Women Inspiring Women - Roxanne Felix-Mah

Women Inspiring Women! It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to the wonderful Roxanne Felix-Mah.

Our families are connected through the amazing world of open adoption and I feel blessed that our journeys to mamahood have been intertwined. I first met Roxanne after the birth of my second daughter - at that time, our family became an instant interracial one and I was looking for support on how to navigate the complexities of my role as mother to two daughters with unique stories. Roxanne was brilliant. With simplicity and grace, she provided guidance and solutions that worked for our family and addressed very real, big and important issues that I could not have navigated alone.

Roxanne is the Co-Director of the Multicultural Family Resource Centre, a Not for Profit organization committed to improving the well-being of immigrant and refugee children, youth, and families. I love learning about the work she does to support multiculturalism and address the great big topic of racism head on. I've had the great privilege of being a part of one of Roxanne's workshops on racism and how it impacts families. She is funny, super real, open, compassionate and kind. Her smile lights up a room and her passion for this important work she does truly impacts families in immeasurable ways.

I am honoured that Roxanne shared her story at this very busy time in her life! Thank you for sharing Roxanne!

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1. Tell me about what you love about the work you do

My work inspires and energizes me because it aligns so closely with my values. I work in a co-leadership model with my colleague, Ashima Sumaru-Jurf, and we are the Executive Directors of a non-profit focused on empowering newcomer communities in Edmonton. Our staff are really focused on how we do the work – very participatory and tapping into the strengths of everyone we work with.

We also have a social enterprise where our organization provides consulting and training services in the area of equity and anti-racism. This year, in particular, there have been lots of people in our community interested in learning how their organization can support racial justice.

2. How does the work you do impact women in your community?

It is the amazing group I work with, not just me, that impact women in our community.

I have staff who run some amazing programs – clubs for newcomer girls, parenting groups for 15 different ethno-cultural communities, a leadership program for racialized women – but what’s key is that we always try to focus on what the women bring to those groups, not what our organization brings to these women. I love our approach! We think this approach generates so many possibilities.

3. How has living through this pandemic shaped your work?

When I signed up for this job, I thought I knew what I was signing up for … and then the pandemic hit. And it all changed. But this is life in general, isn’t it?

I think living and working in the pandemic has just highlighted the things that need to happen, no matter what – keep learning, keep listening to those around you, and take care of yourself.

4. Who are the women you draw inspiration from?

When I read this question, it reminded me of some evaluation work I took on for a leadership program for black youth. I met with the adult mentors first and my icebreaker was to ask them “who were your role models when you were youth?” The discussion was so much richer than I could have imagined. We dove into a deep discussion about how it was hard to find women who looked like us that could be our inspiration.

That’s why I love this series that you are doing Alicia – you are highlighting diverse women from our own community. Reminding women that inspiration comes in many form, colors, shapes, abilities and talents.

I draw inspiration from the women in my family, in my community, in my workplace, in my groups of friends and colleagues. I am very lucky.

5. How can we support the work you’re involved in?

Visit our website – www.mfrsedmonton.org – sign up to our newsletter, learn about our organization and what we do. We need volunteers for our board, if you are interesting in exploring new ways of serving community that is anti-oppressive and collaborative. Our organization is shortly going to be offering a series of events on learning and raising money for our emergency fund (which helps families in dire need) – all of these things you can learn about by signing up for our newsletter.

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Thank you so much Roxanne! Truly grateful for the work you do and for the relationship we have!