BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2022
Happy Black History Month 2022!
This year’s theme is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day.
The child welfare and children’s mental health sectors have prioritized the need to develop equity based approaches to services by building a foundation which is anti-racist, trauma informed and healing centered. This framework for services can only be achieved through changes in our agency culture, practice, systems, structures and by building alliances with the community.
We know that the child welfare sector has an overrepresentation of Black children and families receiving service. Eliminating disproportionality and disparity in outcomes for Black children and youth is our goal. We have made notable progress in working to better serve Black families through the work of the One Vision One Voice committee and through the tireless work and commitment of our Afri-CAN Carib Connexions staff group, however we are aware that we have a long way to go. In children and youth mental health we have heard the voices of Black and Indigenous youth in the report released last week and we must bring their recommendations to action.
We welcome the opportunity to recognize and celebrate BHM by sharing a list of community-based Black History Month events. We encourage you to participate, get involved, and share any other events you are aware of so we can include them on the list below.
We hope you will join in the celebration of Black history today and every day.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS 2022
GRAND PREMIERE OF “THE PORTER” (CBC TV mini-series).
The Porter is a Canadian television drama series, premiering on CBC Television on February 21, 2022. The series will depict the history of Black Canadian and African-American men who worked as Pullman porters in the period following World War I, leading to the 1925 creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters as the first Black-led labour union. https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/program/the-porter
BRADFORD WEST GWILLIMBURY PUBLIC LIBRARY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT
African Voyages: a virtual performance: Celebrate Black History Month with an interactive performance with Juno Nominated musician, composer, dancer and educator Njacko Backo!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/african-voyages-a-virtual-performance-tickets-244505260817
THE CITY OF BARRIE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
https://www.barrie.ca/Culture/Festivals/Pages/BlackHistoryMonth.aspx
SIMCOE COUNTY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS’ BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICK-OFF EVENT
February 4th, 2022 (7:00PM-9:00pm)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-simcoe-county-black-history-month-kick-off-tickets-256253911347
February 11: Rise! Watch Party
Rise! examines the long road to civil rights, when the deep contradictions in American society finally became unsustainable. Free for adults and teens. Virtual, 3:30 – 4:30 pm on Friday, February 11. Registration link: https://innisfil.bibliocommons.com/events/61c4ddc7e2c143420089cc93
February 12: Storytime with Roxann Whittingham
Join multi-talented local Caribbean author, Graduation Coach, Change Maker, and owner of Ms. Hotty Hotty, the one and only Roxann Whittingham for a special Family Storytime to celebrate Black History Month! Roxann will share her own writing and talk about some African and Jamaican proverbs perfect for every family. Free for all ages on Zoom. February 12th, 10:30 – 11:00am. Registration link: https://innisfil.bibliocommons.com/events/61e98ec4950fa036000ce1bc
February 18: Spotlight on the Caribbean Cooking Class
Join Roxann Whittingham, owner of Ms Hotty Hotty Jerk Marinade for a live, virtual cooking class as she puts her heart and soul into cooking classic Caribbean food. Participants will receive an ingredient box that includes the recipe and all the necessary ingredients so you can cook along with ease! Registration link: https://anc.ca.apm.activecommunities.com/activeinnisfil/activity/search/detail/4196?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
Alternatively, people can email scorcoran@innisfil.ca if they want to attend but purchase their own ingredients.
February 22: Celebrating Black Excellence Panel Discussion
Join us for this Simcoe-wide library initiative to celebrate local Black excellence and hear from leaders in our communities. The Innisfil ideaLAB & Library has joined forces with six other libraries (Barrie, Collingwood, Midland, New Tecumseth, Orillia, and Ramara) to offer this panel discussion. Free for adults virtually on Zoom February 22nd, 7:00pm.
Registration link: http://barrielibrary.libnet.info/event/5941792
YORK UNIVERSITY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS (The Harriet Tubman Institute)
https://www.yorku.ca/tubmandev/event/black-history-month-2022/
RYERSON UNIVERSITY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
http://www.rsuonline.ca/events/event:61/Ryerson-Black-History-Month
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
CITY OF TORONTO BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS
https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/black-history-month/
LUNCH & LEARN FEATURING LA MAISON FRANCOPHONE
Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 at 12PM
La Maison is a multi-service center that offers accommodation to Francophone women and their dependents experiencing domestic and family violence. Many of the women and children serviced by La Maison are of African decent. Come join and listen to the staff educate us about this unique service.
CHILDREN’S STORYTELLING HOUR WITH DJENNIE LAGUERRE
Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 at 4:30PM
Come join the charming and entertaining Djennie Laguerre also known as Madame Bonheur (TVOKIDS & MiniTFO). Best known for her roles on stage and screen, Djennie is a bilingual multifaceted artist who uses her Haitian heritage to tell stories in French & English. Her show is devoted to the ancient oral tradition. She will not disappoint. This fantastic storyteller, actor, dancer, and writer transports her audience into the magical and wonderful world of storytelling.
UNTANGLING THE ROOTS & UNDERSTANDING THE KINKS IN BLACK HAIR, FEATURING DR. CHERYL THOMPSON
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 from 11AM to 12:30PM
This provocative interactive workshop with special guest Dr. Cheryl Thompson, Ryerson University Professor and author of Beauty in a Box: Detangling the Roots of Canada’s Black Beauty Culture will feature ITAV members staff and youth sharing their own stories. The audience is invited to share their own personal hair journeys within an ARAO context in an effort to help staff and caregivers understand the history, the politics and uniqueness of Black hair, the importance of hair care and meanings behind grooming for Black/Biracial children and youth in care.
STORYTIME WITH JODY NYASHA WARNER
Thursday, February 17th, 2022 at 4:30PM
Come join us as Canadian author Jody Nyasha Warner reads her book, Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged! Jody is a writer, human rights advisor and former librarian. She was inspired to write this book because so much African Canadian history is either not well known or not documented.
SPOTLIGHTING SISTERS WITH VOICES. AN INTIMATE SIT DOWN WITH JULLY BLACK FOLLOWED BY ARTIST KATASHA J
Thursday, February 24th, 2022 from 4:30PM to 6PM
Come spend an intimate evening with two phenomenal Black women in the music industry. Jully Black is a veteran songstress/entertainer in the Canadian and international entertainment scene. She has garnered the title of queen of R&B and soul and is a recent inductee into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Katasha J. (niece of our dear Andrea Mills), is creating her own space in the Toronto music scene. These talented artists will share their personal journeys and stories of triumph and trials. They will also treat us to rare virtual live performances to end the month’s festivities.