Community News
“Mkutano: Bringing Black Together.” Creating a platform for connection and dialogue
BY PAUL JUNOR
Ryan O’Neil Knight, impact investor, mentor and co-founder at the African Canadian Business Network (ACBN) serves as Executive Director and General Manager of ACBN Microloan Fund.
On Monday, April 10th, 2023, he posted a message on LinkedIn announcing the launch of a new weekly article series, “Mkutano: Bringing Black Together.” The overall goals of the weekly series are to unite, inspire, and empower our Black community by exploring various topics that deeply resonate with us.
There are five expectations that are anticipated from each weekly series:
- In-depth analysis
- Expert perspectives
- Empowering strategies
- Community voices
- Celebrating success
MKutano intends to engage the community through the following activities:
- Engaging with the articles: Read, reflect, and share your thoughts and perspectives in the comments section.
- Share stories: If you have a story, insight, or experience related to the topics we’ll explore, they would love to hear from you. Reach out to them to share your story and possibly be featured in an upcoming article.
- Spreading the word: Help them amplify the voices of the Black Canadian community by sharing the articles on your social media platforms.
The sessions held over first six weeks were titled:
- Through Our Lens
- Empowering Our Queens
- The Importance of Men in the Black Community, Fostering Unity and Growth Through Community Dialogue
- The Importance of Black History and How it Affects the Black Community: The Need for Community Discussion
- Building a Stronger Community: The Importance of Economics and the Black Community in Fostering Prosperity and Change
- Cultivating Our Roots: The Importance of Culture in the Black Community and the Power of Community Discussion
The upcoming topics include:
Week 7 – May 29th: Supporting Our Future: The Importance of Youth in the Black Community and the Need for Community Discussion.
Week 8 – June 5th: Nourishing Our Communities: The Importance of Food Security for the Black Community.
Week 9 – June 12th: Strengthening Our Foundations: The Importance of Housing in the Black Community and the Need for Inclusive Dialogue.
Week 10 – June 19th: Healing Our Communities: The Importance of Health in the Black Community and the Need for Community Discussion.
Week 11 – June 26th: Bridging the Gap: The Importance of Family in the Black Community and the Needs for Community Discussion.
Week 12 – July 3rd: Empowering Minds: The Importance of Education in the Black Community and the Need for Community Engagement.
Week 13 – July 10th: Building Sustainable Futures: The Importance of Climate Change and Its Effects on the Black Community.
Week 14 – July 17th: Unlocking Opportunities: The Importance of Employment in the Black Community and the Need for Community Discussion.
Week 15 – July 24th: Expressing Our Voices: The Importance of Arts in the Black Community and the Power of Community.
Week 16 – July 31st: Breaking Barriers: The Importance of Eliminating Racism and its Impact on the Black Community.
Week 17 – August 7th: Fostering Growth: The Importance of Wealth and Its Effects on the Black Community and the Need for Community Discussion.
Week 18 – August 14:th Strengthening Our Neighbourhoods: The Importance of Community Development in the Black Community and the Need for Community Engagement.
Mkutano, ”Bringing Black Canada Together,” is intended to transcend beyond a series of articles. It is envisioned as a movement to create a platform for connection and dialogue.”
At the heart of ” Mkutano” is a commitment to amplifying the voices and experiences of the Black Canadian community. They will share personal stories, interviews, and testimonials that highlight the resilience, creativity, and strength of our community.
Anyone interested in learning about Mkuntaoi can check the website: http:// mkutano
and register for any of the sessions. All the conversations can be followed on the website: https://mkutano.community/