The Black Experience Project

Keith Neuman, Ph.D., CMRP is the Executive Director of the Environics Institute, a non-profit research organization founded in 2006 to promote public opinion and social research on important issues of public policy and social change in Canada. The Institute sees public opinion research as a valuable lens that enables organizations and citizens to better understand their own diverse and evolving society. Keith has directed a number of groundbreaking studies, including the first-ever Survey of Muslims in Canada, the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study, and most recently the Black Experience in the GTA.

Previous to this role, Keith held senior positions with leading research firms in Toronto, Halifax and Ottawa. His work has covered many sectors and types of clients, with much of the focus on public affairs, social and environmental issues at the national, regional and local levels. Keith holds a Ph.D. in Social Ecology from the University of California, and is a Fellow of the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association. He is a frequent media commentator on social trends and public opinion

Marva is a highly sought facilitator, moderator and speaker. With diversity and inclusivity as an imperative, she provides clients with courage to transform their leadership vision.

Marva has provided leadership as part of the team for an expansive and ground-breaking research study; the Black Experience Project (GTA), since its 2010 initiation by the Environics Institute. The final report for the study was released publicly on July 19, 2017, and has been well received by the community-at-large. Study details, partners, sponsors and the accompanying video can be found at: www.theblackexperienceproject.ca

Additionally, she is the co-founding president and managing director of Canadian Black History Projects.

Her recognitions include Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal; YWCA’s Woman of Distinction; JCA’s Community Volunteer Leadership Award and Police and Community Service Award of Excellence. Marva has an M.A. (Leadership) from University of Guelph and serves on its Leadership Advisory Board.

Len Rudner is Principal at Len Rudner & Associates, a consultancy focusing on community advocacy, diversity & inclusion and human rights. He is the former Director of Community Relations and Outreach for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

Prior to working with CIJA Len was employed in successive roles with Canadian Jewish Congress, acting as Ontario Regional Director, National Director of Community Relations and Ontario Director of Community Relations. He has represented the position of the Jewish community on a variety of issues including antisemitism, discrimination in the workplace, reasonable accommodation and Holocaust denial. He has represented CIJA and CJC at international conferences focusing on Holocaust education, antisemitism, hate speech and freedom of speech.