October 14, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM ET
As part of Islamic Heritage & History Month, the Tamarack Institute is pleased to invite you a special webinar centring the voices of members, partners, and changemakers working to strengthen belonging for and with Muslim communities across the country. This webinar is being hosted through the Communities Building Belonging network at Tamarack, in collaboration with our Equity, Anti-Racism, and Reconciliation team.
As communities across Canada continue to navigate questions of identity, inclusion, and social cohesion, this webinar will create space to celebrate the rich diversity, leadership, and contributions of Muslim communities and organizations, while exploring broader themes of belonging, connection, and community-building. We are bringing together community leaders, practitioners, advocates, and changemakers to reflect on what belonging means for Muslim communities in the Canadian context, how these communities are fostering connection and resilience, and what lessons can help strengthen more inclusive communities for everyone.
The discussion will be facilitated by Dina Al-Khooly, Vice Chair of Tamarack's Board of Directors with the participation of the following panelists:
Speakers
Dina Al-Khooly. Board Member, Tamarack Institute
Dina is Vice Chair of Tamarack's Board of Directors and Team Lead with Ontario's Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Dina is a passionate advocate for youth voice, science literacy, racial justice, and equitable access to STEM, and has deep connections and longstanding community involvement with Muslim communities across Canada.
Minaz Asani-Kanji. Co-Founder, Good Futures Collective
Minaz has worked in the field of Environmental Studies for 25 years. Over the past 13 years, she has worked at the intersection of environment, parks and community development, working with over 100 local groups in Toronto’s underserved communities. When the pandemic began in March 2020, Minaz facilitated over 200 online meetings, webinars and remote workshops bringing together underserved communities as a network to help create more inclusive and equitable parks and green spaces shaped by and for the people living there.
Mouna Bennamani. Director of Philanthropic Strategies, Institut F
As Director of Philanthropic Strategies, Mouna Bennamani leverages over a decade of international experience to drive inclusive transformation, ethical governance, and the development of partnerships with significant social impact.
As Co-Director of Institut F, she leads philanthropy, institutional relations, and organizational development, guided by an approach rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), as well as decolonial, anti-racist, and anti-sexist principles.
She designs strategies that enhance social impact, transform organizations, and foster environments that are more just, representative, and inclusive. Mouna Bennamani also serves on the Board of Directors of the crisis center Le Transit.
Thierno Diallo. Government Affairs and Public Policy Advisor, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM)
Thierno is driven by a deep commitment to education, social justice, and meaningful community engagement. His work focuses on bringing together community leaders, youth, and advocates to address systemic inequalities and help build stronger, more inclusive communities. He is multilingual and speaks French and Arabic, in addition to English.
Thierno believes that meaningful change begins with listening, understanding, and building genuine relationships. Whether discussing major social issues or simply exchanging ideas and perspectives, he values connecting with people and creating spaces where people can learn from one another, find common ground, and work together toward positive change.
