The Edmonton Intercultural Centre (EIC) is a community full of love, caring, and support. In this and future articles, we will inform readers of the non-profit organizations operating in the EIC facility in order to bring light to their many good deeds.

The Ribbon Rouge Foundation is a grassroots organization committed to advancing health equity and social justice through the arts. By using storytelling, community-engaged art, and intentional dialogue, Ribbon Rouge helps raise awareness, shift public perceptions, and foster meaningful social change. Their work centres on uplifting the voices of those facing racialized health disparities - especially African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities - and tackling the intersection of race and gender in health outcomes.

Health disparities remain a pressing concern. In 2014, the rate of new HIV infections among ACB communities in Canada was approximately six times higher than among the general population. By 2017, nearly half of all new HIV diagnoses among women were among Black women. These figures highlight not only a public health crisis but also a systemic failure to address the broader socioeconomic and cultural forces contributing to these inequities.

To combat these challenges, Ribbon Rouge launched the Black Equity in Alberta Rainforest (B.E.A.R) initiative: a socially innovative, research-driven effort focused on dismantling systemic barriers to health for ACB communities. Guided by an ACB Leadership Caucus, B.E.A.R works collaboratively with academic partners to generate data, produce 13 interdisciplinary reports, and develop multimedia tools that inform and support long-term policy and community solutions. The initiative includes nine sub-projects targeting health inequity measurement, justice mapping, community development, and arts-based engagement.

Complementing this, the Intersectoral Action Fund (ISAF) initiative builds cross-sector partnerships to address key social determinants of health including education, employment, income, and mental health. Through an advisory board and three working subgroups, ISAF works to strengthen community capacity, encourage evidence-based planning, and implement targeted equity-focused action plans. The goal is to share these findings and models at regional and national levels to scale impact and inspire broader change.

Ribbon Rouge is proud to be a member tenant of the Edmonton Intercultural Centre (EIC), a community hub that supports collaboration among non-profit organizations working to build inclusive, empowered communities. As part of EIC’s diverse network, Ribbon Rouge benefits from a shared space that fosters connection, resource sharing, and intercultural dialogue -further strengthening its ability to serve ACB communities across Alberta.

To learn more about Ribbon Rouge Foundation’s work and upcoming initiatives, visit www.ribbonrouge.com.

Information provided by the Edmonton Intercultural Centre, which is located at 9538 107th Avenue.