Meet Our Team
Our team consists of interdisciplinary researchers, students, and community partners who work together to address social health inequities, systemic racism, and climate justice.
Graduate Student
Click to View
Karamat Ayotola Kelan
Karamat Ayotola Kelani is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. She earned an MSW in Social Work (2004) and a B.Ed in Adult Education (2000) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research focuses on health inequities and access to care for marginalized and underserved populations. She employs mixed methods and community-based approaches to explore these issues. Her long-term goal is to develop culturally relevant mental health interventions tailored to the unique challenges of these communities. She is currently a graduate research assistant at the Black and Racialized Senior Neighbourhood Lab, University of Manitoba, working on the project Defining Key Elements of Culturally Appropriate Interventions and Strategies for Black Older Adults.
Osborn Kabingu Mutapa
Osborn Mutapa is a PhD student in the faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba. He obtained a MSc in Global Ageing and Policy from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom with support of the Commonwealth scholarship, an MA. in Development studies from the University of Lusaka, Zambia and a BA. in Development Studies from Zambian Open University, Zambia.
Osborn’s Ph.D. project titled ” Climate Change, Poverty and Vulnerability: Assessing the Livelihood Implications of Climate Change on Older adults in Kazungula District, Zambia”
In addition to his Ph.D. research project, Osborn is contributing to several other projects in Dr. Ojembes’s lab, including:
Exploring differential vulnerabilities, decision-making and preparedness during climate change-related weather emergencies among Black and racialized older adults in Winnipeg.
Defining Key Elements of Culturally Appropriate Interventions/Strategies for Black Older Adults.
Research Areas of Interest
Osborn’s research interests focus on understanding aging experiences for older adults in resource constrained settings, Comparative Social Policy adaptation in Community building, and how the Indigenous Knowledge systems are being applied in the continuum of care amid the challenges posed by climate change.