PASAN

Hi everyone,
We know PASAN has been quiet on the socials. There's been a lot happening for the org' and we're working towards getting back to online engagement with you all. And we can't wait! We miss you.

Part of a strong organization, and building its capacity and its work, is a strong and supportive board. If you're interested in the work PASAN does and would like to contribute, consider joining our board! No resume needed to apply, just a genuine interest and commitment to prison health and harm reduction, and taking a moment to respond to our three application questions.

Link to the application can be found at our website: www.pasan.org
*just scroll down a bit on our main (landing) page and you will see it
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☆Spotlight Series: Desmond Cole

Desmond Cole is a Canadian journalist, activist, and author known for his fearless work confronting anti-Black racism and systemic injustice. A longtime columnist for Toronto Life and co-host of the podcast The Docket, Cole rose to national prominence through his reporting on police carding, racial profiling, and state violence. His bestselling book The Skin We’re In blends memoir and investigative journalism to document the everyday realities of being Black in Canada; challenging the myth that racism is only an American problem. Through writing, organizing, and public speaking, Desmond Cole has helped push conversations about Black liberation, accountability, and resistance into the mainstream - and continues to shape how Canada reckons with its own history
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☆Spotlight Series: Courtnay McFarlane

Jamaican-born and Toronto-based, Courtnay McFarlane is a visual artist, curator, poet, and lifelong community builder. His literary work has been featured in African-Canadian and Q***r anthologies, alongside decades of activism in Toronto’s Black 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Courtnay helped found several trailblazing groups that created space, visibility, and voice for Black q***r communities, including AYA in the 1990s and Blackness Yes!, the organizing force behind Pride’s Blockorama. A dedicated volunteer with organizations like the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention and Inside Out, Courtnay recently curated Legacies in Motion, an archival project celebrating Black q***r political and cultural activism in 1980s and 1990s Toronto. His work reminds us that Black history is not just remembered—it’s lived, created, and fiercely carried forward.
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☆Spotlight Series: Jackie Shane

Jackie Shane was a trailblazing Black trans soul and R&B singer whose electrifying performances and magnetic voice left an indelible mark on Toronto’s music scene in the 1960s. More than an artist, Jackie Shane was a pioneer for trans and Black visibility, living openly at a time when society demanded invisibility. Her charisma, style, and fearless self-expression challenged social norms and expanded what it meant to be seen and heard as a Black q***r person. Jackie’s performances weren’t just entertainment; they were acts of resistance, community-building, and affirmation of identity. Decades later, Jackie Shane’s legacy continues to inspire artists, activists, and audiences around the world. Her story reminds us that Black history is not only about survival, but about creativity, courage, and the power of living boldly and authentically.
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☆Spotlight Series: Rodney Diverlus

Rodney Diverlus is a Haitian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist and artivist who seamlessly melds his artistic knowledge, embodied performance, and powerful voice with a deep commitment to activism. Through his work, Rodney creates large-scale public installations and arts-based interventions that blur the boundaries between protest and performance, challenging social norms and influencing public policy. Beyond his artistic practice, Rodney is a dedicated community activist, writer, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Toronto. As lead strategist for Black Lives Matter Canada, he guides the development of the movement’s public interventions, programs, and actions, using art and activism as tools for transformative social change.
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☆Spotlight Series: Michelle Ross

Michelle Ross reigned as queen of Toronto’s Church Street for nearly five decades. Born in Jamaica, Ross first climbed onto the stage in 1974 at Toronto’s Club Manatee with a rendition of Dionne Warwick’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” Although she chose this song as her opener, Ross would become best known for her showstopping tributes to her namesake, Diana Ross. A self-declared “professional diva,” Michelle often concluded her acts by dramatically removing her wig, a playful way to call attention to the fine line between gender identity and performance. “Both sides are equally part of the glamour,” she once said.
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P.S. If you're a PASAN or CAAT client, join us this afternoon at 1:30pm for a celebration of Black history and excellence with food, music, speakers, trivia, and prizes!
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☆Spotlight Series: Donovan Bailey

Donovan Bailey is a legendary Canadian sprinter whose achievements redefined excellence in track and field, reshaping Canada’s sporting identity. In the lead-up to the 1996 Summer Olympics, Bailey established himself as the world’s fastest man, setting an indoor world record and earning his place on the Olympic team. In Atlanta, he delivered a historic performance, winning Olympic gold in the 100 metres and setting a new world record, reaching a top speed never before recorded by a human at the time. His victory was a defining moment for Canadian sport, restoring pride and confidence on the global stage. Just days later, Bailey anchored Canada’s 4 × 100 metre relay team to its first-ever Olympic gold, cementing his place in history. Bailey’s influence extends far beyond the track. As a Black Canadian athlete succeeding on the world stage, he became a powerful symbol of representation and possibility for young Black Canadians and aspiring athletes across the country. His success helped challenge stereotypes and broaden the narrative of Canadian achievement, inspiring a new generation to pursue excellence in sport, leadership, and community.
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P.S. Don't forget that all PASAN and clients are invited to our event on Monday February 9th from 1:30-3:30pm at our our offices (526 Richmond St. E.) with catered food, speakers, music, trivia, and prizes!
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☆Spotlight Series: Jully Black

Jully Black is an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, and activist whose voice has helped shape Canadian music and culture for over two decades. Often called “Canada’s Queen of R&B,” Jully Black rose to prominence with chart-topping hits and powerful performances that blend soul, R&B, and pop with messages of resilience and self-determination. Beyond her music, she is a fearless advocate for Black empowerment, gender equity, and social justice; consistently using her platform to speak out against anti-Black racism and systemic inequality. Whether on stage, on screen, or in the community, Jully Black represents unapologetic Black excellence and continues to inspire generations with her artistry, authenticity, and commitment to change.
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P.S. Don't forget that all PASAN and clients are invited to our event on Monday February 9th from 1:30-3:30pm at our our offices (526 Richmond St. E.) with catered food, speakers, music, trivia, and prizes!
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☆Spotlight Series☆
Building on last year’s series, this Black History Month we’re spotlighting Black activists, artists, innovators, and community members whose work shapes our movements, keeping our communities alive. From creativity to resistance, care to innovation, these stories remind us that Black history is living, ongoing, and foundational to abolitionist futures. Stay with us as we uplift Black leadership, brilliance, and community care, today and always.

Today, we’re starting off with Trevor Gray

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Trevor Gray is a Toronto-based advocate whose decades of work have strengthened HIV/AIDS care and harm reduction within the African Caribbean community. A longtime volunteer with organizations such as the African Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario, the Canadian AIDS Society, and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, Trevor has been a steady force in reducing vulnerability, improving access to care, and challenging the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. Known throughout the city’s harm reduction community, he approaches every client with dignity, compassion, and respect; never as a problem to be solved, but as a person to be cared for. Whether sharing his deep well of knowledge and stories or cooking nourishing meals for those he serves, Trevor Gray’s impact is felt not just through advocacy, but through everyday acts of care that build trust, community, and survival.

☆Closed invitation for PASAN & CAAT clients only☆

On Feb 9th, join PASAN and CAAT as we open the space for Black History Month.

Rooted in PASAN’s commitment to abolition, prisoner health, and harm reduction, this gathering is more than a celebration. It’s an opportunity to come together in solidarity, recognize the ongoing impacts of incarceration and health inequities on Black communities, and recommit to the work of care, resistance, and community-led change beyond February.

What to expect on Feb 9th: delicious Caribbean food, music, trivia, and words from community members.

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