The ambassadors and provocateurs of Black planning.

As a highly renowned and award-winning community leader, I bring to BPP over 30 years of experience as an Executive Leader in community-based not-for-profit and public sector organizations. 

My expertise includes strategic and operational planning, change transformation leadership, organizational integration management, policy and program development, stakeholder engagement, community-based research, advocacy, and community relations. I am currently the Chief Executive Officer at Vibrant Healthcare Alliance. Prior to joining Vibrant Healthcare Alliance, I held positions such as Vice-President, Resident and Community Services at Toronto Community Housing; Director, Community Development and Integration at Mount Sinai Hospital; and Executive Director at the Parkdale Community Health Centre. I was a faculty member at George Brown College in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences – Assaulted Women’s and Children’s Counsellor Advocate Program for nearly 20 years. My experience is complemented by a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies and a Non-profit Management Certificate, both from York University, and an Executive Leadership Program Certificate from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

I serve as the President on BPP’s Board of Directors.

Moussa Sène holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and a master’s degree in sociology, with over 15 years of diverse professional experience spanning community organizations, consulting firms, and government roles. Currently serving as an attaché in the Office of Montreal’s Mayor, Moussa oversees strategic initiatives related to the environment, drawing from his extensive background in social impact. Moussa was inspired o the Black Planning Project because of its mission to amplify Black voices and perspectives in urban planning, a cause he feels deeply aligns with his professional values and personal commitment to equity and community empowerment. By joining the BPP board, he aims to contribute to reshaping planning practices to create more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities. Moussa brings to the board a expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic leadership, and fostering cross-sector collaborations.

As a human-computer interaction researcher, I’ve witnessed both the systemic barriers that limit opportunities for marginalized groups and the potential of technology to serve as a powerful equalizer. This dual perspective fuels my belief that technology can be a transformative tool for fostering more equitable and sustainable futures. I was drawn to the Black Planning Project for its dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and reimagining urban planning through the lenses of people, place, pedagogy, and practice. BPP aligns perfectly with my conviction that transformative change starts with inclusion, representation, and innovation, enabling me to combine my passion for technology with my commitment to social equity in creating resilient, just communities.

Lena Dzifa Phillips (she/her) is a third year BCL/JD student at McGill University Faculty of Law. Her interests lie at the intersections of socio-spatial justice, land, housing and the law. Her practice is rooted in feminist, anti-colonial, transnational and anti-racist frameworks. Prior to law school she worked in Canada and East Africa, supporting grassroots and systems change work led by-and-for Black, Indigenous and African communities. She also engaged in projects focused on design, creative technology and artistic practice as protest. Lena studied International Relations, Environmental Policy, Urban Development Planning and Southern Urbanism at the University of Toronto, University College London and the University of Cape Town. She sees BPP as a critical space for reshaping planning practices and fostering more inclusive, resilient communities. She is inspired by the opportunity to contribute to a platform that elevates the diversity of Black perspectives in urban development, and to engage in work that challenges oppressive structures in spatial and city planning

I am a retired civil servant with 38 years of experience as a civil servant in Saint Lucia. I retired as Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports. I have worked on sustainable development and environmental conservation issues regionally and internationally. I am passionate about working with vulnerable and marginalized communities.

I hold a BSC (Hons) in International Relations from the University of the West Indies (Mona), MSc in Planning from the University of Toronto as a Canadian Commonwealth Scholar and a Diploma in International Environmental Law from the UNITAR.

As a student of color from a SIDS at the University of Toronto, it was difficult to identify suitable examples. Consequently, the learning experience was not enriched. Being part of BPP allows me to advocate and solicit better opportunities for Black students to help create an enabling environment for them.

I am a Director on BPP’s Board.

Karla is a Civil Engineering graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University with with over 20 years experience in regional transit, program management, and infrastructure delivery starting her career at Smart Centres managing construction of Walmart stores, and in her last role as Chief Planning Officer at Metrolinx. 

Karla has been Federally appointed as a Board Director for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority responsible for building an international bridge and boarder crossing, and has served as 2017 and 2018 WTS Toronto Chapter President. 

Karla is advocate for inclusion and have a proven record in giving back to community. In 2020, she was recognized by TMU with the “Alumni Achievement Award” and featured in publications such as Share Magazine and Women of Influence.