Research summary
Black communities are generating their own healing practices, yet little research has explored how they are doing so. Dr. Janelle Joseph, Canada Research Chair in Racial Justice, Health, and Sport, is examining how Black community leaders—including activists, artists and entrepreneurs—address health disparities through sport, movement and embodied leadership in settler colonial contexts.
Grounded in Black liberation, relational well-being, and embodied knowledge, Joseph’s work highlights how physical activity, outdoor leisure and mindfulness are powerful tools for community-led wellness. Through workshops in Canada, Mexico and South Africa, she and her research team are developing new leadership training models that support resilience and incubate Black storytelling and art. They are also establishing the first national database of Black health organizations and Black Studies scholars in Canada, supporting skills-sharing, connection and visibility. This research reimagines what it means to be well—and to lead—in Black communities.