Community News
Fostering community, providing support, and advocating for change; the success of the Care Leadership Development Alliance Retreat
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
“Great initiative and execution yesterday brother! Was beautiful to see and be a part of.” Dwayne Morgan
“Just have to say once again “congrats” brother! I’ve been on many excursions for the black community and this one was probably the best I’ve been on. Thank you! An overnight one to Windsor/Detroit would be off the hook though! Something to think about.” Robert Small
“This weekend, I had the privilege to hang out with other brothers as we learned more about mental health issues, generational wealth, and black history in St. Catherines, Ontario. It was a day well spent and many thanks to David Griffiths and the important work he’s doing with Brothers Who Care. I encourage you to check out this organization and consider ways you can support and be a part of this important work of equipping and elevating black men in our community.” Ken Greene
I don’t know if I will ever come down from the high that I am feeling from this weekend. Many don’t know but for the last few months, me, Rayon Brown (Founder of Helping Neighbourhoods Implement Change), and David Griffiths (Founder and CEO at Brothers Who Care) have been working on an initiative that we now know will change the face of community work here in Toronto.
Brothers Who Care (BwC) in collaboration with: TAIBU, Black Business Initiative, EQ Bank, Hear 2 Help (H2H), The Walnut Foundation, and Helping Neighbourhoods Implement Change (HNIC) presented the Care Leadership Alliance (CLDA) Retreat, a leadership retreat designed specifically for Black men.
What was clear on Saturday November 4th, 2023, is that when Black men come together, there is instantly a sense of community and solidarity. Togetherness combats feelings of isolation and provides emotional support, which is particularly important given the challenges and systemic inequalities that Black men may face.
On Saturday November 4th, 2023, Brothers Who Care held their inaugural Care Leadership Development Alliance Retreat. This extraordinary one-day retreat incorporated: self-reflection and introspection workshops, mindfulness and meditation practices, financial independence discussions, and of course the ever popular Mental Health Hour. When Black men gather, they create safe spaces to talk about health, wealth, relationships, music, sports, arts and culture – a place where they can truly be their authentic self.
The importance of the Care Leadership Development Alliance Retreat lies in the potential to foster a sense of community, provide support, advocate for change, and empower individuals and the collective. Here Black men were able to address various challenges and work toward positive personal and societal transformation.
When things settled down, I had a chance to speak with David, and he shared his vision for the Care Leadership Development Alliance Retreat. “It is our vision to equip and inspire Black men to be all that they can be by drawing on the power of the collective and creating a centre of Influence –The Care Leadership Development Alliance.
Using our curated influence, we are mobilizing social, political and economic growth and outcomes within the Black community. We are providing Black men the opportunity to rally together around the causes that matter most to us and our families. Our efforts are amplifying the voices and the impact of the leaders in our community through the use of mentoring, coaching, and sponsorships.
My goal is to have the CLDA be the go-to vehicle for Black men to: network, create opportunities, and accelerate their personal and professional growth.”
It was incredible to see how the community pulled together to assist with moving this project forward. I had a chance to speak with Uncle Louis from the Zero Gun Violence Movement Toronto, and he shared how thrilled he was with this initiative. “We need more initiatives like this Simone; our young Black men need it, and we as mature men need it. Although I am unable to be there, I would like to sponsor a young Black man for this trip,” and this is exactly what he did.
It was great to see influencers of all ages engaged with each other; in attendance was: Tychon Carter (Mental Health Ambassador, Social Media influencer), Elijah of the Saint (Influencer and Media Creator), Jay Smooth (Classic Saxophonist), Dwane Morgan (Writer and Speaker), Asante Haughton (Speaker, Consultant, and Writer), Don Richie (Artist, and Musician), Robert Small (Historian and Artist), Akwatu Khenti (Professor and Speaker), Saadiq Boodoo (President of Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association), Eldean Dickenson (Wheatfield Financial Group) and Damon Knights (Vice President of Sales, EQ Bank).
The retreat would not have been possible without the help of: Rochelle and Natasha from Salem Chapel Tours, O’Neil Fuller and his incredible drumming workshop, Nyaraij Cellars, and Fitzroy Anderson and the team from 7 Mile Bistro. I am thankful to our volunteers LaToya Browne (Love Story Coaching), and Melissa (Fire Nationz, and MS Enterprise) for providing me with backend support. As women our role was to support the men, and provide them with an incredible experience, which was exactly what we did.
I also have to take the time to thank all of our sponsors and donors who stepped up and provided the support needed to make this retreat a success: MS Enterprise donated one hour life coaching, Kauser Meats donated fresh chicken for our brothers, Fire Nationz donated weed infused edibles, and the Walnut Foundation sent one of their ambassadors to educate our brother on the importance of prostate cancer.
Stay tuned for upcoming Brothers Who Care events; you won’t want to miss the next one.