Heather Meara Thomas
Founder & CEO
Heather Meara Thomas is a highly respected social worker, consultant, and mentor with over 25 years of experience supporting youth and families across the Greater Toronto Area and Region of Peel. As the visionary Founder and Executive Director of HM Youth Foundation, she has championed youth advocacy, empowerment, and healing-centered programs since 2020, creating affirming spaces where Black youth and families are seen, supported, and celebrated.Heather’s leadership has established cornerstone initiatives—including the Student Family Advocate Program, Black Students for Success Initiative, and Youth Table Talks—all of which focus on education equity, cultural affirmation, and holistic support for youth navigating systemic barriers.
In recognition of her trailblazing impact, Heather was awarded the 2025 Beverley Antle Trailblazer Award and the 2022 Distinguished Social Worker Award by the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). These honors reflect her sustained excellence and commitment to anti-Black racism advocacy, anti-oppressive practice, and youth leadership development.
A proud Black, Métis, and multiracial woman, Heather brings a deeply personal and intersectional perspective to her work. Adopted into a white family in 1969 and later reuniting with her birth family 28 years later, she often shares her story to inspire healing and transformation in others. Her combined lived experience and professional expertise allow her to connect with diverse audiences, from youth and families to educators and community leaders.Heather also brings extensive media and public speaking experience, having worked as a news anchor and co-host. She regularly represents HM Youth Foundation in conversations on equity, resilience, and youth empowerment. Her guiding belief—“All youth are our future, and none can be left behind”—drives her mission to create lasting change in systems, communities, and lives.