Our Team

Monica Samuel (She/Her)

Founder, Executive Director

Monica is an African-Caribbean settler currently living in T’karonto/Toronto, the Dish With One Spoon wampum treaty territory. Monica is an equity and anti-violence educator, consultant, community builder, and social entrepreneur. Her work as an educator over the last 11 years, has focused on anti-oppression, mental health, sexual health, community economic development, and gender-based violence. She has worked with dozens of businesses and academic institutions including, Western University, Concordia University, Carleton University, Humber College, Mohawk College, Toronto District School Board, Our Place Peel, the Clorox Company, Procter & Gamble, Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth and Woodgreen Community Services. 

Monica is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Women in Motion, a Toronto-based, survivor-led, grassroots organization that empowers and supports the advancement of Black survivors of gender-based violence. As an advocate, Monica’s work in the non-profit sector is focused on confronting the deep-rooted and sustained impacts of anti-black racism and gender-based violence and re-imagining systems that truly serve the whole of society and not a few. 

Celebrated in Canada as 2019’s Top 100 Black Women to watch, Monica’s dedication and approach to social justice work have created trauma-informed and culturally-centered resources and opportunities for Black survivors and Black youth across the GTA.

Email: monica@blackwomeninmotion.org

Katie Roy (She/Her)

Manager, Operations & Facilities (Interim)

Katie is a dedicated community builder, educator, writer, and therapist-in-training. She has spent the better part of the last decade advocating for underfunded and over-policed communities in Tkaronto. She aims to be the white ally that does the work so that she can continue to support and create relevant educational opportunities for Black, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, and anyone who faces discrimination for being who they are. She hopes to open a clinic with subsidized opportunities to heal people who have faced gender-based discrimination and violence.

Email katie@blackwomeninmotion.org