dynamic-content-widget-3712a5ba-49c7b9b

Abena Addo

Executive Director & Founder

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Abena Addo

Executive Director & Founder

Abena is the Founder & Executive Director of Aspire for Higher (A4H), a Black-led not for profit organization based in Canada. A4H's mission and vision is centered around health and wellness, community, education and entrepreneurship. Through Abena’s leadership, A4H has received over $3 million dollars of funding from the provincial and federal levels of the Canadian government including the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario.

Abena has a background as a Transportation Professional and Civil Engineer with over 8 years of experience leading business cases to support infrastructure planning projects in the GTA including the Ontario Line, a $16 billion dollar, 15.6 km subway project in Toronto. Throughout her career she has gained experience in engineering consulting including technical expertise and oversight for economic and financial models, negotiating public-private partnerships, strategy, project management and business transformation.

Eldon Holder Jr.

Vice-President Social Impact & Stakeholder Relations

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Eldon Holder Jr.

Vice-President Social Impact & Stakeholder Relations

Eldon is Vice-President of Social Impact & Stakeholder Engagement for Aspire For Higher and an award-winning HR professional with over 13 years of experience in community development, Labour Economic research, recruitment and project management. Giving back and helping others is a fundamental part of what keeps Eldon occupied. Whether it is hosting workshops to equip youth with skills to secure gainful employment; or connecting communities across the country to create positive collective impact – he is committed to building a more equitable Canada for the next generation.

Deeply connected to community, he is a recipient of the United Way Community Builders Award 2017, and the 2018 Ontario Black History Society UN International Decade. When he is not tackling socio-economic conundrums, he can be found mentoring youth, filming documentaries, or experimenting with making small batch Hibiscus Sorrel Kombucha in South America.

Alanna Garner

Director of Camps & Programs

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Alanna Garner

Director of Camps & Programs

Alanna is the director of Summer Camps and Sport Programs for Aspire For Higher and a physical education teacher with over 10 years experience in managing camps, leagues and skill development sessions across the GTA. In her spare time she loves to give back to the community by coaching youth to ensure all children have the opportunity to participate in physical activity. Whether it is teaching in a classroom, coaching in the gym or training staff to become better coaches- she is committed to ensuring our youth build character on and off the courts. She attended the University of Toronto where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Education and was named an Academic All Canadian 5 years in a row for maintaining a 4.0GPA while representing the University of Toronto as a captain of their women's basketball team.

Raquel Reid

Operations, HR & Program Manager

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Raquel Reid

Operations, HR & Program Manager

By trade, Raquel is a teacher who graduated from Brock University’s concurrent education program. Raquel has a bubbly personality and a passion for lifelong learning. Through her experience as a program manager, Raquel has created a comprehensive mental wellness curriculum aimed at improving the outcomes of Black boys in grades 7 - 10.

Raquel’s interest in supporting youth to develop to their full potential is what led her to a role at Aspire For Higher. She hopes the work the organization does can contribute to creating the next generation of great leaders.

Cassandra Brady

Marketing & Communications Manager

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Cassandra Brady

Marketing & Communications Manager

Cassandra Brady is a marketing, communications and creative professional with over 11 years of experience elevating brands through strategic digital media. Cassandra began her career in broadcast as an ESPNU reporter and Stage Manager for the PAC 12 Networks while completing a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism & Communications and Applied Business & Economics at the University of Oregon. Her passion for media marketing then blossomed at the NBA working in the Global Marketing Partnerships and Live Entertainment & Production department. During her tenure, she contributed to the launch of the Jr. NBA initiative which ignited her passion for youth sports and the impact it can have on a child’s development.

As a Wayne Embry Fellowship Finalist of the Toronto Raptors, Cassandra makes it a priority to support the development of basketball within the GTA and has found a home at Aspire for Higher, growing the passion for the game and expanding A4H’s footprint in the community as a Marketing and Communications Manager.

