“The need was there, it has always been there, and we in the community saw it long before the government recognized it. We were innovators in creatively meeting those needs.“

-Djakomo

Djakomo’s work has primarily focused on the cultural aspects of several Black anglophone and Haitian community organizations until the 1990s, before becoming more involved in literacy and French language training for newcomers, thus addressing the linguistic and academic challenges faced by young people and their parents.

Djakomo emphasizes that schools do not always provide adequate support, which leads families to turn to community organizations. According to him, the strength of one of the Haitian organizations he worked for lies in its rigorous and consistent support, which motivates young people to persevere. Djakomo notes that some larger BCSEs, including some he worked for, have been able to extend their influence and impact beyond their own organizations, particularly through collaboration with Local Community Service Centers (CLSCs). However, Djakomo points out that these same provincial bodies have prohibited community clinics established by BCSEs and other community organizations.