Conference blog: ACT Now! A conference on Black mental health and wellness

We had the incredible opportunity to attend the ACT Now!: Black Mental Health and Wellness Conference, themed Healing through Ubuntu. This gathering was more than just a chance to network - it was a space to explore culturally centered strategies that could shape and strengthen our research. 

Our capstone journey began with a focus on Black Maternal Health, specifically improving maternal care for Black women in prison. Over the past seven months, we poured countless hours into environmental scans, outreach to provincial and federal institutions, and engagement with community organizations and subject matter experts. Our goal was to connect with Black women who had experienced incarceration, but despite our relentless efforts, we faced significant challenges in gaining access. 

As we navigated multiple roadblocks and pivoted our approach, we realized that our journey itself told a powerful story - one that exposed the deep systemic barriers to community-driven research, particularly in vulnerable and racialized populations. It became clear that our experiences needed to be shared, so we titled our journey “Voices in Transition.”

“Voices in Transition" is more than just a research initiative - it’s a reflection of our commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and shedding light on the struggles of engaging in community-participatory research. By sharing our challenges and insights, we hope to spark necessary conversations about equity, access, and the future of Black maternal health research. 

Our work is far from over, but our dedication remains unwavering. We’re grateful for spaces like ACT Now! that allow us to learn, grow, and push forward in our mission to drive meaningful change. 

Feeling empowered and inspired 

Attending the ACT Now! conference was an eye-opening and deeply meaningful experience. This annual gathering brings together a diverse range of professionals, including academics, healthcare workers, social service providers, mental health experts, artists, and policymakers, to discuss the barriers, accessibility challenges, funding gaps, and research shaping Black mental health and wellness in Canada. 

Hosted by TAIBU Community Health Centre, a vital organization serving Black and racialized communities in Scarborough, Ontario, the conference reflects TAIBU’s holistic approach to health - one that recognizes the connections between mental well-being, food security, employment, physical activity, dental care, and education. 

What stood out the most was the way the conference created a space where lived experiences were centered, where systemic barriers were acknowledged, and where real conversations about solutions could happen. The discussions weren’t just theoretical - they were grounded in the realities that Black communities face every day when trying to access culturally appropriate care. 

It was a reminder of the power of community-driven initiatives and the urgent need for policies and programs that reflect the actual needs of Black Canadians. ACT Now! reinforced that mental health and wellness are not just about individual care, but about dismantling the structural inequities that continue to impact Black lives. 

Leaving the conference, we felt both inspired and challenged - to keep pushing for equity, to advocate for greater access, and to ensure that Black voices remain at the forefront of mental health conversations. 

Lessons learned 

Attending ACT Now! was a moment of deep reflection on what it truly means to support Black mental health and wellness. Some of the most powerful lessons we walked away with include: 

• Listen more, speak less. Sometimes, the greatest insights come when we step back and truly listen. By creating space for others, we open ourselves up to learning in ways we never expected. 

• Ubuntu – "I am because we are." This African philosophy reminded us that healing is not an individual journey but a collective one. It reinforced the necessity of collaboration across fields and sectors to create meaningful change in Black mental health. 

• Intergenerational trauma runs deep. It shapes our daily habits, coping mechanisms, and the way we experience mental health within our communities. Recognizing these patterns is the first step in breaking cycles and fostering true healing. 

• Traditional and cultural practices hold power. Whether through storytelling, rituals, or communal support, cultural wisdom provides pathways for both individual and community healing that Western frameworks often overlook. 

• Understanding your purpose is essential. As individuals and professionals, we must ask ourselves: What can I offer my community? How can our skills and talents contribute to collective healing and progress? 
   

Each of these lessons reinforced that improving Black mental health isn’t just about services or policies - it’s about how we show up for one another, how we honor our cultural knowledge, and how we commit to building a future where healing is truly accessible for all. 

Embedding culturally centered strategies to serve the community 

Moving forward, we are committed to embedding culturally centered strategies into every aspect of our work - starting with our Capstone project and carrying this approach into our future careers. 

One of the biggest lessons we’ve taken away is the importance of keeping the community at the heart of research. It’s not just about gathering data - it’s about ensuring that the voices, lived experiences, and needs of Black communities are truly reflected in the innovations and interventions we develop. 

Research should serve the people it seeks to understand, not the other way around. By prioritizing culturally relevant approaches, we hope to create a meaningful, lasting impact in Black mental health and wellness - one that is rooted in collaboration, respect, and real-world change. 

A connection with a community 

Leaving the ACT Now! conference, we feel deeply empowered and supported by the incredible community we had the privilege to connect with. The passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to Black mental health and wellness were truly inspiring.  

Seeing Black professionals, leaders, and advocates across so many fields working tirelessly to translate knowledge into action - not just through research and policy but in ways that are deeply rooted in culture, community, and lived experiences - was a powerful reminder of the strength within our collective. 

This conference was nothing short of eye-opening for us as aspiring Black health professionals. It reinforced the urgent need for conscious, culturally centered, and community-driven approaches to improving Black health outcomes in Canada. It also made clear how much work remains to be done - but also how many trailblazers have come before us, willing to guide, mentor, and uplift the next generation. 

More than ever, we are inspired and empowered to be part of this movement. This experience has reignited our passion and drive for our Capstone project, but beyond that, it has deepened our lifelong commitment to serving and uplifting Black communities in meaningful and intentional ways. 

Walking away from this, Rachel, Hira, and I feel renewed, determined, and ready to pour even more energy into this work - not just as future professionals but as individuals who believe deeply in the power of collective healing, advocacy, and action. This is more than a project; it’s our purpose.