ERC Hours

The ERC operates on the following schedule:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Tuesday: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

If you have any questions or need assistance, the ERC team is here to help! You can reach out at 416-736-2100 x40565 or by email at erc@edu.yorku.ca

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With “Abena’s Adventures,” Blessing Owusu (BEd ’19, MEd ’24) embarked on a journey that blended her passion for education with a mission to fill a crucial gap in children's literature. An educator with the York Region District School Board, her story first began with a foundational education at �첥��Ƶ where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in 2017 and later earned her Bachelor of Education in June 2019. Blessing recently completed her Master of Education at �첥��Ƶ in June 2024. Alongside her degree, she completed a Major Research Project (MRP) which led to the creation of her children's book. She also earned a diploma in Education in Urban Environments as a part of her Master’s degree.

The inspiration for Blessing's creative endeavor, "Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home," stemmed from her own childhood experiences as a Ghanaian-Canadian growing up in Vaughan, Ontario. "Throughout my education, the concept of blackness was only acknowledged during the month of February, with the focus solely on struggle and adversity. Whenever I visited both my school library and the public library, I could never find books featuring a black protagonist as a hero or heroine or represented in any other way beyond overcoming obstacles and demonstrating resilience," she says. “I wanted to write a book that my 7-year-old self would have wanted to pick up.”

"Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home" centers around Abena, a spirited young girl whose journey unfolds through themes of cultural identity, diversity, a sense of belonging, and the warmth of multi-generational experiences. The book also teaches readers how to pronounce Ghanaian words, introducing them to the beauty and richness of the Twi language.

“Inspired by my own experiences as a first-generation Canadian within an immigrant family, I felt compelled to craft a narrative that would spark meaningful conversations specifically for children, but also for all readers within various age groups,” says Blessing. “My goal was to encourage everyone to share their cultural experiences and understand different perspectives to connect with each other.”

As a self-published author, Blessing navigated the challenges of bringing her vision to life. From overcoming writer's block, to finding an illustrator who could vividly capture Abena's world, Blessing persevered with guidance from her supervisor, professor Molade Osibodu. “I faced writer’s block because I wanted to write this book as a student, a researcher, and as an educator,” she says. “I wanted to make sure that it was authentic and it centered on my Ghanaian identity and celebrated my heritage while also making it inclusive for all readers.” The result is a visually captivating book available for print through her website, , where it serves as a valuable resource for educators and families alike.

The most rewarding aspect of Blessing's journey has been the heartfelt feedback from readers. Children, regardless of their background, see themselves reflected in Abena's story, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage. “It has also been rewarding to hear from adults expressing how they felt reading the story because a lot of people shared that it is something they can relate to as they are also first-generation Canadians,” Blessing adds.

Looking forward, she plans to expand her impact by creating educational resources for educators and intends to author more books that celebrate cultural diversity. She envisions "Abena's Adventures" as a catalyst for conversations about representation in literature and hopes to share her story globally through bookstore visits, library readings, and community engagements. Blessing’s experience with "Abena's Adventures" has not only solidified her commitment to inclusive education, but has also deepened her understanding of the power of representation in shaping young minds.

Blessing’s advice to fellow graduate students and aspiring authors is to “blend academic rigor with creative expression to create impactful work that resonates with diverse audiences.”

In the end, Blessing's journey with "Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home" exemplifies the power that literature has to transform and foster cultural awareness, acceptance, and self-esteem among children. Through her dedication to education and advocacy for diverse representation, Blessing will continue to bring inclusivity and equity to the forefront in educational settings and inspire educators and readers to do the same.

Article by Dennis Bayazitov special contributing writer

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What year did you graduate and what program(s) were you in? 
I graduated from York’s Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Honours Psychology and Bachelor of Education (BEd) concurrently in 2019. I graduated with a Master of Education (MEd) in 2020. 

How did the Bachelor of Education, and eventually the Master of Education program, prepare you for your career? 

When it comes down to it, all my programs have prepared me for my career. I can thank the Faculty of Education for preparing me with a responsive student-centred pedagogy and for teaching me the importance of knowing, honouring, and connecting with students before anything else. Both education programs also helped me develop a more critical understanding of the role of the teacher--calling on me to be thoughtful about the practices I continue in my classroom and to consider the power, privilege, and historical contexts involved in choices that affect my students. 

What extracurricular activities were you involved with during your time in the Faculty of Education and how did this help you become a better educator? 

I was fortunate to have served on a variety of Faculty Councils and governance committees in roles like Student Senator and  President of the Faculty of Education Students’ Association, which offers opportunities for current students to serve as representatives of the University. I was also a part of the Student Health Ambassadors (SHAY) at York. 

