Voices Matter: The Impact of Serious Legal Problems on 16- to 30-year-olds in the Black Community

Research Team

This research, commissioned by Justice Canada, was conducted by CALIBRATE and the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN) working in partnership. The research team includes:

Sarah McCoubrey is a strategist and founder of CALIBRATE. She has spent 20 years working in the public, non-profit, and private sectors to improve our justice system. She combines her legal experience with a Master of Education in adult and community-based education and an undergraduate degree in women’s studies. She brings new perspectives and system-wide thinking to entrenched problems and emerging opportunities. Sarah has conducted research into access to justice, gender-mainstreaming, and human rights issues in Canada and internationally.

Meredith Brown is a strategist and partner at CALIBRATE. She specializes in developing a strategic approach to problem solving, and stakeholder and public consultation. She works globally in the area of gender equality, access to justice and rights, and good governance. Prior to joining CALIBRATE, Meredith spent 17 years with the Ministry of the Attorney General for Ontario, including as a practising lawyer and as the Executive Director of the Ministry’s Innovation Office, introducing a culture of transformation and delivering successful change on key projects that improved the internal and public-facing administration of justice. She combines her legal education and experience with her education in international relations.

Enisoné L. Kadiri is a senior program manager at the Ontario Justice Education Network, where she manages public legal education projects geared to youth living in high risk communities and their trusted intermediaries and adult allies. A graduate of McGill University, Enisoné has a background in social justice, advocacy, non-profit management, community-based research, and community development. She has experience working with youth in counselling and mentoring capacities and has extensive experience working with equity-seeking groups and women’s rights organizations.

Jess Reekie is the executive director of the Ontario Justice Education Network, where she focuses on OJEN’s strategic direction and relationship building among legal, education, and community organizations. A graduate of Harvard University and Dalhousie Law School, Jess practised immigration and refugee law and has worked for more than 20 years in the not-for-profit sector. She also serves as vice-president of the Board of Directors for the Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC).

Tina Yousif is a law student at the University of Ottawa, with a Master in Public Health. She has conducted data analysis as well as research and community engagement sessions in racialized contexts. Tina brings her experience in law, health, and statistical analysis to her role as research assistant.