WORKSHOPS

DAY 2 - WOKSHOPS

IN-PERSON ONLY

Title: Beyond the Soil: A New Media Approach on Quilting and the ‘Shifting of Soil’ 

Presenters: Nicole “Nico” Taylor AND Queen Kukoyi 

The proposed workshop builds from the new media project Beyond the Soil by cultural arts & creative technology organization, Oddside Arts. Beyond the Soil is inspired by the quilting practices of the African diaspora. Quilts are a woven source of record keeping passed down through generations. They have long been a way for African ancestors to gather with community, impart cultural knowledge and pass down visual histories as meaningful fabric stitches. For members of the Afrodiaspora, especially those who live in North America, familial lineage is a continual process of discovery. Thus, this quilting project elaborates on how we have made homes for ourselves amid mass displacement and where those stories connect with others who came before. Grounded in Black feminist theories, collective actions, and experimental design, it explores the intersections of migration and identity by gathering quilt patch designs from Afrodiasporic community members to examine how the narratives contribute to a collective memory of resilience and survival. The workshop will engage participants in the same practice of meaning making using visual patterns and narratives, exploring how individuals construct their own creation stories within the context of displacement and communal resilience.

Title: We have everything we need: Exploring Kwanzaa as a decolonial practice of health and well-being

Presenter: Unique Shaw-Dismuke

Kwanzaa is a cultural celebration that was created in the late 60’s. Infused by Black power, culture, and consciousness, Kwanzaa emerged as a principled practice of reclaiming and redefining what it means to be African American/ Black in American culture. To be Black in the American diaspora is to be devalued and dehumanized far too often. Black people need to know who they are to mitigate these harmful perceptions. As a resource for resistance and liberation, Kwanzaa can be perceived as a love ethic for the Black community to deconstruct racial ideologies and see itself in its inherent power. As healing, health, and well-being take precedence in the lives of Black people, it is imperative to employ Kuumba, creativity, to explore Kwanzaa’s ability to support the evolutionary needs of the community. This workshop will explore the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles, as a framework for decolonial practices that support Black health and well-being.

Title: Roots & Resilience

Presenter: Nana-yaa Owusu

Participants are invited to engage in an enriching workshop focused on the decolonization of Black hair and the cultivation of resilience within Black hair culture and identity. This workshop serves as a platform for exploring and deconstructing prevailing stereotypes surrounding Black hair while navigating the intricate relationship between hair, identity, and culture within the Black community. Through interactive discussions and educational frameworks, attendees will delve into the historical and cultural significance of Black hair, challenging societal norms and reclaiming agency over personal narratives. By centering the experiences and voices of Black individuals, this workshop aims to empower participants to navigate institutional spaces with confidence and resilience, fostering a sense of pride and celebration in their hair culture. Through collective dialogue and reflection, attendees will emerge equipped with a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding Black hair and inspired to advocate for inclusivity and representation in all spaces. Join us in this transformative journey as we embrace and celebrate the beauty, diversity, and resilience inherent in Black hair culture. 

Title: Freeing Ourselves from Imposter Syndrome 

Presenter: Amma Gyamfowa

As Black women strive for greatness across educational and career spaces, they are often met with exclusion, marginalization and misogynoir. Discounting their brilliance, abilities, representation, histories and knowledge systems comes at a cost, including the phenomena of imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is classified as a psychological condition by which a person, despite their success experiences unwarranted doubt, anxiety, and a sense deception due to their professional/educational role (Burey & Tulshyan, 2021).

Imposter syndrome is not inherent characteristic trait to Black women, but rather a symptom of life long intersecting oppressions. Fawodie, Freeing Ourselves from Imposter Syndrome, will utilize Womanist Psychology and Africentric therapeutic approaches to examine and dismantle the internalization of imposter syndrome in a affirming space for Black women. 

Through psychoeducation, healing dialogue amongst attendees and interactive exercises participants will gain:

• A fuller understanding of the systemic manifestations of imposter syndrome

• Strategies to de-center imposter syndrome within work and educational spaces 

• Evidence based approaches to challenge negative self-talk and internalized core beliefs that intensify feelings of imposter

• Practice intergenerational reflections and Africentric ideologies that assist in healing imposter syndrome and its impacts

Title: Nurturing Black Joy in Social Work Through Black Identity: Tree of Life Intervention 

Presenter: Camille Stephenson Llyod

In Canadian Social Work education, pervasive anti-Black racism poses persistent challenges, resulting in enduring racial stress for Black women. This study investigates the prospective impact of the Tree of Life (TOL) narrative therapy intervention as a wellness program for Black women in Ontario's social work schools. Our primary goal is to assess how TOL may enhance the well-being of Black women in Master's and Ph.D. programs. This research is informed by a comprehensive theoretical framework, including Critical Race Theory (CRT), intersectionality, and Racial Battle Fatigue (RBF). Employing a mixed-methods approach, we will utilize qualitative data collection techniques such as interviews and journaling, alongside quantitative instruments like surveys and standardized measures. Anticipated findings aim to uncover the transformative potential of TOL, specifically in empowering participants and nurturing Black joy rooted in their inherent strengths. This study aims to address the noticeable scarcity of research dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women, emphasizing narratives marked by resilience, strength, and liberation. This study extends its objectives beyond social work education to fortify support structures for Black women and advocate for the wellness of all Black individuals, firmly rooted in their identity. The TOL intervention holds the power to revolutionize wellness and support services in academia by fostering inclusivity and cultural responsiveness. Further research and implementation are crucial for fully realizing this potential.

Keywords: Black joy, Social work education, Black women, Tree of Life intervention, Racial stress, Anti-Black racism, Health and wellness.