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The Council’s Board &
Staff
Officers of the Board
 WANGARI
MURIUKI
President
Wangari Muriuki has over 16 years of professional experience
in health and human services, especially
in the field of mental health. Wangari has significant skills
in the area of knowledge transfer and exchange as well as
in dept knowledge of social service deliver models. This encompasses
managing the development of services, case management, supervision
and training of staff, program development, management, leadership
and mentoring. She has a particular interest in diversity,
equity, social determinants of health especially as it pertains
to the health status of new immigrants. Her experience comes
primarily from the not-for-profit sector. During her career,
Wangari has held different positions with Central Neighbourhood
House. From 2001 - 2009, she worked with Street Health Community
Nursing Foundation where she went on to become the Manager
of Mental Health, Identification and teams at Street Health.
She is also a Director and Lead Researcher for Jiamini Community
Consultants which works primarily on health issues faced by
new immigrants to GTA from social determinants of health perspective.
Wangari is currently the executive assistant to Councillor
Gord Perks of Ward 14, Toronto.
Wangari also has extensive volunteer board experience including
current affiliations with the Toronto Board of Health, the
Health Equity Council, and St. Michael’s Hospital –
Mental Health Community Advisory Panel. Wangari serves as
the Chair of the Board of the Broad African Resource Centre.
Wangari pursued a B.A. in Communication from City College,
New York. In addition, she holds a certificate in Community
Based research from Wellesley Institute. In June 2007 she
received a Certificate from St. Michael’s College University
of Toronto in Management for Health Services. Additionally,
she has completed courses and seminars on topics including:
media advocacy, policy development, leadership/mentoring/coaching,
knowledge transfer and exchange, crisis intervention, case
management and Risk Management
Sectorial Expertise & Skills
Wangari has significant experience in the following areas:
community and social services, advocacy on issues of affordable
housing, diversity and access and equity, health, mental health
and addictions, homelessness, change agent, civic engagement,
immigration and women’s issues and services. Her core
skills and competencies include advocacy, anti racism and
inclusion education, leading committees, communications/marketing/PR,
community development, conflict resolution, counselling, facilitation,
program development, and community based research. She is
fluent in Swahili.
 GEORGE
FYNN
Vice President
Mr. Fynn has been a board member of the Council since 2002,
serving as the Council’s first Vice-President until
May 2005, when he assumed the presidency of the Council. A
professional engineer by training, Mr. Fynn is the Regional
Manager (Toronto Region) of G. E. Water Technologies.
In his volunteer life, Mr. Fynn hosts a live
radio talk show on CHRY 105.5 F.M. in Toronto on Saturday
evenings (5 P.M.–6 P.M.). He is also President of the
Miss Ghana-Canada Pageant held annually.
 BASIL
MWAWASI
Treasurer
Mr. Mwawasi is Chair of the Council’s Program and Communications
Committee. In his professional life, he is a Senior Analyst
with the Ontario Ministry of Government Services, providing
advice, guidance and support to senior management officials
across the Ontario Public Service.
Mr. Mwawasi contributes his strong negotiating
skills to the work of the Council, including the Council’s
work on anti-violence.
Mr. Mwawasi holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in Hospitality Management from Florida International University
(Miami), and an MBA from Concordia University. Currently he
also serves on the Board of Directors of the Canada-Kenya
Chamber of Commerce and Kenyan Community in Ontario.
FAHEEM SANGRAR
Board Secretary
Faheem Sangrai has worked as a Service
Rep in the Water Treatment Sector for 6 years. Born in Nairobi,
Kenya, Faheem moved to Canada in 1995 where he completed his
high school education before proceeding to the Trent University
where he graduated with a BSc in Biology.
JOSEPH K. AMANKRAH
Mr. Amankrah teaches Industrial Manufacturing
to Mechanical Engineering students at Ryerson Polytechnical
University. He holds a Full Technologist Diploma in Mechanical
Engineering, a Mechanical Engineering Technicians Diploma,
and a Mechanical Engineering (Sheet Fabrication & Welding)
Certificate. Prior to his current position of Technical Officer
with Ryerson University, he held the position of Continuing
Education Instructor at the same university, Technical Training
Instructor at Humber College, Manager of Manufacturing, Plant
Maintenance and Service with Brican Automated Systems, and
Group Leader, Machine Shop Fabrication with the Ontario Science
Centre. He joined the board in October 2007, and is a member
of the Council’s Executive as Board Secretary
 THABO
SIZIBA
Mr. Siziba has been a member of the Council’s board
of directors since 2003. While a relative newcomer to Canada,
Mr. Siziba has nonetheless managed to make significant contributions
to Canadian society generally, and the African Canadian community
in particular, in a number of areas. Working tirelessly, and
often using his own resources, Mr. Siziba has been serving
as President of The Indaba Aid Development, an organization
dedicated to promoting community development.
