Black Experience Townhall

The power of sharing the moments of sacrifice, success and strength that help shape the Black Community. 

Carion Fenn is a TV show host on Rogers TV,  hosting Health 180 with Carion Fenn, exploring Healthcare in Durham Region. She is the Founding President of the Carion Fenn Foundation and an award-winning Healthcare advocate including receiving the Platinum Jubilee Pin for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's 70th Anniversary in recognition of her outstanding Community Service from the Federal Government of Canada in June 2022, received from Ajax MP Mark Holland. Carion served 2 years as Parent Council Chair & Vice Chair for Durham Catholic Virtual Elementary School working beside the Principal with Parent Council to help students get through the Covid-19 Global Pandemic for Virtual School and lead the structuring of Parent Council. Carion lead Quality Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic as Chair of the Quality Committee for 2 years, she also served an additional 2 years as Vice Chair, with a total of 5 years on the Quality Committee and as a Trustee at Lakeridge Health. She also spent 4 years as Committee Board Co-Chair of The Ajax Pickering Hospital Community Panel for Lakeridge Health while governing the 5 hospitals, Pinewood Centre for addictions, Long Term-Care and Durham Mental Health Services for Durham Region. With her professional experiences she discovered that Race & Disability plays a key role in the inferior Quality Care that exist in Healthcare and she did everything she could to help address these issues. <click here> to learn more about Carion Fenn. 

Tanis Henry is a Clinical Practice Leader, and a experienced Registered Nurse, skilled in Critical Care and Emergency Medicine. Tanis is passionate about the development of health policy initiatives , and facilitating nursing education for nurses at every stage of their career. Tanis values education and appreciates its impact on nursing practice, and its influence on patient care outcomes. Tanis is experienced in identifying, planning, implementing and evaluating educational strategies that influence nursing practice and facilitate the change required to meet the patient healthcare needs. Tanis has received a Master's degree in Nursing with a focus on Health Policy & Leadership in Education through Ryerson University, and is a proud inductee of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Tanis moved to Durham Region 11 years ago, and is passionate in serving the community. Tanis is the Health Director and Durham Black Network Chair with the Carion Fenn Foundation. 

Dr. Rev. Jean Henry (Ph.D.) is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Ontario with extensive experience counselling married couples, troubled youth, and teenagers. She is also the author of Seeing Marriage through God’s Eyes, based on her Ph.D. research. Rev. Henry is the Founder and President of Circle of Love Community Outreach, a non-profit providing weekly free counselling for those in the low-income bracket, resources for the housing insecure, development workshops, and much more. Rev. Henry also operates the nightly God-Centered Prayer Line based on her experience while visiting Israel in 2019. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of six children and a foster parent for over two decades. When not doing ministry work, Rev. Henry enjoys reading, cooking, going for nature walks with her dog Grace, and entertaining those she loves.

Nicole Perryman, is a Registered Social Worker, Play Therapist and Psychotherapist practicing in Durham Region.  Nicole started her career supporting children, youth, and families in child welfare, social services and has worked within children's mental health, parental contact and parenting time assessments, youth involved in the criminal justice system, trauma centers, and education.   Nicole is the CEO and co-founder of "Ifarada [eye -fa-ra-da] Centre for Excellence and Kujenga [cue-jenga]" Family Wellness organizations that provide culturally-informed and trauma-focused approaches for children, youth, adults, and families.  She is an occasional professor, and field supervisor for students in social work, child and youth, and counseling psychology.  She is also a principal equity consultant supporting organizations across Canada and Internationally on their equity journeys. 

Tessa Sebro is a certified Yoga and Pilates Specialist and a designated Human Resources Professional, who has used mind-body exercise to overcome serious back injuries after a major car accident, to shorten her recovery time following abdominal surgeries, including the c-section birth of her daughter, and to maintain her overall physical, mental, and spiritual health. As a busy mother and wellness enthusiast, Tessa uses her personal experiences to relate to her students and provides a variety of modifications during classes to ensure a safe and welcoming practice for all levels of ability. Serenity Seven Yoga and Pilates was developed out of her passion for helping others to achieve their wellness goals. Group classes, individual sessions and wellness education are available within Durham Region and East Toronto. For more information, consult the website: serenityseven.com.