Liban Abokor is the Executive Director of Youth LEAPS, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving educational and employment outcomes for Black youth in Toronto. He is also a co-author of the report, Unfunded: Black Communities Overlooked by Canadian Philanthropy, 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 non-profits and charities.
Liban has over 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 lead 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 is a Board Director with the Samara Centre for Democracy, Shoot For Peace and is a member of the City of Toronto’s Economic Development and Culture Division’s Program Advisory Committee.
Liban studied at York University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and obtained a Certificate in Social Work from the University of Toronto.
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