Mr. Siziba is also a very enthusiastic human
rights activist, spending a considerable portion of his valuable
time addressing and liaising on policy and political matters
in Africa. He runs an online media resource called "-freeafrica-",
which has a special focus on Zimbabwe.
In his professional life, Mr. Siziba works as
a Finance Officer.
QUEEN AINAJUGOH TAYLOR
Queen Ainajugoh Taylor is a formally installed Queen in her
country of origin, Sierra Leone. She served as Co-Chair of
the Transitional Council during the formation of the African
Canadian Social Development Council. She has also served as
Vice-President of both Halton Multi-Cultural Council and Canadian
League of African Women, as well as a board member of Peel/Halton
Dufferin Co-operative Housing Federation.
Queen Ainajugoh Taylor was also the co-founder
of Transitional Housing for Refugees, Immigrant Women, Youth
and Seniors in Oakville, and was an elected member of the
NGO/Government Committee for Private Sponsorship of Refugees.
Following her nomination by the board of the
Council, Queen recently won the prestigious 2006 Michael “Pinball”
Clemons Community Leadership Award, which formally recognized
and honoured her many years of dedicated service to the community.
JANELLE BENJAMIN
Janelle Benjamin has been policy adviser to the Honourable
Jean Augustine, in her role as Fairness Commissioner, since
November 2007. As policy adviser, Janelle's primary responsibility
is the management of the office's audit function as she develops
the policies and guidelines to help ensure that Ontario's
health and non-health regulated professions comply with either
the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, or the
Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, and have registration
practices that are transparent, objective, impartial and fair
for those intending to practise their professions.
Janelle came to the Office of the Fairness Commissioner from
the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration where she was
instrumental in the design and implementation of Ontario's
first-ever immigrant selection program, the Provincial Nominee
Program. Janelle advised the province on the mechanisms to
select and nominate highly-skilled immigrants and multi-national
investors for permanent residence to Ontario based on their
ability to make an economic contribution to the province.
Prior to this, Janelle investigated complaints to the Ontario
Human Rights Commission.
Janelle is a Juris Doctor who concentrated her U.S.-legal
studies in international law and litigation. She was the Managing
Editor of the the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, a member of
the Moot Court Board and competed in several national mooting
competitions. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University
of Toronto.
REV. DR. JOSEPH S. SAMAI
Rev. Samai is currently a Pastor of Reachout Methodist Church
in Toronto which he helped start in 1997. He has sponsored
refugees from Sierra Leone and facilitated their resettlement
in Canada. He has received awards for his generous and continuous
support of and services to the Sierra Leonean community. Highlights
from his distinguished career include:
- 1971 Served as a teacher in United Methodist
Primary School Yengema, Sierra Leone
- 1983 Lecturer on church and society at Bible
Training Center Bo Sierra Leone
- 1984 Opened 12 Chapels in Kori Chiefdom and
renovated mission buildings
- 1985 Appointed Manager of over 14 primary,
2 Secondary Schools 14 Churches and 1 Clinic
- 1988 Started Kpayama United Methodist Church
– Kenema
- 1994 Served First Baptist Church as Interim
pastor, Toronto
- 1997 Planted Reachout Methodist Church Toronto
Canada
- 2003 Sponsored refugees from Sierra Leone
during war and advocated for their settlements
- 2006 Served Addison United Methodist Church
Northern Maine US
- 2009 Developing JOSUNAGE FAMILY COUNSELING
SERVICES
 CHRISTINE
AMONGIN
Ms. Amongin is a recent immigrant to Canada
who has already been providing significant service to the
community. Since 2005, she has been serving as Secretary General
of the Uganda Relief Development Network as well as providing
bookkeeping services to Innovation Toronto, while also volunteering
with the Council. She holds a Diploma in Business, a Certificate
in Leadership and Recruitment, and certificates in a number
of accounting software applications. She currently works as
a cashier with Wal-Mart, and has held administrative positions
with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Uganda
Electricity Board. She joined the board in October 2007.
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