Topic: Active Resistance and Politics of Blackness

For a while, Black communities in Canada have engaged in active politics. Part of Black active politics is to engage in policy decisions that touch on people’s lives. It is not lost that most policies are mainstream and remain white and therefore do not meet the everyday challenges of Black communities. This means that Black active politics grounds itself in resisting and challenging the mainstreaming of dominant policies and calls for equitable, diverse and inclusive participation of Black communities in policymaking and eventual implementation of the same. This year, our conversation touches on the challenges that Black politicians have faced or continue to face as they call for equal representation of Black communities.

Guest speaker: Celina Caesar-Chavannes (She/Her)
Biography

Celina Caesar-Chavannes is a business consultant, coach and international speaker, who currently serves part-time as the

Sr. Advisor, EDI Initiatives and Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s  University. Her new memoir, “Can You Hear Me Now?” was published by Random House  Canada, in February 2021 and was selected as a finalist for the 2021 Shaughnessy Cohen prize for political writing and a book award finalist for the Speaker of Ontario Legislature.

Her new leadership development app, MaximizingU, is available on Google Play and the App Store.  Celina was the former Member of Parliament for Whitby, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime  Minister Justin Trudeau and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development. During her term as a Member of Parliament, Celina was awarded several distinctions including a feature in the April 2018 edition of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine entitled, “What would you stand up for” and named Chatelaine Magazine’s Woman of the Year (2019).  

She has a Bachelor of Science, an MBA in Healthcare Management, an Executive MBA from the  Rotman School of Management, and is currently enrolled in a neuroscience PhD program at  Queen’s University exploring the intersection of empathy, leadership and equity. Celina is also a  [Deepak] Chopra Certified Health and Meditation Instructor, and bases much of her work on  Ayurvedic principles, as well as self-awareness and development. 

Prior to politics, Celina founded Resolve Research Solutions, Inc. – a research management consulting firm with the aim to provide research, consulting and education services to organizations seeking equity and advancing progress for those with multiple intersecting identities.  She can be followed on all social media platforms @iamcelinacc. You can learn more about her at www.celinacc.ca

Guest Speaker:  Hassan Faisal (He/Him)
Biography

Faisal is a proud Toronto resident and engaged community advocate.

He has volunteered on the boards of the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation and Habitat for Humanity in Brampton and currently serves on the board of directors at the Weston King Neighborhood Centre in Weston.

Faisal has worked as a staff person alongside members of the Provincial and federal parliament and has extensive experience delivering results for his community. Faisal is a former broadcaster and a published author.