneurship at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California to attend President Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai CEO of Google and Brian Chesky CEO of Airbnb speeches. She has been featured on Tedx Toronto, is an author of a childrens book and is spearheading a global initiative to make STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) a standard part of the elementary and secondary curriculum around the world.