Why is inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism (IDEA) important in your personal and professional life?

I realized early that people’s ability to have more choices was often influenced by their identity and that a society is only as adept at addressing adversity as meeting the physical, physiological, mental, and emotional needs of people. That is what led me to social work: micro-level work as a psychotherapist, helping people access support and have more tools in their toolbox to access more choices, and macro-level work as a DEI practitioner, ensuring policies and programs keep real people in mind. That is the fire in my belly as a first-generation immigrant woman.

What or who has inspired you most when it comes to IDEA?

It often feels inspiring to see people advocate for people in their community.  So much of the inspiration I carry in DEI is from elders in the community who have been maintaining the spark of a movement generation after generation, and continue to mobilize action for youth to create more inclusive, justice-driven societies. However, I am perhaps the most inspired by people who advocate for issues that don’t impact them: an able-bodied person advocating for people with disabilities, heterosexual people advocating for queer and trans communities, people of different ethnicities advocating for a community they do not belong to, settlers acknowledging their privilege and advocating for the Indigenous Nation/community’s rights whose land they are on. 

Inspiration is everywhere for me; it is in protests, mental health workers, people volunteering at food drives, people caring for employees in their workplace, a leader trying to lead differently than how they have been led.

What actions do you take to create inclusive environments in your own life?

This is the question I find myself sitting with very often. Personally, I am a fan of monthly donations to organizations I see doing the work, I also enjoy hosting dinners and creating community, I enjoy getting to know my neighbours, I enjoy keeping updated so I can sign petitions, go to protests, and write letters to my MP/MPP/City Councillor. Professionally, I work with Hello Leena as a psychotherapist for mostly South Asian women from the ages of 20 to 85 who often discuss the impacts of living under unequal systems, impacts on their health, mental health, sense of self, self esteem, their wellbeing and quality of life.

I also work as an IDEA practitioner where I try to bring a community lens to my work. I never assume I know more than the community or service user group I have been brought in to support. I have learned how we do it is just as important as what we do: for strategies, policies, and programs that means being trauma-informed, data collection that is not extractive, evidence-based decisions that encourage transparency, and programs that meet organizations and people where they are at – without judgement.

What gives you hope for a more Inclusive, Equitable and Anti-Racist Canada?

I am currently on the board of Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre. It serves Black and racialized women, non-binary people, and their families. 52% of the service users are uninsured. The organization provides care to thousands of clients each year and is grounded in an anti-racism, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed model of care.

The Centre’s work addresses persistent disparities, including the fact that Black women in Canada experience higher rates of chronic illness, barriers to culturally safe care, and disproportionate impacts across the social determinants of health. Seeing a model where care is designed with and for communities, rather than imposed on them, gives me a clear example of what equity in practice can look like.

I am also encouraged by national efforts to expand access to mental health support, such as the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline. Since its launch in Canada, 988 has made it possible for anyone to access free, 24-hour, trauma-informed crisis support by call or text. In its early months, the service received tens of thousands of contacts, demonstrating both the scale of need and the importance of accessible, stigma-free care. The availability of a simple, three-digit number reduces barriers for people who might otherwise not seek help, particularly youth and marginalized communities.

Together, these examples show that when services are accessible, culturally responsive, and grounded in equity, we can begin to close longstanding gaps. That is what gives me hope for a more inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist Canada.