Project Resilience takes a look at the long-lasting generational impact of slavery on the Black community

BY PAUL JUNOR

Since its formation three years ago, Black Mentorship Inc (BMI) has been making a positive impact in the lives of professionals from the African, Caribbean and Canadian community.

They are a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black professionals in Canada. BMI fosters leadership by connecting Black youths, professionals and entrepreneurs at different stages of professional growth. They exist to elevate professional advancement through mentorship, education, and skill-building, thus building a better, more equitable workforce.

On August 1^st, 2022, BMI launched an important project sponsored by the Government of Canada known as Project Resilience. It is a forum to highlight diverse voices impacted by social and cultural inequities, and the long-lasting generational impact of slavery on the Black community. The overall goal of Project Resilience is to deliver powerful messages of hope and strength, allowing the audience to connect, learn, and build community together.

Project Resilience 2022 Emancipation Day Virtual Event commenced with a musical performance by singer Anne Ugobar. Her moving rendition of the song, “Amazing Grace,” and “O Canada ” was captivating and inspiring. Evangeline Agbonhin, founder and executive director of BMI hosted the event and welcomed the virtual attendees.

“Today’s virtual event delivers a powerful message of hope and strength. It is an opportunity for all of us to connect, to learn, and to build community together.“

Honourable National Minister of Defence Anita Anand (MPP for Oakville) delivered a reflective message of hope for the future.

“I invite all Canadians to commemorate Emancipation Day by reflecting and learning more about the legacy of slavery and learning about the resilience of Black Canadians.”

The first speaker, Uzoaku Ike (Barrister, and Care Worker for Toronto Employment and Social Services) spoke about gender inequalities occurring with immigrant Black women and the impact of racism on her professional journey. She spoke about the effects of intersectional oppressions and shared personal experiences of how she overcame them.

The second speaker, Nick Nurse (Senior Community Manager and Executive, Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank) responded to the question, “How being Black in Canada has impacted my career trajectory despite my qualifications compared to those of my peers?” He talked about the realities of institutional racism and the negative perceptions of Black people. His entrance into a large corporation was met with hurdles because of the role of hiring bias, especially unconscious one as he was overlooked for promotion.

The third speaker, Fauzia Agbonhin, award-winning poet and author, spoke about the pressures of having to work twice as hard. She recounted many of her accomplishments. She mentioned the internal struggles that she constantly faced. She spoke about the influence of White supremacist ideas that impacted her greatly. She performed a poem titled, “Imposter Syndrome,” which detailed her personal challenges.

Anyone interested in finding about the work of BMI can visit them at https://blackmentorshipinc.cal