top of page

Building Black Futures: Reflections on the SBCCI 2024 Conference

Attending the 2024 Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was a transformative experience that rekindled hope, renewed motivation, and laid out the blueprint for a future in which Black-led organizations can thrive. Set against the beautiful waterfront at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, this year’s theme, “Supporting Black Futures,” resonated deeply with me and other delegates as we gathered to explore strategies for growth, sustainability, and meaningful impact within our communities.


Setting the Stage: A Gathering of Visionaries


From October 2-4, 2024, the SBCCI conference brought together leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the country. The event itself was a testament to the progress we've made—Black-led organizations, foundations, and businesses all converging in one space, a powerful reminder of our collective strength and resilience. With over 300 attendees, the conference wasn't just a meeting of minds, but a space where important conversations took place, new alliances were formed, and, most importantly, the groundwork was laid for a more secure future for Black communities across Canada.


A Call to Action: Opening Sessions


The conference kicked off with the session, For Us, By Us: The Value of Black Organizations Funding Black Organizations, led by Liban Abokor, Executive Director of Youth LEAPS. This session set the tone for the rest of the conference as we explored the vital importance of Black-led funding. Liban’s work in co-founding the Foundation for Black Communities, Canada's first-ever philanthropic foundation for Black-led organizations, underscores the necessity of self-reliance in funding models. His message was clear—if we want to see sustained growth and impact in our communities, we need to be in control of our own financial resources. It struck me how important it is for Black organizations to avoid having to beg for existence or survival.

Liban’s approach to funding as a justice-based endeavor resonated with many in the room, including myself. His work not only aims to fill the gap but also challenges inequitable practices within the philanthropic sector, a sector that has long marginalized Black communities. His session was an insightful deep dive into what it means to empower Black-led organizations financially and how we can support each other in this journey.


Wes Hall’s Keynote: Inspiring Change, One Story at a Time


One of the most memorable highlights was the keynote address by Wes Hall. Known as a powerhouse entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder of the BlackNorth Initiative, Wes's rise from humble beginnings on a Jamaican plantation to becoming one of Canada’s most influential business leaders felt incredibly personal to me as a fellow Jamaican. His keynote on October 3rd, 2024, was packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable advice for Black business leaders. His journey from poverty to the boardrooms of Bay Street wasn't just a story of personal triumph but also a call for others to rise and follow suit.


Wes's emphasis on breaking down systemic barriers in corporate Canada through his BlackNorth Initiative echoed the conference theme of building Black futures. It was a powerful reminder that as Black Canadians, we must challenge and dismantle systemic racism to create opportunities for the next generation. He also hosted a book signing for his memoir, No Bootstraps When You’re Barefoot: My Rise from a Jamaican Plantation to Bay Street, further sharing his journey and how he has used his success to lift others. Meeting him in person and hearing his reflections was incredibly motivating.


From Metrics to Meaning: Evaluating Our Impact


One of the sessions that resonated deeply with me was Beyond Metrics: How Evaluation Enhances Impact and Accountability, led by Yonatan Ghebray from the Network for the Advancement of Black Communities (NABC). The discussion around evaluation felt particularly relevant as organizations like mine are often navigating how to measure the impact of our work effectively. In many ways, data-driven approaches have often seemed out of reach for smaller Black-led organizations with limited resources, but Yonatan’s insights offered a roadmap for how we can build internal capacity for data evaluation without losing sight of our larger goals.

Evaluation, as Yonatan explained, is not just about counting numbers or checking boxes but understanding how we can continuously evolve and deliver real, tangible benefits to our communities. The takeaway was clear: to drive systems change, we must invest in a culture of inquiry-based learning within our organizations, fostering a mindset that views evaluation as a tool for growth rather than merely for reporting.


Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships


The session on Innovation through Partnership: How Strategic Collaborations Can Drive Social Change brought to light the importance of collaborating beyond the traditional boundaries of our organizations. Partnering with other Black-led initiatives, non-profits, and businesses amplifies our voices, resources, and reach. This session reminded me that no organization exists in isolation, and the more we work together, the more powerful we become in shaping the future for Black Canadians.


I was also particularly struck by the real estate session, Leveraging Property for Nonprofit Growth, which showcased how owning property can act as a long-term revenue stream for nonprofits. It was an insightful reminder that wealth generation for Black organizations isn't just about short-term funding but also creating lasting, sustainable assets.


Mentorship: Seeking Guidance for Growth


At the heart of my conference experience was a personal moment during one of the sessions. After hearing from Anthony Grey of Tropicana Community Services about the support available for Black organizations, I saw a potential opportunity to seek mentorship. When I asked him if he could mentor me, he shared that he was already mentoring 23 groups, and with regret, had to decline. Though it was a public moment, in front of many attendees, I walked away with hope. Sometimes, opportunities come from moments of vulnerability, and I believe that this experience—witnessed by over 300 people—could still lead to something positive for IRAL.


Mentorship is critical for growth, and though the door didn’t open in that instance, the larger takeaway was that there is still an abundance of resources, wisdom, and mentorship available if we continue to seek it out.


A Renewed Vision for IRAL


Coming out of the SBCCI Conference, I felt a renewed sense of purpose and hope for IRAL. The setbacks we’ve faced as an organization are not the end of the road. Instead, they are a detour on a larger journey toward making lasting impact in our communities. Meeting with the Premier of Nova Scotia, Hon. Tim Houston, as well as connecting with organizations from across Canada, reminded me that we are not alone in our struggles. The relationships built during this conference will carry forward, and I am hopeful that they will result in new opportunities for mentorship, funding, and strategic collaboration for IRAL.


Looking Ahead: Building Black Futures Together


As I reflect on the entire SBCCI Conference experience, it’s clear that the future is bright, but it will require continued collaboration, investment, and resilience. The discussions we had over those three days, from the powerful keynote by Wes Hall to the practical insights on fundraising and sustainability, have left me with a stronger conviction that IRAL and other Black-led organizations have a vital role to play in shaping the future of Black communities in Canada.

The SBCCI Impact Documentary that we watched further demonstrated the transformative potential of this initiative. Seeing the real-world impact of funding and support for Black-led non-profits across the country reaffirmed that we are moving in the right direction.

 

Photo Gallery


In this section, I’ll share some of the visual highlights from the SBCCI Conference. From snapshots of inspiring keynote moments to behind-the-scenes connections with fellow leaders, these images capture the essence of what made the event unforgettable.

Stay tuned for more coverage and insights in future posts!




16 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page