Arts as advocacy: Event gets creative to spread message
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To promote awareness for the longstanding racial disparity in donor systems, one community event engaged the public in local art, while shedding light on culturally sensitive information on stem cell donation.
The CellART event, held in the summer of 2024, is one of the ways the Black Donors Save Lives (BDSL) non-profit advocates for health equity for both patients and donors from African, Caribbean, and Black communities.
Community leaders and artists were invited and given a platform for their advocacy, with the goal of increasing the representation of Black communities across blood, stem cell, organ, and tissue donor registries in Canada.
Sylvia Okonofua, BDSL founder and event organizer, says that “art has always been a tool of resistance and healing in Black communities. Combining it with stem cell advocacy allowed us to spark deeper conversations while breaking down fear and stigma.”
She continues, “events like CellART are about shifting the status quo, transforming awareness into action, and action into lives saved. [Our event] aims to build trust by creating culturally safe pathways to donation.”
"Events like CellART are about shifting the status quo, transforming awareness into action, and action into lives saved."- Sylvia Okonofua, BDSL founder and event organizer
For Okonofua, the motivation to organize the event stemmed from her personal life, where she saw Black patients waiting longer for matches or not receiving matches at all, simply because of underrepresentation in donor registries. She came to realize that information about becoming a donor does not have to be restricted to a clinical setting, and can instead incorporate joy, celebration and community.
“We wanted to create a space where people could engage with a serious issue in a way that felt human and inspiring,” she says.
She explains that the gathering, centered around art while incorporating a swabbing booth, allowed attendees to explore the process before committing to registering for something they had limited information on.
“People came for the art and stayed for the conversation,” Okonofua says. “Having a swabbing booth in the space really helped demystify the process.”
A standout moment from the event was a spoken word piece by artist Nifemi, which explored loss, grief, and resilience. “Her performance created a stillness and connection that really resonated with the entire room,” Okonofua reflects. Along with the contributions from other artists, the event created a powerful connection that reminded attendees that saving lives is a collective effort.
The organization looks forward to hosting many more events in Saskatchewan, while also expanding its advocacy across the country.
The Black Donors Save Lives CellART event received support from SaskCulture’s Small Grant Accessibility Program, with funding from the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund.
