Simone Donaldson, MSW, RSW

Clinical Social Worker, Principal Consultant, & Founder of Agapé Lens Consulting and Therapy

Simone Donaldson is the founder, Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist, and principal consultant at Agapé Lens Consulting and Therapy. She has devoted almost 15 years to racialized communities and mental health. Simone has been featured in multiple media outlets as a mental health and Anti-Black racist expert, including Elle Magazine, Yahoo Mail, and a recent documentary that was selected for the 2022 Toronto Black Film Festival, where she was featured as a guest expert in the film called “Born in Sin”. Simone is also a co-author in a chapter of the first ground breaking Canadian text named, “Africentric Social Work”, which explores the experience of Black communities in Canada, their challenges with Anti-Black racism, and provides best practice guidance to support Black communities across all sectors.

Simone provides psychotherapy, prioritizing Black youth individuals 12 years old and up, through a warm, honest and mindfully present approach. She also consults with organizations in the private and public sectors to bridge the gap between equity and wellness concerns with a specialization in Anti-Black racism. Her consultations consists of education and training, leadership coaching, mental/wellness training, program development, facilitation, team consultations and guest speaking.

Agapé Lens Consulting and Therapy is grounded in the “Love Lens”, Africentric care, anti-black racism, attachment, a holistic and a trauma informed lens.

Simone’s purpose is to support all her clients to see sustainable change, while guiding them patiently and safely towards authenticity, so they may heal, thrive, and live out their purpose.

Neeran Kuni

Director of Urgent Response Services & Adult Supports, South Asian Autism Awareness Centre (SAAAC)

Neeran Kuni is the Director of Urgent Response Services & Adult Supports at the SAAAC Autism Centre. Neeran brings over two decades of experience in the areas of behavioural science, crisis prevention, program development, and project management. He has held leadership positions at the JVS Vocational Services, Addus and Ongwanada Hospital, and most recently at the SAAAC Autism Centre.

In 2021, Neeran also founded Ubuntu FX with the intention of leveraging his experience to support individuals and communities who have been historically marginalized with a special focus on individuals with exceptionalities from the BIPOC community.

Mike Simon

Program Manager, YMCA Immigrant Services, YMCA Brantford-Burlington-Hamilton

Mike Simon is a Program Manager with the YMCA Immigrant Services in Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.  Mike is one of two children born to immigrant parents and he is passionate about supporting community and helping others. With 30+ years working in Human Services and 18 of those working with new immigrants. Mike started out working with young offenders transitioning from prison to community and has a diploma in Police Services. He went on to completing Counselling and Immigration Consulting certification. Mike is working toward an undergraduate’s degree in Anthropology.  Mike enjoys travelling, playing recreational soccer and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Dr. Mohammad Zubairi, MD, MEd, FRCPC

Developmental Pediatrician, Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and Associate Professor at McMaster University

Dr. Mohammad Zubairi is a Developmental Pediatrician at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre and Associate Professor at McMaster University. He is Medical Director for the McMaster Children’s Hospital Autism Program, and Program Director for the Core Pediatrics Residency Program. He also serves as the Chair of the Physicians of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy (PONDA) Network, and is a board of director with Empowered Kids Ontario. His academic work has focused on understanding where and how culture is evoked in clinical practice, and how to best to teach health professionals about this. He is additionally studying knowledge and service gaps in the delivery of care for autistic children and youth presenting to emergency departments.

Sponsored by:

City of Brantford and the Brantford Immigration Partnership (BIP) through support of the Spark Innovation Fund.