The Observatory of Black Communities in Quebec

To carry out the Vital Signs study on the state of philanthropy in Quebec’s Black communities, the Foundation of Greater Montréal wanted to partner with the Observatory of Black Communities in Quebec, a specialized research group affiliated to the Socio-Economic Summit for Black Youth Development.

The Observatory is engaged in the production and dissemination of information about the realities of Black communities in Quebec, examining them from a socio-economic development perspective, with a particular focus on youth.

The members of the research team for this edition of Vital Signs are:

  • Bélinda Bah, Director of the Observatory of Black Communities in Quebec, principal investigator;
  • Kossi Mawulolo Ekouagou, research agent at the Observatory;
  • James Osné, Partnership and Development Manager at the Observatory;
  • Guéter Port-Louis, Observatory collaborator, co-investigator;
  • Lynda Rey, Observatory collaborator, co-investigator;
  • Melissa Cassandre Raymond, Observatory research intern.

For more information about the Observatory

Working group on philanthropy in Black communities

The working group on philanthropy in Black communities has a mandate to work in tandem with the project team conducting the study in order to: define its objectives; set out a framework for its realization; follow it through production; and offer feedback on its preliminary findings.

The group is composed of individuals who come from a variety of backgrounds and reflect the diversity of Black communities in Quebec. They are:

Bineta Ba

Bineta Ba is the Director, Partnerships and International Development at the Fondation Marcelle et Jean Coutu. After having lived for many years in Africa and Europe, she decided to make Quebec her home more than 20 years ago. Ms. Ba worked in the community and social development field for about 15 years before moving to the philanthropic sector. She has served on many committees and working groups that focus on keeping Quebec students in school, and has also initiated several educational and community projects in Africa.

Karen Diaz

Karen Diaz is the President of CKG Training & Consulting. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, she grew up in Montreal. She earned a Master’s in Education from McGill University, and has more than 25 years of experience in coaching and customized training, through which she has made significant contributions to several spheres of activity on both a national and an international level. She is active in promoting gender equality and in working for inclusion, and promotes equity through the creation of inclusive environments, and by empowering individuals and organizations, helping them realize their full potential.

Widlyn Dornevil

Widlyn Dornevil is the Director General of the AFS Interculture Canada Foundation, an organization dedicated to the promotion of intercultural education and global understanding through cultural exchange programs. The holder of a Master’s in Public Communication from Université Laval and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from the Université d’État d’Haïti, he has also earned the PRP designation for public relations professionals in Quebec, attributed by the Société québécoise des professionnel(le)s en relations publiques (SQPRP). He has more than 15 years’ experience in communications, philanthropic development and international development. Over the course of his career, he has held a variety of strategic posts in Canadian organizations and served as an expert consultant to 20 or so institutions.

Floriane Lemoine

Floriane Lemoine recently became the Program Director, Health and Climate Programs, at the Definity Foundation. In the last 13 years, she has most notably headed a professional integration program in China, and in France managed a program aiming to accompany social entrepreneurs in growing their enterprises. She has lived in Montreal since 2018. She was in charge of evaluation for 4Rs, a movement working to promote the rights of Indigenous young people, and subsequently managed strategy and operations for the Chamandy Foundation for nearly five years.

Carole Wawira Muriithi

Carole Wawira Muriithi is a facilitator, systems thinker, and Program Officer at Pathy Family Foundation (PFF). She has significant experience working with non-profit organizations in developing, leading, and delivering community programs. Holder of a master’s degree in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University, she has supported organizations through collaborative culture and systems change processes using an anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and equity-centred lens. Carole currently supports PFF’s partner organizations across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, with a focus on rights, empowerment, and community development and engagement.

Ruth Pierre-Paul

Ruth Pierre-Paul has been the Director of the Bureau de la communauté haïtienne de Montréal (BCHM) since 2010. The holder of a Specialized Graduate Diploma in Social Administration from Université de Montréal and a Master’s in Organizational Development from the École nationale d’administration publique, she is also a member of the Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec. A seasoned manager, she has extensive experience in the social/community development sector and in running not-for-profit organizations. Deeply concerned by the many challenges facing Black communities, she has worked to implement programs that deal with these issues. Many of her initiatives at BCHM are now recognized as having led to significant innovations. Ms. Pierre-Paul has also been a member of several boards of directors over the years, as well as the recipient of many honours recognizing the work she has accomplished in the community.

Édouard Staco

Édouard Staco is the founding president of the Fonds 1804, which promotes academic perseverance, and founding president of the Socio-Economic Summit for Black Youth Development. A socially engaged individual, he has most notably served as a member of the Conseil supérieur de l’éducation (2005-2014), Chair of the Conseil’s Commission de l’éducation préscolaire et de l’enseignement primaire (2006-2010), and President of the Association des cadres de l’École Polytechnique de Montréal (2003-2005). He has been on several boards of directors, including that of the YMCAs of Quebec, and has been the recipient of many honours, including the Ordre d’excellence en éducation du Québec and the Médaille de l’Assemblée nationale du Québec, and has been a Black History Month Laureate.