CityNews interviews Marci Gray about the alarming number of Black youth that have gone missing across the GTA

PhD Student, Course Instructor and Adjunct Lecturer Marci Gray spoke to CityNews about the alarming number of Black boys that went missing last year across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The issue recently sparked a virtual town hall held by Brampton’s Black Empowerment Unit. (A video of the community meeting is posted on the City of Brampton’s YouTube page.)

According to the CityNews report, in 2024, 200 youth, 12 to 17 years old, went missing in the GTA. Of those, 100 were Black, and four still remain to be found.

Gray told CityNews that our systems — from mental health and health care systems, to the criminal justice system and the education system — are failing Black youth. She emphasized the importance of examining these systems to determine how to make things better for Black youth.

Gray is a Clinician, Registered Social Worker, Author, Speaker, Adult Educator, Consultant, Media Guest Expert and Mental Health Advocate who has worked in the field of social services for over 20 years.  She is also an adjunct lecturer for FIFSW contributing to the education of social work students.

Gray is the founder of Gray Matter Health a Counselling and Consulting firm where she provides individual, couple, and family therapy as well as consulting work on Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Psychological Health & Safety.  She is also the Author of The Empowerment Planner, a Mental Health and Wellness tool created to improve mindset, well-being, and resilience. Her PhD research at FIFSW focuses on the impact of racism on mental health which includes explorations of racial trauma, the stigma of mental illness in the Black community and the psychological health of racialized employees in the workplace.

Gray continues to do specialized work in this area speaking for non-profits, collaborating with corporations and providing trainings for government organizations.  In addition, she provides expert advice for media, appearing on Cityline, Breakfast Television, Global, CTV News, and Your Morning.