The Olive Branch of Hope Cancer Support Services

Let’s Talk Hair: Before, During & After Treatment

Hair loss, regrowth, texture changes, scalp sensitivity.

Your hair journey during and after treatment can bring up many emotions and questions.

Together, we’ll discuss:
✨ Caring for your hair and scalp during treatment
✨ Managing hair loss and protecting sensitive skin
✨ Hair regrowth after treatment and what to expect
✨ Natural hair care tips and protective styling options
✨ Rebuilding confidence and embracing your beauty at every stage

🗓 Date: Tuesday, Jun 2, 2026
⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Zoom Meeting

To Register Visit Link in Bio or rebrand.ly/TOBOHSupport

Another opportunity for Screening in Toronto

In partnership with @‌Women’s College Hospital, we are engaging an Afrocentric and community-based approach to create a safe and welcoming space for Black women to get screened for and . HPV (Pap) tests and mammograms will be provided, as well as screening assessment.

The event will provide arts-based activities, mindfulness sessions, refreshments, and more.

📅 Thursday, June 4, 2026, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

📍 Women’s College Hospital (76 Grenville Street, Toronto)

Spots are limited. Learn more & register visit ➡️ https://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/cancer-screening-for-black-women-event/

Somewhere along the way, many of us were taught to push through, to wait, to put ourselves last.

But your well-being is not optional.

It’s okay to rest.
It’s okay to prioritize your appointments.
It’s okay to say, “I matter too.”

We were honoured to attend the Durham Black Educators Network (DBEN) Scholarship Awards presentation on May 21st in Ajax. This year marked our second time presenting The Olive Branch of Hope Scholarship, supporting a student pursuing a future in healthcare which is a commitment that continues to inspire our work.

💗 Congratulations to Meera Nelson, a standout student from Dunbarton High School in Pickering, who will be beginning her Nursing studies at Carleton University this fall.

Leila Springer and Donnaree Tucker were proud to present this year’s award and celebrate Meera’s dedication to service, learning, and community.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to DBEN for the impactful work they do to uplift and support Black students, educators, families, and communities across the Durham District School Board (DDSB). Your advocacy and leadership continue to open doors and create lasting impact.
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Busy or not, your health can’t wait.

Your life matters more than your schedule.

For so many women—balancing work, family, and everything in between—your health often gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

But here’s the reality:
Your health is what allows you to show up for everything and everyone else.

Join us on Saturday, May 23, 2026, for the EmpowerHER Breast & Reproductive Health Wellness & Screening Event

📍 Lakeridge Health Oshawa – Hospital Court
🕘 Doors open at 9am | Event runs 10am–3pm

Spots are limited, so don’t wait!
Secure yours now, visit https://rebrand.ly/empowerheroshawa

💗 What’s In Your Hair Matters

Beauty products shouldn’t come at the cost of your health.
We’ve been taught to focus on how it looks—but not always what it contains.

Some hair products and extensions may expose us to harmful chemicals that affect our hormones and increase cancer risk.

And for Black women, that exposure is often higher.

It’s time to shift the conversation:
💗 Beauty AND health can coexist
💗 Awareness is power
💗 You deserve safer options

Because your health is part of your beauty.

For the full article, see - https://nypost.com/2026/02/11/health/popular-beauty-accessory-linked-to-cancer-hormone-issues/

May 17 was World Hypertension Day—a reminder that blood pressure is more than a number, especially for Black women.

High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer,” but its impact is loud—affecting heart health, pregnancy outcomes, and even cancer care.

For Black women navigating breast and reproductive health, hypertension can:
💗 Increase risks during pregnancy (like preeclampsia)
💗 Complicate treatment and recovery
💗 Worsen long-term health outcomes

That’s why awareness matters.

Know your numbers.
Ask questions at your appointments.
Advocate for care that truly sees you.

Your health journey is interconnected—heart, breast, mind, and body.

Taking care of one is taking care of all.

We are honoured to welcome Shireen & Che Spencer as they share their powerful lived experience navigating breast cancer together. 💕

From diagnosis and treatment to caregiving, faith, marriage, and recovery, their story is one of resilience, vulnerability, and unwavering love. Together, they will speak openly about what it truly means to stand beside one another through life’s hardest seasons — and how choosing connection, hope, and faith helped carry them through.💗

Join us for this heartfelt conversation:
✨ “I Still Say, ‘I Do’: Navigating Marriage, Caregiving & Breast Cancer Together”

Join us on Saturday, May 23, 2026, for the EmpowerHER Breast & Reproductive Health Wellness & Screening Event

📍 Lakeridge Health Oshawa – Hospital Court
🕘 Doors open at 9am | Event runs 10am–3pm

Spots are limited, so don’t wait!
Secure yours now via link in bio or visit https://rebrand.ly/empowerheroshawa

Michele is the former Executive Vice-President, Patient Care Services, Community Partnerships and Health System Integration at one of Toronto’s largest hospitals serving a richly multicultural population. With more than 38 years of healthcare experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating client-focused change initiatives across complex healthcare systems.

Throughout her distinguished career, Michele has demonstrated visionary leadership and a deep commitment to advancing organizational transformation and meaningful culture change. Her ability to inspire, mentor, and lead diverse, high-performing teams has helped shape more equitable and community-centered approaches to care.

Michele’s extensive experience and passion for improving health outcomes strongly align with the mission and vision of The Olive Branch of Hope. As we continue our work supporting and advocating for Black women and families impacted by breast cancer, we are confident that her insight, wisdom, and strategic guidance will be an invaluable asset to our organization.

We are honored to welcome Michele James to our leadership team and look forward to the innovation, compassion, and leadership she will bring to The Olive Branch of Hope.