ABOUT OUR LEADERSHIP
OUR PRESIDENT​
​
VICTORIA OLORODE
Introducing Victoria Olorode, our President.
Victoria's journey to leadership has been marked by resilience and determination. Upon arriving in Canada, she faced significant challenges, finding herself and her four children without a home. Despite the hardships, Victoria remained steadfast in her pursuit of a better life. Residing in a local shelter, she encountered the harsh realities of homelessness but refused to succumb to despair.
With the unwavering support of our organization, Victoria embarked on a journey of transformation. Through sheer determination and hard work, she secured employment and found social housing in Ottawa. However, Victoria's aspirations extended beyond mere survival; she envisioned a brighter future for her family—one defined by stability and success.
Driven by her unwavering determination, Victoria pursued additional employment opportunities and, with the guidance of the Black Canadian Homeless Foundation, navigated the path towards homeownership. Just two years after facing homelessness, Victoria achieved her dream of becoming a homeowner—an inspiring testament to her resilience and tenacity.
Today, as President of the Black Canadian Homeless Foundation, Victoria leverages her personal experiences to empower and support women and families facing similar challenges. Her story serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that with perseverance and support, it is possible to overcome adversity and thrive. Victoria embodies the values of resilience, strength, and success, inspiring countless individuals within our community to reach for their dreams and create a brighter future.​​​​
​
​
​
​
OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
​
GWENNAELLE MADIBA MOUBOUYI
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Introducing Gwen, our Executive Director, whose remarkable journey from adversity to advocacy embodies resilience and empowerment. Following the tragic loss of her father, Gwen faced immense challenges as an immigrant in Canada. Determined to overcome homelessness and pursue her dreams, she worked three jobs while studying at the University of Ottawa and residing in a local shelter. Her unwavering determination led her to not only escape homelessness but also to become an inspiration for many. Gwen's passion for empowering others led her to launch programs for homeless and low-income Black families, providing vital resources and support. Her impactful initiatives have positively impacted thousands of lives, earning her recognition such as the Telus Future Leader Award and inclusion in Canada's Most Powerful Women list. As an Ambassador of the Mandela Legacy Foundation and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Gwen's dedication to social justice and community building knows no bounds. Her recent establishment of the Global Black Coalition exemplifies her commitment to supporting vulnerable communities worldwide. Through her tireless advocacy and leadership, Gwen continues to create lasting change and uplift those in need.
​
As an immigrant to Canada she became an inspiration and an example to follow for many people. She turned her own life's tragedies into strategies to thrive and empower others.
In 2010, she received the Telus Future Leader Award from the Women's Executive Network of Canada and was included in the list of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women.
​ In 2014 she was appointed as the Ambassador of the Mandela Legacy Foundation and official representative of the Mandela Legacy foundation in North America by Zindzi Mandela, daughter of the Honorable Nelson Mandela and Winnie Mandela.
In 2018, she received the Young Alumna Award from her ''Alma Mater'', the University of Ottawa where she obtained a Bachelor in Communication and Sociology and a Master’s degree in Sociology.
On November 21, 2019, she received The Order of Ottawa from the City of Ottawa and was included for a second time in 9 years in the Women's Executive Network of Canada's top 100 Most powerful women in the Mercedes Benz Canada Emerging leader category.
In 2020, she received The United Way of Eastern Ontario's Community Builder Award - Covid-19 heroes edition Award for her dedication and work to assist the most vulnerable people during this pandemic. That year, she launched several programs to concretely support vulnerable low-income and homeless Black families, children, youth and individuals in Canada. One of her initiatives, "The Headphones project" helped obtain over 1400 headphones for homeless children and youth living under difficult conditions (with 6 to 7 family members in one and two-bedroom apartments and hotel rooms) making it very difficult for them to study. The program made a positive difference in their online study experience. In 2021, she received The Crime Prevention Ottawa Outstanding Achievement Award for her work with Black youth and families in Ottawa, Canada.
In 2022, she was named one of L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth and received the 2022 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award alongside 9 other phenomenal women.
In 2023 she was named as one of The United Nations top 100 Most influential Africans.
In 2022, she became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
