Last June 7, 2021, Moya Teklu began her tenure as Executive Director and General Counsel of the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC). 

BLAC, established in 2017, is an independent not-for-profit community legal clinic that combats individual and systemic anti-Black racism that, among other things, provides legal services to members of Ontario’s Black communities. The clinic engages in advocacy, community development, law reform, test case litigation, and public legal education, and is funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

Ms Teklu has a long history of working to eradicate anti-Black racism in the justice system and of delivering legal aid services to members of Ontario’s Black communities. For the past six years, she worked at Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) where she implemented a significant service delivery plan for Black Ontarians, provided critical support during the implementation of BLAC, and authored LAO’s Racialized Community Strategy.

Ms Teklu was called to the Bar in 2010 and has participated in proceedings before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. She has taught Legal Ethics at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law.

“I am honoured to be assuming the role of Executive Director and General Counsel of the Black Legal Action Centre. As a Black woman and lawyer, this work is particularly meaningful to me and I welcome the opportunity to continue to build on the progress BLAC has already achieved,” said Ms Teklu. “I look forward to serving those who deserve a fair and just legal process, as well as advocating for systemic justice with the goal of liberation for all Black Ontarians.”

Along with Moya’s appointment, BLAC named Erin Atkinson, Okeima Lawrence, Sarah Riley Case and Roy Williams as new members.

BLAC provides legal services in the areas of education, employment, housing, human rights, policing, prison law, child protection and social benefits. Later this year, BLAC plans to launch the creation of a comprehensive strategic plan, and will be reaching out to the community for their contribution in the creation of an even stronger organization to serve Black Ontarians.

For more information visit: www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca.