Michelle Forde

Michelle Forde is an educator and human rights organizer with over 15 years of professional experience in equity, instructional design, and communications in public service. She is personally and professionally invested in issues of social justice, especially as they pertain to ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities for Black and Indigenous youth.

Michelle completed two undergraduate degrees at York University: Bachelor of Arts in English and Communications; Bachelor of Education. She completed a Master of Education in Equity and Social Justice at the University of Toronto within the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). During her time at OISE, Michelle was awarded the William Waters Graduate Scholarship, in recognition of her work in policy research and curriculum development within public education. 

Michelle has had the honour of working in partnership within a diversity of communities across Toronto, as a Secondary School Administrator and Curriculum Leader within the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). In addition to her professional experiences in the TDSB, Michelle has managed projects as a researcher and writer in the Educational Publishing Division at Nelson Canada. She has also designed specialized curriculum for the Africentric Secondary School Program in the TDSB. Michelle’s most meaningful contribution is her development of a Grade 12 University-Level Africentric Leadership Course, the first of its kind, which is currently in session with growing enrollment year-over-year.

Michelle was born and raised in London, Ontario, but her family is originally from the island of Barbados, in the Caribbean. She is the first in her immediate family with the privilege to access education at the graduate level. From a young age, Michelle’s awareness of the immense personal sacrifices of her elders equipped her with the passion and drive to serve in community-building.