TMU grad inspires others, wins social justice award
Adebola Adefioye (centre) accepts her YWCA Women of Distinction award at a ceremony in Sudbury, Ontario. Pictured with her are Marlene Gorman (right), executive director of YWCA Sudbury, and Paula Riccio (left), president of the YWCA Sudbury board of directors.
TMU grad Adebola Adefioye found herself thrust into social justice work after her daughter experienced anti-Black racism at school. As she taught her daughter self-advocacy and leadership skills, Adefioye realized she could offer similar resources to other Black and migrant women and youth.
“I saw [what worked] for my daughter, and I thought I could do more to support other immigrant Black women and youth I knew,” she said.
Her daughter was later recognized by her school for her confidence, leadership and respect for others. Meanwhile Adefioye, who came to Canada from Nigeria six years ago, was inspired to launch a non-profit organization, The Afro Women and Youth Foundation (external link) . Through the foundation, Adefioye offers mentorship and leadership programs to women and youths on empowerment, self-advocacy and education. Her programs are available to newcomer Black women and youth as well as Black students in Toronto and Sudbury, Ontario.
Adefioye graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Child and Youth Care master’s program in January 2023, while she lives, works and operates her organization out of Sudbury, Ont.
Now, her social justice work and accomplishments have been recognized by the Sudbury YWCA, which honoured Adefioye with a Women of Distinction award on January 28, 2023.
In addition to her community work with The Afro Women and Youth Foundation, which is all volunteer based, Adefioye works full-time with the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, where she leads a program that works with racialized educators and mothers in child care and family programming across Ontario.
“You can do amazing things and not be recognized for it, especially in the nonprofit sector,” she said about receiving the award. “This recognition makes me feel inspired and encouraged to do more things.”
Adefioye also says that people in her community may be inspired and that she takes great pride in inspiring other racialized women.
“Plus, my daughter tells me that I’m one of her inspirations. It’s amazing to be a mom that inspires her children.”