Image source: GeorgeBrown.ca
As part of its annual celebration of Black History Month, George Brown College is hosting 14 events celebrating Black students and recognizing Black culture. To get you up to speed about all the events, seminars and celebrations happening throughout the month, we’ve compiled a list of everything the college is doing and how you can get involved.
Week One
The month-long celebrations began today with an opening ceremony titled Black Futures Month. GBC president Dr. Gervan Fearon and other leaders of the Black community will speak at the event.
On February 2, students can participate in events with a particular focus on anti-racism education. The first event is a panel featuring four speakers who would also focus on African indigenous reclamation and healing.
The other event on Wednesday is a roundtable discussion on Black Experiences in Canada program led by Megan Ewing, who is a project manager at GBC. This course will explore how Black people in Canada have expressed themselves and created culture and community.
Further to the theme of Black Futures, there will be a student panel discussion on February 3 where current GBC students would discuss what Black futures mean to them.
Week Two
Celebrity chef and cookbook author Raquel Fox, a GBC graduate, will connect with students on February 8 to share her expertise about navigating and succeeding in the culinary world. Her cookbook Dining in Paradise: A Food Lover’s Dream of Family Style Dining in the Bahamas, showcases more than 150 authentic Bahamian recipes.
However, there is more on the menu for culinary students and enthusiasts at GBC. Chef Andrew Drummond, another GBC graduate and successful entrepreneur of a catering business, will host an event on February 10 to answer questions of GBC students.
Week Three
In the third week of February, the college will host two panels on the mental health impacts of racism.
Donovan McKenzie, advocate and founder of Heart of a Man, an initiative that works on providing counseling, particularly for Black men, will attend a panel on February 15.
Heart of a Man works with the understanding that Black men experience unique mental and emotional anxiety and challenges and strives to normalize and encourage Black men to seek therapy.
There will be a second panel on the same day, that will explore the different nuances of racism and take a deeper look at racial trauma at the workplace and other social settings.
Another panel on February 16 will feature Constable Joy Brown of Peel Police and a human trafficking survivor and advocate K’Mesha Maloney, among other guests, for a discussion on the issues of sexual and gender-based violence and human trafficking. The speakers will raise awareness about protecting vulnerable groups of people from such crimes.
Week Four
The last week of events will feature GBC alumni and other successful Black professionals who will share their roads to success with the GBC community.
Some of the guests this week will include founder of Challenging The Outcome Wendy LaRose, Environmental Civil/Transportation Engineer Patrick Garel and Chef Anthony Bradshaw, among other guests.
The series of events will conclude with a closing ceremony on February 24, where GBC Office of Anti-Racism, Equity and Human Rights Director Jennifer Grant is expected to share the new opportunities that the college aims to create in its fight against racism.
Keep an eye on DialogNews.ca for news and features surrounding the college’s celebration of Black History Month throughout February.
