THE KOR METHOD

Moses Andeku aka Kor Kase (KOR) is the Executive Director of Black Space Media INC and the founder and Co-Executive Director of Afro Van Connect Society. He is a community advocate, multidisciplinary artist, and cultural curator. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is his goal to promote messages of empowerment, love, unity, and equality. He is committed to building community and encouraging safe and diverse spaces that promote inclusion, cultural development, and self-expression.

EPIC TALES UNBOUND: A REVOLUTIONARY TTRPG COMPANION

Nay Unapologetic brings boundless enthusiasm as an activist, writer, performer, community educator, futurist, and unapologetic professional nerd. A graduate of Watah Theater’s Black Box Season under the mentorship of the esteemed d’bi young anitafrika, Nay passionately dives into diverse realms. From LGBTQ+ advocacy to making waves in the Artistic community, Nay’s impact is profound.

Not just an activist, Nay is an avid TTRPG player who channels this passion into creating summer camps for kids to celebrate the love of Dungeons and Dragons. Currently, Nay is on a journey to study TTRPG as a healing modality, seeking innovative ways to make a positive impact in communities worldwide. As an educator/facilitator at Freedom School Toronto, they tirelessly champion the rights of black students in the education system, fostering positive change.

EMBODIED RELATIONALITY FRAMEWORK

Carla Chambers is a multidisciplinary artist, scholar, and creative entrepreneur. She holds a Masters degree in Comparative Literature and Arts from Brock University from which she built a solid career consulting artists and arts organizations in fund development, marketing strategy, and community outreach.

Through her work as an artist and administrator, she conceived The Embers Lab, an interdisciplinary think tank and generator of multidisciplinary projects that spark social and personal transformation through the arts, and artistic practices.

With her own stories to tell, through the Lab she intends to expand her craft as a singer and writer, to directing, producing, and exploring visual mediums, with like-minded creators.

(RE)MEMBERING AND (RE)CONNECTION FRAMEWORK

Abi Cudjoe is a Black, Trans and Queer multidisciplinary visual and movement storyteller of Akan descent, born in Tkaronto. Their visual art and dance focuses conversation with kin of all realms and time, through code that extends our common spoken languages. Abi balances expression through generational trauma, with generational knowledge and play.

THE LAVA METHOD

ADÉX LAVA (born Castries, Saint Lucia, 22 Mar 1976) is a multi hypenhate artist - he is a writer, visual artist, cultural raggamuffin, installation artist, events curator, and political activist. Drawing on his interest in the arts and law, ADÉX LAVA creates work that focuses on the savage beauty of our human experiences. He is the founder of the provocative art studio known as ATELIER (UN) REMARK (ABLE).

In 2021, he investigated the limits of self-discovery by testing his limits of ejaculation, trauma, and spiritual transformation . In this ongoing body of work, BODILY FLUIDS: CUM(PILATION): is a living mosaic documenting his HIV journey by using seminal fluid in his art to disrupt our preconceived notions about procreation, beauty, sensuality, deviant expression, and going viral.

He now lives, plays, and works on the island of Montréal. www.adexlava.com

THE DIVERSEWORKS DECOLONIAL PRAXIS

Raechele Lovell is a passionate and established Choreographer, Artistic Director, Dramaturg, Producer, Dance Instructor, Coach, Adjudicator, Theatre Practitioner, and Advocate with expertise in multiple disciplines of dance, acting, and music.

Currently, Raechele serves as the Executive Artistic Director of DiverseWorks Dance Co., which she Founded in 2021. Through DiverseWorks, she aims to create a future focused Afrocentric dance corporation that not only presents new works but also offers classes, workshops, a Paid Apprenticeship Program, and serves as an equity consultant for various organizations. Additionally, Raechele is actively involved in social activism, serving on boards and engaging in community conversations, with a recent appointment as Chair of the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund.

Raechele is on a journey of decolonizing her artistic practice - presently engaged with the Ubuntu Decolonial Arts Centre under the mentorship of d’bi.young anitafrika studying the Anitafrika method as an Artist in Residence funded by The Canada Council for the Arts. Raechele is currently working to build her own decolonial artistic praxis, which is slated to be published in the Spring of 2024.

THE MOONRISE METHOD

Mahlikah Outten is Mahlikah The Moonrise Poet a Nationally recognized award-winning Canadian Spoken Word artist, Published Writer, Tedx Speaker, Content Creator: Moonrise Magic and 11:11 Cosmic Love Series’s, and Human Design Soul Purpose Coach, who utilizes artivism in multidisciplinary forms such as: performance, digital art, futurist writing, mindfulness, apothecary, cosmological mysticism, and star divination practices, to cultivate social change, and moonrise wellsprings of revolution, rest, and resistance.

Mahlikah holds key roles within their community, such as Director of Programming for Neighborhood Impact for the Toronto Centre Of Learning & Development in Regent Park, the 2023 recipients of the City Of Toronto’s Constance E. Hamilton Award for Women’s Equality, Immigrant Women’s Integration Leadership Program Trainer, Art Educator and Wellness Ambassador at the Art Gallery Of Ontario, and Faculty Member at the Wildseed Centre of Art & Activism.

