A Windsor woman who saw a gap in services for a specific minority and worked to improve it, is getting a major award.
Salem Berhane is a recipient of this year's Attorney General's Victim Services Award of Distinction. It honours those who work to raise awareness of victims' issues in Ontario and provides support to those who need it the most.
Berhane noticed the Eritrean community in Windsor falling through the cracks when she moved to the city to attend the University of Windsor but started volunteering as a teen in Toronto.
After noticing that members of the Eritrean community were facing barriers to employment and housing, she and her partners established the Eritrean Canadian Community of Windsor. In addition to translation services, advocacy, and social support, the volunteer-run organization also helped Eritrean Canadians navigate the education system.
Subsequently, she co-founded Family Fuse, which empowers Black-Canadian parents, guardians, and caregivers to support their children's academic journey.
Berhane is a youth mentor at Change Your Future and Chief Executive Officer of InclusSV Beauty Solutions.