Christian Poyser

Head Coach

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Christian Poyser

Head Coach

Christian Poyser is a very confident, outgoing, sociable, warm spirited and positive individual. Christian brings out the best in those around him both as a player and a coach. Christian has been involved with basketball for 17 plus years. He has been playing at an Elite level (OBA and AAU) for approximately 12 years for various teams throughout the GTA. In 2017 Christian played for the Jamaican Junior National Team at the FIBA Centrobasket U17 qualifier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Christian was named back to back team MVP for Fletchers Meadow Arrows 2017 and 2018. He is committed to his community and improving the overall mental wellbeing of the youth as well as their athletic abilities.

J’mar Williams

Wellness Basketball Program Manager

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

J’mar Williams

Wellness Basketball Program Manager

J’mar Williams is a very ambitious, humorous, confident, understanding and honest individual. He has a special skill both as a coach and a player to make sure that the people around him push themselves to succeed. J’mar is a two-sport athlete and has had the opportunity to play both soccer and basketball at Elite Levels. During his time playing basketball as a youth and early teens he played for powerhouse basketball organizations such as Brampton Warriors, Motion Basketball and Team Breakdown. In 2012 J’mar was selected to be a part of the Team Ontario Basketball Training Camp. In 2014 and his first year of highschool J’mar found his new passion for soccer. Throughout his time playing soccer in school he was able to lead his highschool, Cardinal Leger to a ROPSSAA Championship.

Outside of school soccer, J’mar started to quickly move up the ranks and by grade 10 he was playing on North Mississauga’s League 1 team at the age of 15. In grade 12, he decided that he was going to attend post-secondary school in Canada and In 2018 J’mar received acceptance and a soccer scholarship to attend Durham College and was there until the completion of his Major in Sports Management. J’mar is dedicated to helping others become the best versions of themselves whether athletically or not. His main goal in life is to better his community by providing youth with opportunities and knowledge they need to succeed.

Kareen Smith

Executive & Administrative Assistant

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Kareen Smith

Executive & Administrative Assistant

Kareen is the Executive and Administrative Assistant for Aspire for Higher. She has a background in Advertising, Early Childhood Education, and Office Admin from various post-secondary institutions. She worked in childcare for many years which she loved but chose to pursue another career that allowed her to give more time and efforts to her family.

Working for A4H gives her just that! She still gains fulfillment from helping families through taking and answering their inquiries. You may have encountered her via Email, or over the phone. Kareen loves chatting with all the parents and helping them with their children’s enrolment.

Outside of work, Kareen is the mother of two amazing, busy boys and if they don’t already keep her busy enough, she is also completing her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies. In her down time, she enjoys doing yoga, travelling when she’s able, and relaxing in her backyard during the summertime.

Hailee McGibbon-Corbin

Program Coordinator

Aspire for Higher (A4H)

Khadra Abdulle

Events, Sponsorship & Member Benefits Manager

Black Healthcare Professionals Network (BHPN)

Khadra Abdulle

Events, Sponsorship & Member Benefits Manager

Khadra Abdulle, possesses proven success in the realm of property, project and event management, client relations, B2B/B2C marketing, and team leadership. She considers herself to be a tactical and meticulous professional with proven success in promoting a culture of inspiration, empowerment, and inclusion. Khadra has demonstrated exemplary critical thinking skills, alongside the ability to cultivate and foster professional relationships, resulting in excellent personal rapport and accountability. She prides herself on the deliverance of quality leadership, multi-tasking efforts in fast-paced environments, and developing processes to ensure exceptional people and process-centric service.

Opuene Fiberesima Jr

Project Manager

Black Healthcare Professionals Network (BHPN)

Opuene Fiberesima Jr

Project Manager

Opuene is the project manager of BPHN. Opuene has extensive project, program and people management skills across different industries. Passionate about driving the black race towards communal prosperity is a mission that drives Opuene. He is committed to giving back, sharing experiences, resources and knowledge that uplifts people and inspires people to develop themselves and provide value to their community.