We are thrilled to present the second session of our Up Close & Personal – Anti-racism and Multiculturalism Workshops, titled “Leadership and Anti-Racism.”

Join us for this transformative workshop, where we will explore the crucial role of leadership in promoting inclusivity, embracing diversity, and combating racism through education and dialogue.  As leaders, we can drive meaningful change and create spaces where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.

This session will equip you with the tools and insights to become a force for positive transformation in your communities and beyond.

The moderator is Dr.Miriam Sekandi.

 

Dr. Miriam Sekandi

Dr. Miriam Sekandi is the CEO and Founder of Break Free Zone, a personal development platform for individuals desiring to break free from socio-cultural
conditioning that causes family and racial trauma. She is also a leading consultant, keynote speaker, and facilitator passionate about parenting, mental health and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is the author of the international bestselling book “It Takes a Village to Wreck a Child.” Her professional experience over the last 30 years includes education, training and consulting for secondary and post-secondary institutions, facilitating workshops and consulting for non-profits and post-secondary education in Canada.

Dr. Sekandi is a lecturer at the University of Alberta in the Secondary Education Teacher Education Program, Board Chair of the Alberta Black Therapists’ Network, and a Facilitator with Black Mental Health Canada.

She also leads implementing and integrating the Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Models for at-risk youth transitioning to independence within Boyle Street Community Services – Group Living Program.

Dr. Sekandi holds a Ph.D. in Secondary Education and an M.A. in Textiles and Clothing from the University of Alberta and a B.Ed and Dip. Ed from Uganda. She is passionate about and available to speak or consult on the following topics: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Racial Trauma, Intercultural Parenting for BIPOC, Self-Empowerment and Personal Development for Immigrants and Newcomers.

 

Dr. Love Nwigwe 

D. Love Nwabudo Nwigwe was born in Nigeria, raised in Italy, and now lives in Canada. She is the writer, director, and producer of the award-winning short movie on racial discrimination, “I Can’t Breathe,” funded by TelusStoryHive.

She is a quality-driven and accountable individual passionate about creative arts, writing movies, creating dramas, documentaries, fashion shows and creative activities that can engage people’s imagination with cultural dance and drumming.

She is the founder of Ugoeze Production & BI Consulting INC. Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, Founder of the International Women of Purpose Cultural Association Red Deer (Canada), Owner of Amore Natural Health and Wellness Clinic Red Deer (Canada.

She is a defender of human rights and peace, a woman of faith who detests injustice and thrives in equality, mutual respect, creativity, and opportunity to succeed.

Dr. Love is an anti-racism mentor who counsels the bullied community members for their skin colour.

She is married to Dr. Prince Nwigwe and is a mother of 4 children who positively impact
the world. She has received some prestigious awards, such as:  Sydney Corell Award 2017 (Charlotte, USA); Diversity Award 2018 Red Deer, Alberta, Canada , DDEA Humanitarian Award 2022; Baltimore (USA); NBCC FIL FRASER AWARD 2023 (Edmonton, Alberta)

 

Barhet Woldemariam

Barhet Woldemariam (she/her), and her family come from Eritrea, but she has spent much of her life on this side of the world. She came to Edmonton over 6 years ago and has deepened her commitment to engaging in community work that centers on the health and well-being of equity-deserving groups. She sits as a Board Member for the HIV Legal Network co-chairs the CHABAC Network Steering Committee, and is a former Board Chair of the Alberta Association for Immigrant Serving Agencies. She has worked at HIV Edmonton as Director of Programs and Services and as Director of Partnerships & National Initiatives, and currently serves as Executive Director at the Center for Race and Culture. She brings an intersection of lived experiences to her role as co-chair of the EndPovertyEdmonton Stewardship Round Table.Register

here: https://aspirehub.org/up-close-and-personal/

Rochelle Ignacio

Rochelle Ignacio (she/her) is the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement, a learning institute focused on solving major community challenges, including ending poverty, building youth futures, building belonging and addressing climate change. Rochelle brings a diverse range of experiences with her to her work, including a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology, an Occupational Health and Safety certificate, growing up in rural Alberta, and work experience across a broad range of sectors and roles.

Rochelle has also committed herself to community organizing by creating opportunities for Black mobility and belonging through projects such as Feed the Soul Dining Week which put a spotlight on Edmonton’s Black-owned food and beverage businesses, and the former Black Owned Market Edmonton, which created economic opportunities for Black business owners.

In her spare time, Rochelle loves to indulge in international travel, snowboarding, camp, connect with friends and family (over food), and spend time with her cat Marlo.

Rochelle is the recipient of CIBWE’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada (2022), Edify Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 awards (2021) as well as the African Caribbean Community Leader of the Year award (2020).

For more information regarding Rochelle’s portfolio, check out enidrosecollective.com / feedthesoulyeg.ca / LinkedIn Profile

Nneka Otogbolu

Nneka Otogbolu (BSc. MBA. MSc.IM) is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at ECF. Nneka comes to the Foundation with several years of non-profit experience, most recently as executive director of a community-focused science charity in Vancouver Island, BC. She was also the research and fundraising coordinator for the national Indigenous Moose Hide Campaign. Before coming to Canada, Nneka spent more than 15 years in increasingly responsible positions in the Nigerian banking system, specializing in small and medium-sized businesses. She has completed graduate work in both U.K. and Canada, earning an M.Sc in International Business from the University of Hertfordshire and an MBA from Vancouver Island University. Both degrees were awarded Distinctions. She has led several teams across different industry sectors. She is also a co-recipient of the Canadian Bureau of International Education’s Elizabeth Patterson Award for Internationalization for her work in her community on Vancouver Island. She’s a supermom of three kids and loves to read, watch movies and cook.

Register here: https://aspirehub.org/up-close-and-personal/

 

Date: Saturday, August 12th, 2023 

Time: 5 – 7 pm MST 

Hybrid Event 

Location: In-Person at 7909 Flint Rd SE, Unit 202, Calgary, AB T2H 1G3

 

We look forward to seeing you there!