Forging Futures: A Black History Month and Black Futures Month Reading

Every February, from the 1-28th, people in Canada are invited to participate in Black History Month/Black Futures Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.

The 2022 theme for Black History Month is: Black Health and Wellness

Join us for Forging Futures: A Black History Month and Black Futures Month Reading where we celebrate and amplify the talent of Black writers in Saskatchewan and Canada, and demonstrate wholeheartedly that #blackwritersmatter then, now, and into the future.

Presenter bios:

Michael Afenfia is a settlement practitioner based in Saskatoon. Author of five critically acclaimed novels, his sixth, Leave my Bones in Saskatoon is scheduled for release in Canada and Nigeria in the fall of 2022.
A graduate of Law and Business Administration, he is co-host of The Global Voice on CFCR 90.5 FM. Despite being in the city for just a little over two years, Michael remains supportive of the work of several committees in Saskatoon.

Jennifer S. Wallace is a teacher, judo sensei, and author who loves singing, painting, reading, travelling, and buying books. In 2009, Jennifer published her first book, When He Opened His Eyes: Gordon’s Story. She writes for Sister Triangle, an online women's magazine.
In 2020, the non-published manuscript of Miss G and Me was awarded third place in the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild’s John V. Hicks Long Manuscript Award for Creative Non-Fiction. Jennifer was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 Territory, and lives there with the loves of her life. You can find more at https://www.jenniferswallace.ca/

Oluneye Oluwole is the Founder of Story Chest Group Inc., a digital multimedia company, and the Host of ‘Storytellers With OLUNEYESPEAKS’, an inspirational, storytelling, networking platform and community.
She is a serial entrepreneur, storyteller, spoken word poet, speaker, and a Congressional Recognition Award Recipient by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (U.S. Representative for Texas's 18th Congressional District.)
She is an author of many books and writes across diverse genres - leadership, political, historical, biographical, and poetry.

Franchesco Ashley has been writing since he was a teenager as a source of stress release, expression, joy, getting through the rough patches of life.
He has been featured in YO! Magazine and the voice newspaper of St. Lucia
He's hosted and collaborated in events and performances on the islands of St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St. Kitts & Nevis and in Canada - Toronto, Alberta, Saskatchewan
In 2011 he self-published a book of poetry "Random Thoughts" and will be publishing a revised version. Expect new publications from Franchesco in the near future.

Host Peace Akintade is an African-Canadian Interdisciplinary Poet, Public-Speaker on Immigration and Refugee Rights, and Thespian residing in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Former 2020- 2021 Saskatchewan Youth Poet Laureate, Co-coordinator of Write Out Loud, a Saskatoon-based Youth Poetry Community.
Currently attaining an Anthropology degree at UofS, Peace values the influence of storytelling when bridging cultural strife in foreign lands. Part of the Youth Speaker’s Bureau for the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. Recently one of the 21 Black Playwrights chosen for the Obsidian Theatre's 21 Black Future Project. Her play "Madness with Rocks" can be found on CBCArts and CBCGem. Her poems focus on the impact of colonialization as a first-generation immigrant, and the liberation and strength of Black Joy.