About Us
Principal Investigator
Dr. Patience Adamu
Dr. Patience Adamu is an impassioned champion of diversity, equity and inclusion with over 15 years of experience. Currently, she serves as a Director of EDI of a Canadian corporation working to cultivate a more diverse and equitable workforce. She holds a PhD in Policy Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her doctoral research focused on “How Does Blackness Affect Labour Market Outcomes and Experiences in Ontario and Quebec”, reflecting her commitment to examining and redressing inequities faced by Black communities.
Outside of work, Dr. Adamu lends her scholarship and leadership to empower marginalized groups. She has conducted studies on representation of racial minorities in leadership roles and distinct experiences of Black women founders in Canada. Most recently, she co-founded a foundation serving Black Canadians with disabilities, disrupting traditional dialogues dominated by non-disabled and white voices. Dr. Adamu continues leveraging her academic expertise and lived experience to promote social justice through innovative research, advocacy and community building.
Research Project Manager
Chelsia Watson, MSc
Chelsia Watson is the Research Project Manager for the Black Equity Integration Initiative, bringing her expertise in medical science and a passion for leveraging data to drive meaningful change. She holds a Master of Science in Medical Science from the University of Toronto, where she conducted research on intersectional study design and developed a marginalization index through advanced statistical analysis. Her experience in clinical research and data analytics equips her with the skills to oversee project execution, facilitate focus groups, and build strategic partnerships with Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) to enhance qualitative data collection.
Driven by a commitment to fostering inclusivity and social impact, Chelsia empowers businesses and organizations through evidence-based research and strategic insights. She is a dedicated advocate for using data to support underserved communities, helping them achieve economic inclusion and sustainable growth. Chelsia’s leadership in research consulting and program design reflects her dedication to creating equitable opportunities and systemic change.
Research Program Coordinator
Latoya Kurtis, BAsc
Latoya graduated in 2023 from the University of Guelph-Humber with a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies and Community Justice Services, grounding her expertise in law, justice, community service, and applied research. With over five years of experience in human services, she is passionate about empowering communities, advancing equity, and fostering collaborative partnerships to drive meaningful change. Since 2022, Latoya has been a key member of Pitch Better, contributing her skills to the company’s initiatives. In 2023, she began supporting the Black Equity Integration study as a Research Coordinator, where she plays a vital role in conducting research to further understand and address equity gaps.
Project Phases
ORGANIZATIONS
Pitch Better
Established in 2019, Pitch Better is a non-profit organization that develops and scales diverse-led small businesses through market research and capacity building. Pitch Better works to facilitate economic inclusion for diverse entrepreneurs, and start-ups in the BIPOC communities. Pitch Better’s core values of research & innovation, education & capacity building, and networking & financing push back the barriers hindering BIPOC businesses.
DLF
Dream Legacy Foundation (North York, ON) is a non-profit organization focused on entrepreneurship programming and funding. It aims to improve social and economic inclusion by dismantling systemic barriers and promoting and legitimizing the contributions of underrepresented groups through grassroots capacity building.