Our Board

Zahra Jama, Chair

As an immigrant, I know the challenges that newcomers experience. Helping people in the community to access different resources creates a healthy community as well as individuals that pave that sentiment forward. Working in various roles in AFRO has helped me achieve the skills needed to help a community grow stronger, creating a space where being inclusive and having equal access is our priority.

 

Leslie Davis, Board Member

Leslie Davis is a Registered Nurse who graduated from Ryerson University completing her BScN. Leslie was born and raised in Kitchener Waterloo. Growing up in Kitchener as a child Leslie had involvement in the Caribbean Association where she took part in cultural dancing and plays. Leslie is currently working at Grand River Hospital in the surgical unit and has been an employee for this organization for 20 years. Recently Leslie has been a part of helping Grand River Hospital(GRH) to achieve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the organization through the group HPAR Canada. Leslie is a member of the group lead in this organization and has helped to develop the HPAR Canada website, volunteered at the COIVD swab pop-up clinics and being a part of the working group for Black History Month Celebration at GRH. Leslie is currently taking the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certificate through the University of South Florida Muma College. Leslie looks forward to being a part of AFRO and sharing her knowledge, expertise and passion to help people of colour achieve success.

 

Kinzi Ahmed, Board Member

I am a proud mom and a Community Advocate. I have worked for AFRO over the last three years in various capacities.  I have worn many hats during the COVID-19 pandemic to support the leadership team better as we shifted how we delivered services. As a new Board member, I am excited about the opportunity to become part of the decision-making process.

 
 

Nasir Salih, Board Member

I am a Youth Leader and Board Member at AFRO. Growing up with immigrant parents, the importance of community and connection has been an integral part of my upbringing. AFRO has provided me with the platform to give back to the people in my community and other minority communities at large. I am forever grateful to AFRO for all the doors that they have opened for our future generation to thrive and be successful.

Dorcas Ndiangui, Board Member

Dorcas Ndiangui brings a wealth of experience and a passion for community advocacy to her role as a Registered Nurse at Grand River Hospital, where she has dedicated the past nine years of her career. Dorcas migrated from the United States, where she pursued her postgraduate education and honed her clinical and administrative skills in various healthcare settings before relocating to Canada.

Dorcas earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Howard University in 2006, where she began her journey as a compassionate caregiver. She served as both a staff nurse and a resource nurse in local hospitals in Washington D.C, where she demonstrated a commitment to providing high-quality care to diverse patient populations.

With a keen interest in healthcare administration and risk management, Dorcas pursued her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Maryland, graduating in 2009.  Driven by her dedication to lifelong learning and her desire to expand her scope of practice, Dorcas also holds a Master of Science in Nurse Practitioner. She is committed to advancing her clinical expertise to better serve patients and communities in need.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dorcas is deeply involved in community outreach and advocacy initiatives. During her time in Washington D.C., she volunteered as a tutor and mentor for black youth living in underserved communities, working tirelessly to empower and uplift the next generation.

Dorcas also played a pivotal role in advocating for the preservation of essential services for minority children living in foster homes through her collaboration with a leadership team at a local children's center. Additionally, she is a founding member of the grassroots organization HPAR, dedicated to promoting justice and equity for black healthcare providers and consumers in the Waterloo Region community.

As a board member of AFRO, a non-profit organization serving black and African communities in the Waterloo Region, Dorcas continues to champion initiatives that address systemic barriers and promote health equity for marginalized populations.

Dorcas’s unwavering dedication to patient care, community advocacy, and social justice makes her a valuable asset to any organization committed to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

 

Have questions, or interested in joining our board? You can contact the board using the form below.