Nubian Book Club continues to use the power of literacy to empower the Black community

BY PAUL JUNOR

In what will certainly be a summer of empowerment, enlightenment, and advancement the Nubian Book Club (NBC) continues its tradition of using literacy as a tool of engagement. Summer 2022 will mark the 14^th year anniversary of the NBC and it continues to fulfil its motto to, “Inspire and Be Inspired!”

According to the website: www.nubianbookclub.com, it is a network of students, parents, educators, and community members who are engaged in the academic and social well-being of students. In addition, it uses literacy as a tool for advancing student success, leadership skills, and community engagement amongst youth, particularly those of African and Caribbean Heritage. Truly, “A Reading Nation Is a Winning Nation.”

Donna Cordoza, Community Support Worker at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) continues to play a pivotal role in the NBC along with a team of educators, parents, community workers and students. She has made it her life goal to ensure that there are strong connections between the home, school and community.

Many of the facilitators for Nubian BookClub 2022 have been involved over the years.

They are:

• Darrel Bowden – Executive Director, Office of the Vice President, Equity and Community Inclusion at Toronto Metropolitan University
• Jeewan Chanicka -Director of Education at the Waterloo District School
• Prince Duah – Superintendent at Ottawa – Carleton District School Board(OCDSB)
• Allison Gaymes San Vincente – Superintendent at Toronto District School Board
• Carl James-Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at York U
• Clayton Latouche – Assistant Deputy Minister, Student Support and Field Services
• Phiona Lloyd-Henry-Co-ordinating Principal at Peel District School Board (PDSB)
• Camille Logan -Associate Director, School Improvement and Equity at PDSB
• Tisha Nelson-Professor of Education, Course Director at Faculty of Education at YU
• Cecil Roach – Associate Director, Equitable Outcomes Schools (YRDSB)
• Ramon San Vincente -Principal with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
• Vidya Shah – Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education, York University

The theme of Nubian BookClub 2022 is “It Matters: Identity & Solidarity.” The mentor text that will be discussed will be, “Beatrice and Croc Harry” by Lawrence Hill. Lawrence is an award-winning African Canadian novelist who has received worldwide recognition for, “The Book of Negroes.”

This title is his first middle-grade children’s book and was published in 2022 by Harper-Collins. In the book, “Beatrice, a young girl, wakes up alone in a treehouse in the forest. How did she arrive in this cozy dwelling, stocked carefully with bookshelves and oatmeal accoutrements? And who has been leaving a trail of clues, composed in a delicate purple handwriting? So begins the adventure of a brave and resilient Black girl’s search for identity.”

The dates of the book clubs are July 7^th, July 21^st and August 4^th, 2022.

Registrations are open at www.nubianbookclub.on.ca