Mona Loffelmann
For more than a decade, Mona Loffelmann has been a compassionate and dedicated leader who puts people at the center of everything she does. She is deeply committed to creating spaces where individuals from all backgrounds feel valued, supported, and heard. Mona’s care extends well beyond any single community. She is known for her genuine concern for the mental, emotional, and overall well-being of everyone around her.
Through her leadership, Mona has developed and led outreach initiatives that support Black and other marginalized communities, creating meaningful partnerships and promoting equity in tangible ways. She is a thoughtful and effective communicator whose resilience, empathy, and strong organizational skills allow her to respond to community needs with care and purpose. Mona also shares her knowledge through education, training, and mentorship, helping others grow as inclusive and compassionate leaders.
Her dedication and impact have been recognized through honours such as the Inspiring Women Award, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and the Gale-Walker Community Award. Currently serving as the Project Coordinator and Cultural Navigator for AFRO’s Support Through Generations program and as Executive Director of AFRO, Mona continues to lead with heart, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting the wider community.
What are the most meaningful aspects of this person's work and life?
The most meaningful aspects of Mona’s work and life are deeply rooted in her lived experience, faith, and unwavering commitment to community. Mona is a dedicated Muslim, a single mother, and an immigrant to Canada. Through her own journey, and through listening to others in her community, she recognized significant gaps faced by Black immigrants and single mothers—particularly the lack of accessible, culturally responsive resources to help navigate complex systems and to support emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
In response, Mona founded the African Family Revival Organization (AFRO), which is now in its 10th year of service. AFRO is not just an organization—it is a reflection of Mona herself. She leads with compassion, integrity, and action. At AFRO, Mona supports individuals and families with housing navigation, mental health support, employment assistance, youth and children’s programming, senior support, and, often, simply being a listening ear. Even when operating at full capacity, she continues to show up as a leader, advocate, and helper.
Mona is also a strong and fearless advocate for Black rights in the Waterloo Region. She is not afraid to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult. Her Islamic principles guide how AFRO operates—ensuring the organization functions in a halal, ethical, and inclusive way. Everyone who walks through AFRO’s doors is treated like family and made to feel seen, supported, and valued.
Mona’s life and work embody service, justice, and care. Her impact is felt not only through the programs she has built, but through the dignity, safety, and hope she brings to the community every single day.
How has this individual overcome the challenges they face?
Mona has overcome immense challenges with resilience, faith, and determination. As a single mother, she raised her three children in Canada largely on her own, with limited community support. Despite the barriers she faced, she ensured her children grew up with strong character, values, and a deep sense of responsibility—reflecting the same integrity and strength she embodies herself.
As a Black Muslim woman and immigrant, Mona encountered countless systemic, social, and personal challenges. Rather than allowing these obstacles to hold her back, she continued to rise, consistently showing up for her family and her community. Her faith has been a guiding force, grounding her through adversity and giving her the strength to persevere when the path forward was difficult.
Today, Mona is a successful nonprofit founder who gives others what she once needed herself—support, understanding, advocacy, and hope. Her impact is especially visible within the Somali and Eritrean communities, where her work supports entire families across generations. Through her leadership, Mona has transformed hardship into purpose and challenge into lasting community change.
How has this individual empowered you and/or our communities?
Mona has deeply empowered both me and our broader community through her example of faith, courage, and selfless service. To me, she represents what it means to dream big, aim high, and continue doing good while trusting in Allah’s plan. Against all odds, she persevered—believing in herself, but more importantly, placing her trust in Allah throughout her journey.
Through her work, Mona continues to fight for the rights of others and serves her community with sincerity and humility. Her leadership reminds us that meaningful work must be rooted in intention, integrity, and care for others. She consistently emphasizes the importance of ensuring that our actions remain halal and guided by Islamic principles.
On a personal level, Mona has inspired me to pursue my own dreams with confidence and faith—to trust Allah even when the path feels uncertain. She is a constant reminder that while this world matters, the hereafter is far more important, and that serving others for the sake of Allah is one of the most powerful forms of empowerment.
Name a Black Muslim woman who has been an inspiration to you and why
My mother, Allah yaa rahamuhaa, has been my greatest inspiration. She was a single mother after my father passed away when I was just four years old, and she raised me and my two brothers on her own. She truly started from the bottom and worked her way up with resilience, faith, and determination. Through everything, she taught us to be as honest as possible in order to survive and to live with integrity in this life, and that this honesty will also help us in the Akhira. Her strength, sacrifice, and unwavering values continue to guide me every day.