In June 2020, the Kujenga Wellness Project was selected for funding with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The first few months of the delivery of the project, the grassroots organization sought to engage the community virtually through focus groups and workshops. After three months, the core members solicited the support of an Advisory Council, co-chaired by Cristal Hines and Jazmyne Julien (Project Coordinator). By our sixth month, we secured additional funding to support Black families impacted by the COVID-19 disease pandemic.
As an organization, we sought to create and develop programs and support for Black families. We recognize that the impact of anti-Black racism and system oppression has had an harmful effect on our community, and creates mass disproportionality and disparities in mental health, education, child welfare, health, criminal justice system and more. Thus, our programs and support aims to assist families with navigating these systems to empower their family using a culturally-informed approach.
In our next six months, join us for intriguing educational workshops, support groups and monthly Lets Talk Cafe’s meetings. To enrol in our programs, contact us: [email protected]
We hosted 8 Lets Talk Cafe’s for over 180 participants
Parent’s Edition 
Foster Care & Child Welfare System 
Youth’s Edition 
Men’s Talk 
Women’s Talk 
Women’s Health & Health 
LGBTQ2si, Youth & Allies 
Mental Health
Lets Talk Cafe’s are virtual informal listening circles that are geared to providing a safe space for community members to discuss and describe their experiences on issues that matter to them the most. The cafe’s also provide an opportunity to hear about community members share their experiences. These spaces will provide an opportunity for our organization to shape our programs and advocate for change in the province.
We facilitated 9 Educational Workshops for over 300 participants and started a You Tube Channel
Navigating the New Normal
A Guide for Parents with the Global Pandemic presented by Melissa Perryman and Lisa McGregor
To access our educational workshops, visit our You Tube Page. Access our resources and blogs by visiting our online Resource Library
Hosted a six-week Queen’s Unite women’s program
Join us for our upcoming support groups for support with: co-parenting, healthy relationships, mental health, parenting and more. Email our team at: [email protected]
We rallied 20 volunteers who gifted over 2000 hours of their time to support the community, and elicited the support of community leaders who donated funds and gifts to our community members
The Gift Project was a 30-day initiative that donated $10,000 in food, gift cards, and gifts for Black families located in the Durham Region. Through the generous donation of our community leaders, we supported 10 families in Scarborough and 10 additional families in need.
Feedback from our community…
I honestly don’t know what to say and how to express myself, but what I can is thank you thank you, may the almighty bless you and your team abundantly.
Gift Project Recipient
Thank you so much for putting smiles on my children’s face. God bless you.
Gift Project Recipient
I attended a co-parenting workshop offered via zoom. The workshop was very well put together and much better organized that any of the other parenting seminars or workshops that I have attended in recent months,
Workshop Participant