BFM26 - JERISHA GRANT HALL, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF (NACCA)

Описание: With more than a decade of experience in community leadership, equity advocacy, and organizational development, Jerisha brings a strong foundation in executive leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and systems change. Jerisha is the Founder and Executive Director of the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association (NACCA), a charitable organization serving York Region, where she leads initiatives focused on dismantling anti-Black racism, advancing food sovereignty, strengthening mental health and wellness supports, and empowering Black youth and families.

Under Jerisha’s leadership, NACCA has grown into a recognized voice for equity-driven, community-informed change. The organization’s programs are grounded in lived experience and designed to be culturally responsive, adaptable, and accountable to the communities served. This work has contributed to NACCA’s recognition in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, including receiving a Leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award. Jerisha’s commitment to advocacy extends across municipal, regional, and institutional systems. She currently chairs the Town of Newmarket’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee and serves on the York Regional Police Services Board’s Anti-Racism and Building Community Trust Committee. She has also contributed to the York Region District School Board’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Steering Committee, supporting cross-sector efforts to address systemic barriers impacting Black communities.

Jerisha’s leadership and community impact have been recognized through several honours, including the Canada International Black Woman Excellence Award, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Ted Rogers CEO Award for Humanitarianism, the Agent of Change Award from Pickering College, and recognition as one of Canada’s 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women. In addition to her executive role, Jerisha is a workshop facilitator and relationship-builder with experience leading collaborative initiatives such as the Youth School Success Initiative and the Black Mental Health & Addictions Community Conversations project. Through this work, she brings together service providers, funders, institutions, and families to co-create solutions that are culturally grounded, community-led, and sustainability-focused.

Jerisha holds a Master of Arts degree from York University, where she deepened her commitment to equity, education, and transformative leadership. Across all spaces—whether in governance, community engagement, or systems planning—she remains committed to building a more just, inclusive, and hopeful future for Black communities.