Happy black family sitting on stairs of modern house
Who we are?

 

About DLF

 

The Dream Legacy Foundation is fostering social and economic empowerment of the Black community across Canada. With our key core focus areas in cultural identity, economic inclusion, housing, health, education and research, we are harnessing the talent in innovative ways that is found within the Black community.

Where did it start?

 

Our Story

 

Dream Legacy Foundation was established in 2016 to encourage philanthropy all across Canada. They have since raised over +$2 million dollars for causes such as housing, cultural identity, research, health, economic inclusion, and education among the Black community.

Isaac Olowolafe Jr., fondateur de la fondation Dream Legacy, aux STARTUP CANADA AWARDS 2019

More On Us

Our Vision

We envision an inclusive market economy in which systemic barriers are eradicated and contributions of underrepresented groups are amplified and valued.

 

Our Mission

We support grassroots capacity building and promote social and economic inclusion of marginalized communities as a viable and innovative way to create a more representative, sustainable, inclusive, and harmonious society.

The DLF Timeline

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Meet The Dream Founder

Dream Legacy Foundation Founder Isaac Olowolafe Jr.

Isaac Olowolafe Jr.  |  Founder

Isaac Olowolafe Jr. is an entrepreneur, business owner, and philanthropist. He established The Dream Maker Realty/Olowolafe Family Scholarship Award at the University of Toronto, the largest endowment for African Studies in any Canadian university.

Meet The Board

Babasanmi Babatope-Obasa  |  Board Member

Babasanmi Babatope-Obasa has over two decades worth of expertise as an Economist, Researcher and Professor at post-secondary institutions. As a Research Analyst, Babasanmi has worked in closely with the business and communities to identify, analyze and document the requirements and functionality needed to support a process, project management and lead resource in training.

 

Additionally, he has taught financial subjects (including macroeconomics, international trade and finance, money and banking, econometrics and project management and evaluation methodology) at the university level. For governments, financial institutions, vocational and professional training schools, he’s facilitated various related seminars in topics such as project management, budgeting and budgeting control, financial management, credit management, human resources, customer service, and team building.

 

Babasanmi also previously consulted in Lesotho, South Africa, working with Trade Impact, Import and Export & Trade and Prices data. During this period, he managed the process of identifying and training environmental project managers and of developing an environmental policy project in the region.

 

As a professor, his experience spans teaching students across Ontario, both in college and university, including key stints at Niagara College, Sheridan, Humber, and Centennial College.

Sike (Sheeky) Olowolafe | Board Member

Sike (Sheeky) Olowolafe is a Child Development Specialist with over 17 years of experience working with children and youth as an educator, advocate, and mentor. Before joining Dream Legacy Foundation, she established her career as an early childhood educator for the YMCA of the Greater Toronto Area and has spent countless hours volunteering with various churches and non-profit organization around the GTA. Sheeky’s main passion is to assist in improving the social and psychological functioning of individuals and their families while offering support to children and youth in underprivileged areas of the city.

 

In 2021, Sheeky made a pivotal shift in her career by obtaining her real estate license from the OREA Real Estate College.

 

Sheeky is a member of the College of Early Childhood Educators and holds an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development.

Advisory Committee

Alexander Sinora  |  Advisor

Alexander Sinora sold his first small marketing agency by the end of his bachelor’s. Currently, he is a management consultant at Mckinsey & Co. He is also a research assistant at McGill University in entrepreneurship & social innovation.

 

Involved in his community; he sits on an advisory board as a federal policy advisor at the Black Canadian Youth Approach within the Heritage Department. Furthermore, he started a community project called MTLGiveback, where he enables the youth to be active in their community. He also hosts a podcast called “Les Généralistes.”

 

Alexander is a recipient of a BComm in accounting at John Molson School of Business and co-founded Black Wealth Club with Paul Desmarais III. 

Warren G. Salmon | Advisor

Warren G. Salmon is the founder and CEO of Black Board International (BBI), an online service and Afrocentric software company.

 

Salmon founded BBI in 1990 with the aim of providing technology-based products and services with content aimed at people of African descent. BBI has continued to produce software tools and applications that are used in the educational school and home markets throughout North America and other parts of the world.

 

Salmon is a serial entrepreneur, soon after graduating from University, he started his first software company, Softec Software Services, and was able to sign software-related contracts with a number of large organizations such as Apple Computer, Citibank, I.B.M and the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.

 

Warren Salmon was born in Toronto, Canada and is an almunus of Ryerson University, Toronto where he graduated with a Bachelors in Applied Computer Science; the University of British Columbia (honors in Artificial Intelligence) and York University (courses in business and economics).

 

He is also the founder of a monthly business and community networking event called First Fridays in Toronto, which expanded to Montreal in 2008, and Calgary in 2010. The event provides networking opportunities and regularly features a variety of businesses, organizations, professionals, politicians and artists. First Fridays Toronto is one of over 30 First Fridays that occur on the first Friday of every month throughout North America in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and New York.

 

Salmon is the holder of the following awards: BBPA Harry Jerome Award for Technology and Innovation (2008); ‘Men of Excellence Award’ for Business; Community Award of Excellence.

Shantelle Vanterpool | Advisor

Shantelle Vanterpool is an entrepreneur born in Nova Scotia, now living in Maryland, USA. She is a real estate investor with business in Nova Scotia and DC/Maryland with over 20 years of real estate experience. Shantelle is concerned with gateways to affordable homes and broad access to the mechanisms of building wealth for the black community. She is an advocate for representation from the community in bolstering entrepreneurship.

 

Shantelle is self-made and currently producing a book and documentary that explores the rich history of black Canadians in Nova Scotia. Shantelle is also an artist and art collector that teaches art and advocates for health and wellness and holistic living. So much so that she started a very successful health business in the US, whose challenges cater to individuals with developmental and mental health disabilities. The company grew to be number one in the city of its kind. She also understands the important role private business plays in working with the government to provide services to the masses.

Meet The Team

Monique Asuquo - Présidente - Dream Legacy Foundation

Monique Asuquo | President

VSIDD

Varda Siddiqui | Administrative Coordinator

Collins Boakye-Yiadom

Collins Boakye-Yiadom | Program Manager

Omine Ijevu

Omine Ijevu | Program Assistant

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Sam Asirifi Jr | Project Coordinator

Obi Ezeasor

Obi Ezeasor | Marketing Assistant


QUESTIONS?

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If you have any questions, or wish to learn more about the Dream Legacy Foundation, please reach out to the team:
Info@dreamlegacy.org

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