Table of contents

Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council

Ayodele (Stephen) Akindipe

Biography currently not available

Celso Andrade

Biography currently not available

Mohamad Awada

Biography currently not available

Melodie Bastien

Melodie Bastien is the North Star parent connector at Opokaasin Early Intervention Society in Lethbridge, where she provides one-on-one support, wrap-around resources and cultural programming for families. Melodie participates in the Blackfoot Traditional way of life within the Blackfoot Confederacy. Melodie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the U of L and is currently working on her Indigenous Bachelor of Social Work at Red Crow College in Kainai.

Fariborz Birjandian

Biography currently not available

Iman Bukhari

Iman Bukhari is a multimedia professional working as a Planner, Channel Management for the City of Calgary. Iman is also an adjunct professor at Columbia College, teaching human rights and diversity courses. Iman is the founder and CEO of the Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation. In this role, Iman led the organization to win two separate community advocacy awards. Iman is the recipient of the Community Leadership award from the Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary and the Top 30 Under 30 award from the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation. Iman holds a Master of Arts in Multimedia Communications, with honours, from Academy of Art University.

Yic Camara

Yic Camara is an Integration and Community Liaison Agent with Centre d’acceuil et d’etablissement of Northern Alberta. Yic establishes and maintains contact with French multicultural communities in Edmonton, providing support for integration efforts and assisting in building networks between individuals and the community. Yic has been actively involved in the Guinean community as a student in Bordeaux, France, and in Edmonton. Yic currently sits on the Board of Directors Institut Guy-Lacombe de la Famille (Parent Link Centre) in Edmonton. Yic holds Masters Degrees in International Law and in Public and Health Law from the University of Bordeaux IV, France.

Michael Embaie

Michael Embaie has completed the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Law program and is a practicing, licensed immigration consultant in Canada. Michael has volunteered with not-for-profit local, provincial, national and international organizations for over 25 years, including among others, as President and board member for the Southern Alberta Heritage Language Association and as founding member and president of the African Community Association of Calgary. Michael is the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Immigrant of Distinction Award, the Black Achievement Award and the 125th Anniversary of Confederation of Canada Medal. Michael holds a Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees, with specialization in Policy and International Social Work from the University of Calgary.

Nahla Gomaa

Nahla Gomaa is an Associate Clinical Professor, researcher and educator at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta. Nahla has been serving as the Interfaith Portfolio Chair in the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities for four years, and has built bridges with a number of interfaith organizations in Alberta. Nahla has been contributing yearly in the city commemoration of Remembrance Day, and has organized the Islamic history month at city hall each year. She is a graduate of the “Gold College of Leadership” at the University of Alberta, has obtained her fellowship in the U.S.A., and has been teaching as a visiting faculty member at a number of international universities, where she enjoyed multiculturalism.

Pauline Greenidge

Biography currently not available

Adil Zaki Hasan

Adil Zaki Hasan is the Vice-President and Chief Operations Officer at Hasco Development Corporation, leading multi-million-dollar project development and delivery. Adil is active in the community, including in roles as Vice-President, Civic Engagement for the Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council and board member for Al Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society. Adil holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering (Biomedical) and a Masters in Engineering Management. Adil is currently working towards a Masters in Business Management.

Zahro Hassan

Zahro Hassan is an activist and a community worker. She holds a master’s degree in Conflict Studies and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Alberta. She is currently a Case Manager at the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Zahro has extensive community and youth development experience within the multi-cultural immigrant communities of Toronto, Ottawa, and Edmonton. She has worked as a grant writer and served on committees that seek to support youth and families in areas of education, community safety, and violence diversion.

Bernadette Iahtail

Bernadette Iahtail is a co-founder and Executive Director of Creating Hope Society, a society founded for the survivors of the “The Sixties and Seventies Scoop of Aboriginal Children in Care”. Bernadette is an active member of Edmonton Coalition for Human Rights, Aboriginal coalitions, the Edmonton Aboriginal Leadership Team and Stony Plain Wapekin Leadership Team. Bernadette is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2015 John Humphrey Centre Gerald L. Gall Award For Peace and Human Rights, the 2018 Diversity Award “Friends of Diversity” and the 2018 Star Blanket Award from Stony Plain Child and Family Services. Bernadette’s 60’s child welfare scoop life documentary is in the Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Bernadette holds a Social Work diploma from UNBC as well as many certificates including Banff Indigenous Leadership Certificates.

Adebayo Katiiti

Adebayo Katiiti is the founder and President of RARICAnow, an organization for all LGBTIQ+ refugees in Canada. Katiiti advocates for the rights of refugees by creating awareness of their existence in Canada. He works to ensure that newcomers and refugees learn Canadian culture and get support in navigating the refugee and settlement process. Katiti is passionate about addressing the challenges around refugees and newcomers in the LGBTIQ+ community that are left untouched and ignored. He hopes that one day all will be well, preaching to the world that every single life matters regardless of the differences.

Charles Odame-Ankrah

Biography currently not available

China Ogbonna

Biography currently not available

Roy Pogorzelski

Roy Pogorzelski is the Director of Indigenous Student Affairs at the University of Lethbridge where he is also an instructor for the Dhillon School of Business. Roy is very involved in the community; as a member of the U of L Senate, board member with the YMCA Lethbridge, President for the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Mosaic and member of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce. Roy is also an appointed director for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and sits as the CRRF advisor to the National Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination committee. Roy has received a Human Rights Champion Award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, a Friends of Diversity Award from Diversity Magazine in Calgary, and was named the overall winner of the Top 40 under 40 by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. Roy also owns and operates three businesses: Good Times Comedy Club, Pogo Bros Inc., and RWP Consulting. Roy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies, a Bachelor of Human Justice from the University of Regina and a Masters of Science in Cultures and Development Studies from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven in Belgium.

Tasneem Rahim

Tasneem Rahim is the Director, Fund Development and Alumni Engagement at Bow Valley College, responsible for developing and implementing fundraising priorities and strategies for Bow Valley College’s institutional fundraising program. Tasneem serves as member, Community Relations on the Aga Khan Council for the Prairies and is the communications member of the Management Committee for Generations: Multi-Generational Housing and Community Centre Campus Calgary. Tasneem was a member of the Leadership Calgary program and a member of the 2007 Class of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40. Tasneem holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications & Culture from the University of Calgary.

Judy Shapiro

Judy Shapiro recently retired from her position as the associate Executive Director of the Calgary Jewish Federation, overseeing all of its programming areas. She is a member of the Calgary Interfaith Council, a regular volunteer at the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, and has served as a board member for the Calgary Council of Christians and Jews and the Committee on Race Relations and Cross-Cultural Understanding.

Abraham (Abe) Silverman

Biography currently not available

Delainah Velichka

Delainah Velichka is a School Board Trustee with Peace River School Division #10. Delainah’s portfolios include Administrators’ Association, Teacher Board Advisory Committee, Transportation Liaison Committee, Audit Committee, ASBA Second Language Taskforce, Clear Hills Trades Training, Council of School Councils Liaison Committee, Discipline Committee and the First Nations, Metis & Inuit Liaison Committee. Delainah has previously worked as an educational assistant, supporting students with behavioural and learning challenges. Delainah holds certificates in Native Awareness and Special Needs Tools from Bow Valley College.

Related

Current appointees