2004 New Pioneers Awards SfCarchive
Channel: SkillsforchangeArchive SfC
Date: 2009-12-31

George Sefa Dei (Community Service)

George Sefa Dei came to Canada from Ghana in 1979 to pursue higher education, completing his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Windsor. In 1991, he joined the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto and is currently full Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology and Equity Studies. He was the first Director and a founding member of the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies at OISE.

Toronto Star News ArticleGeorge is a prolific researcher and writer whose anti-racism studies have made a positive impact in Canada and abroad. His writings have been translated into several languages thus making them accessible to non-English speakers and, he has worked to promote inclusive education and anti-racism in Canadian schools and is actively involved in the community to promote youth education. His research has explored the reasons minority students drop out of school and provided guidelines to teachers who deal with students from marginalized communities. He has mentored students and provided young scholars the opportunity to train under him.

George is the President of the Ghanaian-Canadian Association of Ontario and served on the Boards of the Central Neighbourhood House, The Black Secretariat, Tractors for our Daily Bread, Organizations of Parents of Black Children, and the Board of Trustees of the Harry Jerome Scholarship Awards. Within the African-Canadian community, he is regarded as an elder due to his willingness to provide educational counselling and training.

He has received numerous awards including the 2003 William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the City of Toronto, the Community Builder Award from the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the 2003 African-Canadian Outstanding Achievement in Education and in 1996, the Volunteer Services Award from Ontarios Ministry of Citizenship.