About the project:

Black Hair Joy restores a cultural tradition that has been lost for too many Black women and girls in Canada - gathering to learn, care for, and celebrate our hair together. In Africa, the Caribbean, and across the Black diaspora, hair care is more than beauty - it’s heritage, mental health, and connection. But here, Black girls often grow up without that community. Without access to affordable products, culturally competent salons, or mentorship, many of the approximately 30,000 Black individuals in Waterloo Region have previously turned to harmful chemicals, cut off their hair, or faced bullying that erodes self-esteem.

Some parents - especially in multiracial families - struggle without guidance, and in some cases, have even faced involvement from child welfare because their child’s hair wasn’t cared for. Black Hair Joy changes that. We provide free, intergenerational workshops led by Black women, where participants learn styling skills, receive expensive products to take home, and connect with psychotherapists who link hair care to mental well-being. We share food from Black-owned businesses, braid together stories and skills, and build belonging. Your support will help us expand this transformative initiative across Waterloo Region, reaching more families, covering space, supplies, and facilitator costs, and ensuring no Black girl grows up feeling like her crown doesn’t belong.

Where will the project take place:

This project will take place in Cambridge, expanding to Kitchener, Waterloo, and surrounding townships. Beneficiaries live across Waterloo Region, including Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich.