Inequality creates societal gaps and prevents marginalized populations from achieving their human potential. Part of reaching one’s dreams is being able to grow roses out of concrete, a notion that has purposefully driven the work of Wesley Crichlow, PhD, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, and social justice activist who strives to empower disadvantaged youth. Grounded in his Caribbean roots, Dr. Crichlow is motivated by cultural identity and race, and his research concentrates on ensuring marginalized voices are heard, by providing the legal framework to improve the conditions for those whose lives have historically been impoverished or discriminated against. He aims to remove the barriers to equality and raise the consciousness of policy makers and stakeholders who can affect positive change. Dr. Crichlow brings more than 23 years of research, teaching and community university activism in the areas of critical equity, critical race theory, social justice, Black masculinities studies, and queer activism from an intersectional and interdisciplinary perspective. His latest community-based study investigates the impacts of criminalization on LGBTQI incarcerated youth and adults, and the implications for Canadian legal and correctional policy. He aims to establish a strength-based research program for adapting and piloting evidence-based healthcare interventions for African, Caribbean and Black men in Toronto. On an international scale, he is collaborating with researchers from Toronto’s Ryerson University, Latin America and the Caribbean to investigate ways to improve the human rights agenda by expanding knowledge to protect children’s rights for youth. Dr. Crichlow and his colleagues will provide key recommendations to strengthen their rights, consistent with Article 19 of the UN Convention. He joined UOIT in 2003, and has contributed to the development of substantial social justice and equity policies at UOIT. Previously, Dr. Crichlow spent four years as an Assistant Professor in Social Work & Law at Ottawa’s Carleton University. His desire to engage in critical thinking for social transformation and improve human conditions prompted him to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Law & Society from York University, earn a Master of Education in Sociology and Equity Studies, and a Doctorate in Critical Pedagogy, both from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto.