Black Legal Action Centre Gets New Executive Director And General Counsel

TORONTO, Ontario — The Board of Directors of the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) has hired Moya Teklu as the legal clinic’s new Executive Director and General Counsel.

Teklu has a long history of working to eradicate anti-Black racism in the justice system, and of delivering legal aid services to members of the province’s Black communities.

For the past six years, she worked at Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), where she implemented a significant service delivery plan for Black Ontarians; provided critical support during the implementation of BLAC; and authored LAO’s Racialized Community Strategy.

Called to the Bar in 2010, Teklu has participated in proceedings before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

She has also taught Legal Ethics at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law.

“I am honoured to be assuming the role of Executive Director and General Counsel of the Black Legal Action Centre. As a Black woman and lawyer, this work is particularly meaningful to me, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to build on the progress BLAC has already achieved,” affirmed the new General Counsel.

“I look forward to serving those, who deserve a fair and just legal process, as well as advocating for systemic justice, with the goal of liberation for all Black Ontarians.”

Established in 2017, BLAC is an independent not-for-profit, community legal clinic that aims to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism, by conducting research, engaging in structural transformation, and providing legal services to members of Ontario’s Black communities.

Funded by Legal Aid Ontario and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, BLAC engages in advocacy, community development, law reform, test case litigation, and public legal education.

Along with Teklu’s appointment, new board members were elected, who bring renewed vision to BLAC, including the development of the organization’s first strategic plan with Black communities

The legal clinic’s new Board is comprised of: Chair, Aba Stevens; Erin Atkinson; Okeima Lawrence; Sarah Riley Case; and Roy Williams.

“Our Board has every confidence that Moya will lead BLAC into its next chapter, with diligence, integrity, transparency, and creativity,” said Board Chair, Stevens. “We believe she will be a bright mentor and leader for BLAC’s staff. We also trust that she will work to advance BLAC’s mission: to educate, advocate and litigate to tackle anti-Black racism in Ontario.”

BLAC provides legal services in the areas of education, employment, housing, human rights, policing, prison law, child protection and social benefits; and engages in systemic projects for deep and meaningful transformation.

Later this year, the organisation plans to launch the creation of a comprehensive strategic plan, and will be reaching out to the community to be part of the process that will result in an even stronger organization that serves Black Ontarians.

For more information visit: www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca.