Throughout February, Niagara College will mark Black History Month with events and activities for our community to celebrate the achievements, contributions and lived experiences of Black Canadians and African diasporic peoples.
Headlining the month is NC alumna and recent Premier’s Award winner, Erica Williams (Social Service Worker, 2018), who will speak to students, staff and faculty at a virtual event – In Conversation with Erica Williams – on February 21 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
“Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize and honour the many Black champions in our community, past and present, who make a difference in Niagara and across Canada,” said President Sean Kennedy. “Erica Williams is creating meaningful change and we are pleased to have her back on campus to speak with students and employees, and to celebrate her achievements.”
Social service worker-turned-entrepreneur, Williams founded Erica’s Embrace during her final year at NC, an organization which supports Caribbean, Black and African communities across the province through advocacy and the donation of Black hair care and beauty products to women’s shelters.
Williams has spoken at her alma mater several times over the years since graduating. This event – a collaboration between ncLibraries, COE, and Development and Alumni Relations – will highlight Williams’ transformational work and community advocacy, and will be a chance to discuss the importance of that work in relation to Black history, presents and futures.
Registration for the Zoom event is open to the NC community.
Culinary pop-up on Feb. 2 in support of Erica’s Embrace
Culinary Services and the School of Culinary Arts is pleased to host their February 2 Culinary Pop-Up in support of Erica’s Embrace, a chance to sample student-crafted cuisine with all proceeds donated to support the cause.
The pop ups, featuring a curated menu by second-year Culinary Management students, will begin at 11:30 a.m. (and continue until 1:30 p.m. or while supplies last, first come, first served) and at 4:30 p.m. in the Benchmark Dining Room (Daniel J. Patterson Campus, Niagara-on-the-Lake).
“Our divisions and the College are proud to support Erica’s Embrace as an organization that advocates for inclusion. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to see, first-hand, how their skills and hard work can do so much more than produce food, but can help those organizations that make our world a better place,” said Craig Youdale, Dean of Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies.
Sarah Scott, Manager of Food Services Operations, emphasized the importance of collaborations with community organizations in the food service industry – an important lesson for culinary students at NC to learn, first-hand.
Afro-Caribbean Celebration on Feb. 24
International is pleased to announce that they have partnered with the Afro-Caribbean Club to bring back our Afro-Caribbean celebrations. Plans are in the works for February 24 and event details will be available soon.
Community events
Niagara Parks is hosting a monthly Black History Speaker series on the last Sunday of the month from January to March:
- January 29 – Lezlie Harper, Celebrating Black History in Niagara
- February 26 – Saladin Allah, Present-Day Freedom Seekers and The Power of our Stories
- March 26 – Kevin Cottrell, Interpreting the Underground Railroad in the age of Heritage Tourism and the built environment in the Niagara Region
In Feb, NC will mark Black History Month with events to celebrate the achievements & experiences of Black Canadians & African diasporic peoples.
🌮 Feb 2 Pop-up for @EmbraceErica
🎤 Feb 21 Virtual event: In Conversation with Erica WilliamsMore events ⤵️t.co/PhIRPoC7dz
— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) January 26, 2023
