Assistant Professor Janelle Joseph

Assistant Professor Janelle Joseph (photo by Dewey Chang)

Janelle Joseph recognized with Connaught Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers award

Janelle Joseph, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE), has received the Connaught Major Research Challenge for Black Researchers award.

The award, given by U of T’s Connaught Fund in partnership with the Black Research Network, aims to strengthen Black scholars’ research programs and help foster partnerships, create training opportunities and enhance their competitiveness for external funding.

Joseph will receive a two-year grant worth $250,000 in support of her project, which aims to enhance the leadership skills of Black Canadian and Global South community leaders through anti-racist and embodied learning.

The project envisions three conferences – in Toronto, Montreal and Cape Town – that will explore topics related to creative problem-solving, situating the individual within the collective per the Indigenous African philosophy of “ubuntu,” and burn-out and healing for social justice leaders, respectively.

“This project will provide the evidence to tailor better leadership education and supports for marginalized leaders and the communities they serve, including healing from burn-out and trauma, improved organizational capacity and communication, as well as advanced personal and interpersonal development,” said Joseph.

“It will help us understand what is needed for interconnectedness and interdependence of diverse groups that are collectively addressing Black community well-being.”

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