About JACEF

Built to stay long after the ribbon is cut.

We are a foundation of 12 staffs and volunteers working with over 15 communities partners. We fund local solutions to structural problems — and we stay until they hold on their own.

Funded in Edmonton, Alberta: 2026Funded in Edmonton, Alberta
Communities partners: 15Communities partners
Local staff: 12Local staff

Edmonton, Alberta committee

How it started

We are a group of Liberian and Canadian professionals with diverse expertise in the corporate, religious, research, and educational fields. Together, we have built an organization that brings together committed refugees, immigrants, permanent residents, those seeking permanent residency, and Canadian citizens to work alongside diverse communities. Our shared goal is to strengthen refugee, immigrant, newcomer, and underserved populations through unity and integration.

Our vision was born on November 14, 2023. After a series of thorough consultations to ensure the organization's name and identity reflected the standards of a reputable institution, we formally founded the organization on June 10, 2026. Since then, we have set out to rethink how non-profits operate and to strengthen the communities they serve. We believe that today's challenges call for modern solutions, and that belief led to the creation of the Joint Academic Consultancy Empowerment Foundation (JACEF).

Vision & mission

What we are working toward, and how we get there.

Our vision

To become Canada's leading multicultural educational and community development organization, transforming lives through education, innovation, leadership, and community engagement, while ensuring that every refugee, immigrant, and underserved child and family has the opportunity, support, and resources needed to achieve academic excellence and lifelong success.

We envision thriving communities where education serves as the foundation for opportunity, innovation, resilience, inclusion, and lasting social change.

Our mission

Joint Academic Consultancy Empowerment Foundation (JACEF) International exists to empower refugee, immigrant, and underserved children, youth, young adults, and families by providing equitable access to quality education, academic support, STEM learning, mentorship, leadership development, and community-based programs that foster lifelong learning, social inclusion, and economic opportunity.

Through strategic partnerships, dedicated volunteers, and innovative educational initiatives, we strive to eliminate barriers to success, strengthen families, nurture confident learners, and develop ethical leaders who make meaningful contributions to their communities and to Canadian society.

Core values

Eight commitments, taken literally.

Excellence

We pursue the highest standards in education, leadership, innovation, and service delivery.

Integrity

We conduct our work with honesty, transparency, accountability, and professionalism.

Equity

We believe every individual deserves equal access to opportunities regardless of their background or circumstances.

Compassion

We serve with empathy, dignity, respect, and genuine concern for the well-being of every individual and family.

Innovation

We embrace creativity and evidence-based solutions to address emerging educational and social challenges.

Collaboration

We believe meaningful and sustainable change is achieved through partnerships with families, schools, governments, businesses, and community organizations.

Leadership

We inspire and develop ethical leaders who positively impact their communities.

Diversity and Inclusion

We celebrate multiculturalism and foster environments where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.

Milestones

2026, in order.

2026

Founded

Edmonton, Alberta.

Leadership & staff

The people who carry the work.

Our chief executive, finance lead and programme staff — the team that answers for every promise we make.

Adeen T. Juwillie, Jr.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Educator, public health professional and clinical mental health counsellor in training, with more than a decade in education and nine years of person-centred work in mental health, disability, housing and youth services. He holds a Master of Public Health in Applied Epidemiology from the University of Liberia, and founded JACEF to turn that experience into opportunity for children, youth, newcomers, refugees and families.

Emmanuel Sayue Wleh

Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Director of Hoopers Academy Edmonton, with a decade of experience supporting vulnerable adults, children and people in addiction recovery, plus years of service as a deputy returning and counting officer with Elections Canada and Elections Alberta.

Barbara Juah Doe-Quarbo

Co-Chief Financial Officer & Administrator (CFOA)

Finance, administration and nonprofit management professional with more than a decade of experience in grants administration, internal controls and resource stewardship, including fiduciary oversight of donor-funded programs at the University of Liberia College of Health Sciences. She holds an MBA in Accounting from the University of Liberia.

Daniel T. Sellu

Co-Founder & Founding Director

Administration and social welfare professional with over a decade of experience across the Liberian Ministry of Health, the Liberian Senate, the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Sun Yat-sen University and now works with Catholic Social Services supporting families rebuilding after housing loss.

Gina Marie Wleh

Founding Director; Founding Member

With 27 years in healthcare and 20 years supporting children and youth through foster care, she brings deep experience in care, advocacy and mentorship. She champions stability, belonging and positive relationships for children, youth, newcomers and families, and a people-centred, collaborative approach to JACEF's leadership.

Accountability

Trust is a structure, not a slogan.

Three rules govern every programme and every dollar, whether it arrives from a grant or a one-off gift of $25.

Local committees

Every programme has a resident committee that reviews the budget and signs off on spending before it happens.

Measured in public

We publish quarterly results in full, including the programmes that underperformed and what we changed.

Independently audited

Accounts are audited annually and presented at an open meeting. 100% of every dollar reaches programmes.

Get involved

Give a season.
Change a decade.

A recurring gift lets us commit to a community for years, not months. One gift funds a scholar's full year, a week of mobile clinic, or 300 meals in the community kitchen.

Donate Volunteer instead

Registered charity · Annual report published each March