"Celebrating the Past, Envisioning the Future”
About the Conference
Black Canadian communities experience high levels of food insecurity: a recent study found that almost 30% of Black households experience food insecurity, and Black households are 3.6 times more likely to be food insecure than white households.1,2 This level of Black food insecurity illustrates a lack of access to food, lack of control over their access to food, and the extent to which Black communities are structurally disadvantaged in Canadian society. However, a vigorous but under-resourced and community effort has been working towards Black food security for the past 25 years at least.
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“We want to be part of the whole sustainable food systems movement and get the resources to be food sovereign.”
Anan Lololi
Founder of The Afri-Can FoodBasket
Speakers
Aina-Nia Ayo'dele Grant
Community Resources Social Development, Finance and Administration City of Toronto
Anan Lololi
Founder and Director of Afri-Can FoodBasket and Research Associate at Ryerson University
Saché Jones
Member of National Black Food and Justice Alliance in America
Malik Yakini
Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network
Edward Benote Hill
Program Manager of the EcoDistricts Accelerator Program and Development Manager of the Black Community Food Systems Initiative located in NE Portland
Melana Roberts
Chair of Food Secure Canada
Kirubel Tadele
Communications Officer, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA)
Bashir Munye
Chef, Food Advocate and Culinary professor at George Brown College
Leticia Ama Deawuo
Director of the Black Creek Community Farm (BCCF) and Instructor at George Brown College
Sheldomar Elliott
Community Research Coordinator at the Black Creek Community Farm and Co-Chair of the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council
Floydeen Charles Fridal
Executive Director of CAFCAN Social Services Inc
Ginelle Skerritt
Executive Director of the Warden Woods Community Centre
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Together we will build an informed, sustainable framework for a Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Alliance grounded in purpose and intention
PROGRAM – DAY 1 Of 2 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Welcome remarks.............................................................5:30 PM
5:30PM - 5:55PM
• Land acknowledgment by Nicole Austin
• Libation by Nene Kafele
• Welcome Remarks by Itah Sadu
• Why develop a Black Food Sovereignty in Toronto & Why now?
BFS in the context of Anti-Black racism.........................5:55 PM
Black Food Sovereignty in the USA................................6:20 PM
6:20PM - 6:45PM
Afri-Can FoodBaket 25 year recap video tribute............7:00 PM
7:00PM - 7:15PM
The struggle for Black Food Sovereignty in Toronto....7:15 PM
Artist Performance............................................................8:00 PM
8:00PM - 8:15PM
Recap of the evening’s program.....................................8:15 PM
8:15PM - 8:30PM
PROGRAM – DAY 2 Of 2 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Welcome remarks.............................................................9:00 AM
9:00AM - 9:20AM
• Land Acknowledgement by Sheldomar Elliott
• Libation by Sipho Kwaku
• Summary of proceedings from day 1 by moderator Ginelle Skerritt
• Overview of the day’s Program and format
• Opening Remarks by Floydeen Charles-Fridal
Detroit Black Community Food Security Network.........9:30 AM
9:20AM - 9:40AM
Addressing Black Food Sovereignty through the People’s Food Coop
Malik Kenyatta Yakini - Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN)
Black Food Sovereignty (Panel Discussion).................9:40 AM
9:40AM - 10:40AM
Video: Black Food Sovereignty in Toronto..................10:50 AM
10:50AM - 11:05AM
How do we build a Black Food Sovereignty.....................11:05 AM
11:05AM - 11:35AM
Roundtable Discussion
Ama Amposah, Anan lololi, Bashir Munye & Edward Hill
– Clifton Joseph Session Moderator
Lunch Break....................................................................11:35 AM
BFS Policy Papers..........................................................12:00 PM
12:00PM - 12:20PM
Overview: Black Food Sovereignty Policy Papers - Melana Roberts
Breakout Rooms: Purpose, Guidelines & Format
Overview: Black Food Sovereignty Policy Papers - Melana Roberts
Targeted Discussions in Breakout Rooms...................12:20 PM
12:20PM - 1:00PM
Report back: What we heard?.........................................1:05 PM
1:05PM - 1:35PM
Next steps: Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Alliance......1:35 PM
1:35PM - 1:50PM
Wrap Up: Conclusion & Thanks..........................................1:50 PM
1:50PM - 2:00PM
Virtual Networking................................................................2:00 PM
2:00PM - 2:30PM
