On February 1st, 2023 @ 4pm, the Community Race Relations Committee held a virtual launch for Black History Month 2023 in the Nogojiwanong/Peterborough, Ontario community. The live dialogue was facilitated by Harriet (Isioma) Okonji, CRRC’s Communications & Marketing Placement Student from the Trent School of Busines. Speakers included
CRRC Team Members:
Adebayo Makanju, Program & Events Facilitator
Kharington Petgrave, Social Justice Educator
Patricia Wilson, Community Advocate & Outreach Coordinator
Will Ward, Campus Outreach/Student Engagement Coordinator
Wacera Muriuki, IMPACT Leadership Placement Student
Victor Nwogu, IMPACT Leadership Placement Student
Topics covered in the event launch: Black Leadership/Black Futures Embracing Cultural Diversity within the Black Community Black Wellness
On Friday, February 10th @ 6pm, the CRRC and Urithi Black Academic Mentorship Program hosted the Black Artist Showcase: A tribute to Black Excellence at the Market Hall Performing Arts Center.
With MCs: Kharington Petgrave, CRRC’s social justice educator and Patricia Wilson, CRRC’s community advocate & outreach coordinator as well as founder of the Diverse Nature Collective, the first half of the show featured performances by spoken word poet, Laurin Isiekwena, and classical afrobeats group, The Homeboys.
The evening dinner was catered by the Makanju’s, Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine, and Island Hot Pot. Many thanks to the Isiekwena family for providing Nigerian pastries during the later evening show. The Black Artist Showcase during the second half of the program was MC’d by Laurette & Laurin Isiekwena, where we enjoyed the evening through poetry, music, and dancing.
The Black Leadership Symposium, the third event in a series of celebrations for Black History Month, was held at the Peterborough Public Library on Saturday, February 11th @ 12 pm. Our wonderful Social Justice Educator, Kharington Petgrave and UBA member Janessa Lewis were the driving forces behind the discussions. The symposium began with guest speakers, Chanté White and Stephen Wright during the first half of the program, where they shared their experiences with racism, representation, and political leadership in our community. The second half of the program was facilitated by Kharington Petgrave and Janessa Lewis, which involved an audience-oriented discussion, where participants had the opportunity to offer their thoughts about Black leadership, representation, mental health & well-being, and community building in Peterborough, and reflected on what they would want to see for BIPOC solidarity moving forward.
Lunch was catered by Black Honey Cafe and Metro on Chemong.
Thank you to our community partners, event sponsors, guest speakers and artists, staff and volunteers, and caterers: PTBO Downtown Business Improvement Area, Trent Central Student Association (Freedom Lounge), Fleming College, Market Place Performing Arts Centre, New Canadians Centre, Diverse Nature Collective, Kawartha World Issues Centre, and BLM Nogojiwanong.
Guest Speakers
Chante White
Stephen Wright
Artists
Laurin Isiekwena
The Homeboys
Ifeanyi Laurette Isiekwena
Adwoa (Priscilla Yeboaa)
Ibifuro Ibisiki
Niambi Tree
Ismaheel Adeosun
Stephanie John
The Entertainment Boys
Staff & Volunteers
CRRC
Czarina Garcia, Patricia Wilson, Kharington Petgrave, Adebayo Makanju, William Ward, Harriet Isioma Okonji, Wacera Muriuki, Victor Nwogu, Harpreet Malhi
UBAMP
Laurin Isiekwena, Dami Owolabi, Sofiat Olabimtan, Naomi Moka, Aaliyah Aboubaka, Janessa (Nessa) Lewis, Emmanuel Okerinde, Joi Ampadu, Stephanie John, Carey St Cyr
TCSA
Moriah Hillyer
Caterers
Adebayo & Semi Makanju, Island Cream Caribbean Cuisine, Island Hot Pot, Black Honey Cafe, Metro on Chemong, & the Isiekwena Family.