All of my extracurricular activities offered opportunities to help others and showed me how people use what they have and where they are in their lives to make a difference for others. Now as an educator, I focus on how I can show up and make a difference for my students. 

What did you learn during your time with ‘Vaccine Hunters Canada’ (VHC) that will help you in your teaching career?

My experience at VHC taught me the importance of volunteer work and of being selfless in order to help others. I always tell my students to try to get involved in the community in any way that they can as it is a good way to make connections and to make meaningful change that has a lasting impact.

 is a community of volunteers whose mission is to help Canadians navigate the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, understand the complexities of vaccine eligibility, and connect eligible Canadians with appointment opportunities. 

What’s next for you, personally or professionally? 

I’ve only just started teaching. I’m certainly looking forward to more opportunities to build communities and connect with students.  

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Alumni Spotlight was originally published on the Alumni & Friends blog on July 29, 2021.

Mikhaela Gray-Beerman (BA '14, MEd '18), one of York’s Top 30 Changemakers Under 30, is an anti-trafficking advocate, researcher, and educator, as well as a non-profit consultant. The work she does is informed by the many inspiring women and girls who have entrusted their stories with her.

Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the world, and there is no community that is immune from this injustice.

"When my mom was in elementary school, her best friend went missing,” says Mikhaela. “About eight years ago, they were reconnected, and my mom began to learn her story. At the age of 14, my mom’s friend was trafficked for sex in Canada.” When she heard the story, Mikhaela was shocked and heartbroken. She began asking questions and doing research to better understand the realities of human trafficking. The more she learned, the more she was compelled to fight this injustice and to find ways to prevent other people from being trafficked locally and globally.

In 2013, Mikhaela joined United Freedom, an anti-human trafficking committee, to raise awareness and funds for a local and a global anti-trafficking organization. Through their events, she learned about an organization called  in India. The work they were doing to support individuals post-trafficking was unparalleled. “I hoped to learn from their efforts and share their practices in Canada in order to strengthen our approaches to reintegration and rehabilitation,” she explains.

While completing her Master of Education at �첥��Ƶ, Mikhaela travelled to India to visit Mahima Homes and listened to the stories of women and girls who had been trafficked as part of her thesis research. “They shared their stories of resilience and their dreams for the future. The freedom fighters - the women and girls who shared their stories with me - inspired me through their courage, their desire to support others, and their outlook on life.”

Upon returning to Canada, Mikhaela was invited to share with the Federal Government learnings from her research on human trafficking in India with the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. “It was a privilege and honour to be invited to advocate on behalf of the women and girls who had entrusted me with their stories,” she confesses.

“During the following months, I was deeply troubled in my workplace and volunteer settings; I felt disconnected from my purpose. I believe the most important thing in life is relationships, and after the tragic passing of , I was moved by the immeasurable impact that she made in her 20 years of life. I wondered, “How can I use my time, skills and knowledge to fight for justice and to love other people authentically?” Shortly afterward, I left my career in the post-secondary sector to work in an environment where I could raise awareness on human trafficking and journey alongside survivors full-time.”

Today, Mikhaela is an anti-trafficking advocate, educator and researcher. She helps raise awareness as a preventive measure and conducts research to disseminate new knowledge on human trafficking. She connects with individuals who have been impacted by trafficking and supports organizations that are dedicated to ending exploitation in various ways.

 In January 2020, she launched a  and more recently a  called Freedom Fighters: Code Gray which aims to inform the public on human trafficking and empower them to take action to prevent human trafficking in their communities.

“I believe that it is incredibly important to support survivor-led initiatives and to use our time and resources to partner meaningfully with individuals who have lived experience.”

Mikhaela is now the chair of Untied Freedom, serves as an advisory team member at , and as a board member at , a survivor-led organization committed to ending sexual exploitation in Canada. She is currently working as a consultant for  and . Mikhaela has been published in the Journal for Teaching & Learning, and she authored a chapter in the book Global Citizenship Education: Challenges and Successes recently published by the University of Toronto Press. Whether it’s interacting with individuals impacted by sex trafficking and sexual exploitation through care outreach, doing research, advising anti-trafficking organizations or doing advocacy work, she is always looking for ways to make herself useful in the fight to end human trafficking. “My work is rooted in the belief that every human being has value and worth,” Mikhaela explains.

“If you look at the sheer statistics of human trafficking in the world, it can be overwhelming. I want to highlight that each number represents a different person with a unique story and dream for the future. We need to continue to find ways to work together to shed light on this injustice and support individuals who have been impacted by exploitation in Canada and in the world."

To learn more about human trafficking and resources available in Canada visit: �����Ի���. If there is immediate danger or if you suspect a child under 18 is being trafficked, call 911 or your local police service. For information and support, call Canada’s confidential Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010 or visit .

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