Tanya 2019-4.jpg

TANYA TURTON, BSW, MSW

Hailing from Jamaica, and raised in Toronto, Tanya Turton is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, educator, and mental health advocate. Graduating from Toronto Metropolitan University with a Bachelor of Social Work, Tanya’s work uses an intersectional lens to explore the relationship between narrative, mental wellness and care. As a graduate from Dalhousie’s Master of Social Work program, Tanya’s work cultivates frameworks for collective care rooted in practical approaches to equity. 

As a wellness world builder Tanya takes steps to tell intersectional stories, and construct a world for Black and queer communities to feel heard, seen, and witnessed. Tanya is the author of Jade Is a Twisted Green, A coming-of-age story about Jamaican Canadian identity, love, passion, chosen family, and rediscovering life’s pleasures after loss. The founder and Executive Director of Adornment Stories Collective, a Mental Health grassroots non-profit for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and non-binary communities to tell their stories through a plurality of creative means while building their capacity. The Lead Educator and founder of NiaZamar an intersectional education platform, a love centred community and a space for reclaiming freedom via self-care and collective-care. Her work centres early engagement mental health initiatives and intersectional frameworks of engagement. Mixing wellness, narratives, education and mental health advocacy she offers a unique blend of engaging tools to meet people where they are. 

Author | Facilitator | Founder

World Building at the intersection of narrative and care.

Copy of Adornment-Stories-18.png

About

The spaces created by Tanya have grown to be a movement. Her vision is to build collective care spaces that reminds people there is no need to simply survive, we can thrive.

Learn More
IMG_1575.jpg

Join the Movement

Are you seeking an educator to talk storytelling, self-love or mental wellness

Book me
“Tanya did such an amazing job creating space and levity around the topic of mental health. She was incredible. And she was definitely the best dressed, by far.”
— Ryan, Arts and Minds
““As a facilitator, Tanya accesses individuals in a way that leaves an impression that lasts a life time. She is a leader in her community sharing with us through humor, pop culture, and self-knowledge. Through attending her workshops, I have learned to make wigs, felt empowered to start a business and/or understand how sacred my labour is, and be kinder to myself as a being on this earth. I strongly believe there is no one better in Toronto to lead an aesthetically empowering resource for Black femme identified people.””
— Kamika Peters , Community Artist
“In the time that I have known Tanya, she has exhibited exceptional commitment and passion to the organization and community development and engagement in general. Participants of the program have praised her for her work. I am extremely impressed with her dedication and work ethic to this project and to the organization.”
— Stachen Frederick Executive Director, BrAIDS for AIDS

JADE IS A TWISTED GREEN

NiaZamar: Redefining Beauty

Adornment Stories

Tanya Turton

Bachelors in Social Work | Certified Facilitator | Award Winning Entrepreneur | Published Storyteller

Using storytelling, safe space and education, Tanya has created safer spaces for Black women, LGBTQ community and youth to feel heard, seen and witnessed. Tanya is a change maker in community with personal experience facilitating 500+ workshops across North America, and developing programs for various organizations.

Tanya has over a decade of experience in wellness education, community engagement and non-profit. Over the years she has launched two initiatives. Adornment Stories is a grass roots non-profit for Black women and femmes navigating mental health challenges to use beauty and digital storytelling to transform their experiences. Also NiaZamar: Redefining Beauty a Love centred community supporting  Black women and femmes claiming ownership of their freedom via wellness education and intersectional solidarity.

Her writing can be found in Shameless Magazine providing safe space and guiding tools for self-love. Tanya is the author of Jade Is a Twisted Green, A coming-of-age story about Jamaican Canadian identity, love, passion, chosen family, and rediscovering life’s pleasures after loss.

Tanya is the Afropolitan Canada, 2020 Entrepreneur winner, recognized for the important work she is doing in the Toronto community

Wellness and mental health became close to her heart when her older sister, who she describes as a beauty pageant socialite, died by suicide. This event forever changed her life and her investment in community healing. In 2012, she graduated from Ryerson University with a Bachelors of Social Work degree. She later went on to complete the George Brown Entrepreneurship program in 2014. 

IMG_7066.JPG

With a background in facilitation and workshop development stemming as far back to 2008, Tanya has had an opportunity to weave arts and education together. Her work has provided her the opportunity to expand the conversation across North America. In her own arts practice Tanya built an interest in the relationship between adornment, storytelling and healing. She has used make-up artistry, hair artistry and photography to witness and affirm Black women and their stories. Tanya works at using her social enterprise NiaZamar: Redefining Beauty to create safer spaces for holistic wellness and healing. Members are everyone from activist, artist, students, professors, executive directors, marketing associates and managerial consultants. Each seeking a space for spiritual renewal and reprieve. Her vision is to build collective care spaces that remind people there is no need to simply survive, we can thrive.

We deserve to be witnessed.