Empower
Honouring the past, shaping tomorrow: The Nubian Book Club’s 2025 Legacy Series
“Together, they broke bread, built bonds, and deepened relationships, embodying the spirit of collective legacy in action.”
Now in its 18th year, the Nubian Book Club (NBC) remains a vibrant intergenerational space for: dialogue, reflection, and community building. Serving families across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), NBC unites facilitators from six school boards and two universities, making it a truly collaborative and culturally grounded initiative.
This summer, NBC launched a dynamic three-part series anchored in the 2025 theme: Liberation Through Collective Legacy: Honouring the Past, Designing Futures. Across two virtual sessions and one in-person gathering: elders, families, youth, and community members came together to: reflect, share, and imagine futures rooted in ancestral knowledge, storytelling, and freedom dreaming.
Session One: Elder Wisdom and Collective Legacy
The series opened with “Learning from Collective Legacy: The Power of Elder Wisdom,” a session that celebrated the knowledge and strength of elders. Esteemed speakers: Cecil Roach (retired Associate Director, York Region District School Board), Madge Logan (retired Superintendent, North York School Board), Michael Lashley (former Consul General of Trinidad and Tobago), and Aina-Nia Ayo’dele (CEO, Aina-Nia Learning Journey Inc.), shared personal stories, insights, and lessons drawn from decades of work as educators, activists, and community leaders.
Through their words, participants were reminded that legacy is lived. It’s something we actively shape each day. The speakers reflected on past struggles for justice and offered guidance for navigating today’s systemic challenges with humility, courage, and love. Attendees left inspired to honour the sacrifices of those who came before them and to mentor the next generation of changemakers.
Session Two: Sankofa and Storytelling Across Generations
The second session, “In the Spirit of Sankofa: Learning Across Generations,” centered on family storytelling. Families from the NBC community including Miguel, Sojourner, and Makai San Vicente, as well as: Racquel, Simone, and Kimberly Brown, shared intimate reflections on how: social justice values, identity, and purpose are passed down through: conversations, struggles, and joy.
These stories revealed the power of families as spaces of resistance and transformation. The dialogue highlighted how children and youth carry essential wisdom, and how learning across generations strengthens Black identity and possibility. The evening underscored the sacred role families play in affirming culture and shaping future leaders.
Session Three: Co-Designing Futures Through Freedom Dreaming
The final session, “Freedom Dreaming: Co-Designing Legacies for Tomorrow,” was held in person and drew inspiration from the work of the late Dr. Octavia E. Butler. Participants reflected on her essay, “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future,” and explored questions such as: What does it mean to dream collectively? How do we write a future that honours our ancestors?
In small group circles, participants engaged in thoughtful conversations and contributed to a collective poem titled, What It Means to Be a Good Ancestor. The evening concluded with shared food, laughter, and community connection in the warm, welcoming home of NBC co-lead Donna Cardoza. Over 80 participants joined, supported by: Camille Logan, Vidya Shah, and more than a dozen dedicated facilitators.
Together, they broke bread, built bonds, and deepened relationships, embodying the spirit of collective legacy in action.
As the 2025 NBC summer series closes, it leaves more than just memories. It offers a call to action to honour the past with purpose. Live the present with integrity. Shape the future with imagination.
Through: intentional storytelling, deep dialogue, and visionary dreaming, the Nubian Book Club continues to serve as a liberatory space where Black voices are heard, affirmed, and celebrated.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every elder, family, youth, and facilitator who helped make this series unforgettable. Together, we’re creating legacies that future ancestors will proudly inherit.