Liban Abokor
Fellow in the MPNL program
| Degrees: | BA in Political Science (York University). Certificate in Social Work (University of Toronto). |
Biography
Liban Abokor is the Executive Director of Youth LEAPS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for Black youth in Toronto. He’s also co-author of the UNFUNDED report, which highlighted the inequitable funding of Black communities by Canada’s philanthropic sector.
Recently, Liban co-founded the Foundation for Black Communities, Canada’s first-ever philanthropic foundation dedicated to supporting Black-led, -serving, and -focused nonprofits and charities.
He has more than 15 years of experience and leadership in the areas of education, healthcare, housing, philanthropy and social service. He formerly worked as a Policy Advisor for the Ontario Ministry of Health, and led Local Economic Development Initiatives for Toronto Community Housing. Liban was also a founding member of Ontario’s Premiers Council on Youth Opportunities, which guided the development of Ontario’s Youth Action Plan and Youth Opportunities Fund.
Regarded as a social impact leader in Canada, Liban is a key voice in the philanthropic sector, where he works to disrupt inequitable practices and modernize the sector through a justice-based approach.
A dedicated volunteer, Liban has served on the boards of the Laidlaw Foundation, Central Neighbourhood House, and the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. Currently, he’s a Board Director with the Samara Centre for Democracy, and with Shoot For Peace, and is a member of the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division’s Program Advisory Committee.
