Ismahan Yusuf, PhD.
Assistant Professor
Toronto Metropolitan University
Email: ismayusuf@torontomu.ca
Professor Ismahan Yusuf is an Assistant Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University. As a key player in the inception and realization of the Positively Black in Southwestern Ontario project, she was moved to get involved in this project for two major reasons. One reason is the absolute lack of research on Black youth’s lived experiences and the second reason is the increase in high-level (i.e. local political/governmental) discussions about combating anti-Blackness which never trickled down to the community to inform tangible change. She is however hopeful that this grassroots partnership will provide an opportunity to mitigate such issues as it centers the community - Black youth in particular at every turn.
Professor Yusuf is concerned with the distinct type(s) of anti-Black racism, be it structural, individual or historical, that Black youth and their communities navigate on a day-to-day basis. Her role as an active collaborator, interdisciplinary community-based researcher and intersectional scholar will prove helpful in guiding the analysis, the writing process, as well as the development of mentorship programming alongside the community.
With high anticipation, Professor Yusuf looks forward to seeing the mentorship program come to fruition whether that is simply the groundwork laid or the fully realized initiative coming into effect. Mentorship is the heartbeat of this community-based collaboration and offers the greatest opportunity for this project to leave a lasting imprint on each Southwestern Ontario city’s local cultural ecosystem.
