"We are not what the system has told us we are," declares Tina Garnett, a powerful voice in the fight against systemic oppression. As a seventh-generation Black Canadian descended from Charlotte and James Handy, Garnett brings three decades of experience championing marginalized communities to this profound conversation about resilience, purpose, and transformation.
Garnett's journey through racism began in London, Ontario, as part of one of the few Black families in the area, before taking her to Northern British Columbia where she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of systemic violence against Indigenous women. These experiences crystallized her understanding of racial hierarchy and white supremacy, driving her to pursue education as a tool for change despite being told as a child with a learning disability that "school was not for me."
Now serving as Executive Director of the Jean Augustine Center for Young Women's Empowerment, Garnett creates spaces where young women ages 7-17 can develop holistically through mentorship, after-school programs, and civic engagement initiatives. Her previous groundbreaking work implementing EDI strategies at SickKids Hospital challenged institutions to move beyond merely counting diversity to creating genuine inclusion.
The conversation delves into Garnett's personal practices for sustaining her work—beginning each day with prayer and gratitude, practicing yoga to release trauma held in the body, and dedicating Sundays to family. Despite making "half of what I made" in institutional settings, she finds "ten times as much more joy" in her current role empowering young women to envision futures where they see themselves represented.
Throughout the discussion, Garnett weaves together historical injustice, personal loss, and hopeful transformation. Her message that "there's no wrong way to do your life except to quit" serves as both challenge and comfort to listeners navigating their own journeys through systemic barriers toward authentic self-expression and community empowerment. Listen to her account and be inspired!

1. Website: https://equityinprovidence.com/

2. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-garnett-ma-b3866621/

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