Liben Gebremikael

Biography

Liben Gebremikael is the first Executive Director of TAIBU Community Health. Born in Ethiopia and now a resident of Toronto, Gebremikael has more than 25 years of experience in primary health care, social services, mental health, and community capacity building and development. He has worked as a social worker, child and family therapist, project coordinator, and therapeutic group facilitator with various primary care and non-profit organizations serving racialized and marginalized populations in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Gebremikael holds an MA in Migration, Mental Health & Social Care from the University of Kent (UK), a Masters Certificate in Healthcare Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and recently completed the Community Health Leadership Program at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. In 2021, he completed the Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Organization program at the Harvard Business School.

Located in the Malvern neighbourhood of Scarborough, TAIBU Community Health Centre (CHC) provides primary health care and related services for the Greater Toronto Area’s black community. TAIBU CHC recognizes the health impacts of the systemic oppression of black people and consequently strives to deliver health services through intersectional, equity based and culturally affirming practices that promote holistic wellness, health education, and prevention. Liben Gebremikael has led the organization for the past 14 years. Today TAIBU has strong community roots and has become a recognizable agency that is committed to addressing the impact of anti-Black racism on the health and wellbeing of Black communities. The Centre is widely regarded for its non-traditional and innovative approach.

Gebremikael is an Adjunct Professor at Ontario Tech University, an Assistant Professor at Humber College and a Sessional Instructor teaching a special course on Anti-Black Racism and the Health of Black Canadians at the University of Toronto Scarborough.

In 2021, under his leadership TAIBU received the Inaugural Scarborough Hero Awards for its contribution to the response to COVID-19 and the Black Health Alliance Legacy Award for excellence in community engagement and health promotion. In February 2022 TAIBU received the Outstanding Organization Award from the Jamaican Canadian Association.

In June 2012, Gebremikael received the prestigious Emerging Leaders Award from The Association of Ontario Health Centres at its annual conference in Toronto. In November 2014, he was awarded the Development Award by the Planet Africa Group.