Mahlikah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Radio Television Arts, from York University and TMU respectively, and is a 2022 Radical Permission Institute Fellow.

They are also a key collaborator and contributor to several community projects such as the Black Diasporas Tkaronto Storytelling Digital Mapping Project, Oddside Arts " Beyond The Soil', exhibition which explores textiles and patterns as modes of communicating stories and lived experiences of the African Diaspora, and a Practitioner in the UBUNTU! Decolonial Arts Centre Decolonial Framework Program.

Mahlikah's Poetry can most recently be found as part of a new documentary film featuring Black Women with diverse intersectionalities sharing their stories in relation to their bodies unapologetically to be released in 2024, CBC Arts Poetic License Series, Hush Harbour Press and Room Magazine's Speech Sounds Episode One: The Art of Listening: Spoken Word's Black Origins, and the first Black Canadian Afro-Furturism Anthology: COSMIC UNDERGROUND NORTHSIDE: AN INCANTATION OF BLACK SPECULATIVE DISCOURSE & INNERSTANDINGS.

Mahlikah is a 9th generation African-Canadian Queer Femme Star Seed with Black Nova Scotian, African-American, Afro-Caribbean, First Nations, and Irish Ancestral Roots based in Tkarón:to, which has been stewarded by the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and Wendat confederacies, and is Michi Saagig Nishnawbe territory, which is also governed by Treaty 13, between the Mississauga of the Credit and the Canadian Government.

TRANSFORMATIVE CAREWORK

Nishi (they/fae) is a Black, Afro-Caribbean queer non-binary multidisciplinary artist, cultural worker, and arts facilitator, intricately weaving their experiences into narratives that challenge, inspire, and uplift.

Within the sphere of holistic wellness, Nishi's roles are manifold — they serve as a herbalist, Reiki practitioner, reproductive careworker, and healer, offering compassionate support grounded in trauma-informed care. Their own journey as a survivor of gender-based violence (GBV) fuels their advocacy, centering the voices of survivors and striving for a world where liberation is paramount.

Rooted in the principles of abolition, Black feminism, and healing justice, Nishi's work echoes their unwavering commitment to liberation for all. As a parent and devoted plant enthusiast, they find solace and inspiration in nurturing life in its myriad forms.

Embracing their trans non-binary and neuro-expansive identities, Nishi navigates the world with a unique perspective, constantly challenging norms and expanding horizons. Their journey of self-discovery has been deeply intertwined with their exploration of indigenous African and Caribbean traditions, connecting with ancestors, spirit, land, and forces seen and unseen.

As a chronically ill individual, Nishi understands the importance of interdependence in community, consent, and the significance of self-autonomy in embracing one’s own vulnerabilities.

Presently residing on lands historically stewarded by the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, Nishi pays homage to the land's indigenous roots through meaningful relationships and dedication to cultivating understanding.

In addition to their diverse talents, Nishi has spearheaded programming for esteemed organizations like Women’s Health in Women’s Hands (WHIWH), presented at local high schools on birthwork and reproductive care, and contributed to impactful events such as TransFormations: A Summit on Trans Spiritualities hosted by Toronto Pride. They have also orchestrated retreats tailored for the Black 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Nishi's love for meditative rituals extends to their appreciation for tea, finding comfort and tranquility in brewing and savoring herbal blends. Their favorites, including chamomile, holy basil, and peppermint, offer moments of respite and rejuvenation amidst life's hustle and bustle.

In every pursuit, Nishi embodies healing and transformation, weaving together the tapestry of their identities and passions to forge a world of compassion and justice.

A DECOLONIAL FRAMEWORK FOR ETHICAL FILMMAKING

Vanessa is dedicated to fostering inclusive communities and advancing social justice through her work in the film and cultural sector. As the founder and executive director of Cultures of Care (COC), she spearheads initiatives aimed at addressing critical issues such as mental health care protocols for the Canadian screen sector, disability inclusion in collaboration with the Disability Screen Office, and the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts and cultural sector.

As an advisor to Canadian Stage Theatre, she guides the company on how to embed sustained values of inclusion, advance a workplace that is diverse and equitable and offer a space that is welcoming and accessible to artists and audiences from all backgrounds.

Vanessa's personal journey, shaped by her experiences in apartheid-era South Africa, serves as a powerful catalyst for her advocacy efforts. Her upcoming documentary, which delves into her family's history and examines the broader impacts of colonialism, showcases her belief in the transformative power of film as a medium for storytelling and activism. By employing a decolonial approach, Vanessa seeks to challenge entrenched narratives and amplify alternative perspectives within the film industry.

With a Master of Design in Inclusive Design from OCAD University and extensive experience collaborating with a wide range of national and international organizations and government agencies, Vanessa brings a wealth of expertise to her endeavors. Her work at the intersection of film, art, activism, and social impact is to foster a more inclusive and equitable cultural landscape in Canada and globally.

Vanessa works in community towards a future where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just ideals but fundamental principles that guide our collective journey towards a more just and inclusive society.