Black History Month Luncheon / en In photos: 茄子直播's Black History Month Luncheon 2024 /news/photos-u-t-s-black-history-month-luncheon-2024 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">In photos: 茄子直播's Black History Month Luncheon 2024</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2812%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=QFrVj0yJ 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2812%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=IRJIgJ8C 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2812%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=fuF2luBI 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2812%29-crop.jpg?h=81d682ee&amp;itok=QFrVj0yJ" alt="茄子直播 community members line up for food at the Black History Month luncheon"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-02-29T14:52:10-05:00" title="Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 14:52" class="datetime">Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:52</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>Volunteers serve food during the 22<sup>nd &nbsp;</sup>edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, a signature event at 茄子直播 during Black History Month (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-history-month-luncheon" hreflang="en">Black History Month Luncheon</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/david-palmer" hreflang="en">David Palmer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/meric-gertler" hreflang="en">Meric Gertler</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Glen Boothe</strong>&nbsp;says he always&nbsp;wonders how many people will turn out for the Black History Month Luncheon 鈥 an annual event that brings together the University of Toronto community to celebrate Black excellence, history and culture.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淓very year, I go through this, 鈥榓re enough people going to show up?鈥,鈥 said Boothe, who works in 茄子直播鈥檚 division of advancement and co-founded the annual luncheon more than two decades ago.&nbsp;</p> <p>He needn鈥檛 have worried.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2842%29-crop.jpg?itok=Cp93RSyQ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Glen Boothe, a co-founder of the Black History Month Luncheon, thanks Micha毛lle Jean for delivering the event鈥檚 keynote address (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Booth estimated nearly 600 people gathered in the Great Hall in Hart House for <a href="/news/u-t-s-black-history-month-luncheon-mark-22-years-celebrating-black-excellence">the 22<sup>nd</sup> edition of the event </a>this week 鈥 with many others joining the celebration virtually, including via a watch party hosted by 茄子直播 Mississauga.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tangible support.鈥&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%281%29-crop.jpg?itok=5AsT1O3k" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Lilly Phillip, a chef with 茄子直播鈥檚 Food Services, has been cooking for the luncheon for eight years (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Those who attended in person and virtually heard from keynote speaker&nbsp;<strong>Micha毛lle Jean</strong>, a former journalist who served as governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010, Toronto Mayor&nbsp;<strong>Olivia Chow</strong>, and spoken-word poet <strong>Randell Adjei</strong>,&nbsp;who was named Ontario鈥檚 first poet laureate in 2021.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2847%29-crop.jpg?itok=zgTd4vZZ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Spoken-word poet Randell Adjei gestures to the audience (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Senior 茄子直播 leaders, including President&nbsp;<strong>Meric Gertler</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>David Palmer</strong>, vice-president, advancement,&nbsp;<strong>Barbara Dick</strong>,&nbsp;assistant vice-president, alumni relations, and&nbsp;<strong>Dickson Eyoh</strong>, interim principal of 茄子直播鈥檚 New College, welcomed attendees and commended the event鈥檚 volunteer organizers.</p> <p>鈥淭his is one of the signature events for 茄子直播鈥檚 annual Black History Month celebration,鈥 President Gertler said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%2827%29-crop.jpg?itok=EoXIKpcW" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>茄子直播 President Meric Gertler with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Micha毛lle Jean, who served as Canada鈥檚 governor general from 2005 to 2010&nbsp;(photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>President Gertler also remarked on the <a href="/news/historic-gift-african-studies-and-caribbean-studies-programs-university-toronto" target="_blank">recent $5-million investment</a> in the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies by alumnus&nbsp;<strong>Richard Rooney</strong>, who was in attendance.</p> <p>鈥淚t will help attract world-leading scholars through the establishment of two new endowed professorships and it will support the next generation of top minds through the creation of a pair of postdoctoral fellowships,鈥 said President Gertler.&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%286%29-crop.jpg?itok=xlP6ehGi" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>An estimated 600 people attended the Black History Month Luncheon in Hart House鈥檚 Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Meanwhile, Palmer presented Jean with an achievement award 鈥 recognizing her service, leadership and impact nationally and globally.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/0228BHMLunch008-crop.jpg?itok=NaUUNGgV" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>&nbsp;Attendees at 茄子直播 Mississauga鈥檚 watch party listen to Micha毛lle Jean via livestream (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Jean credited her mother and grandmother for motivating her to be an advocate from a young age.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淢y mother constantly reminded me that indifference is not an option,鈥 she said. 鈥淵ou have to be aware of what鈥檚 happening around you and how it affects you and others.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淓mbrace this discomfort. Feel the pain but stand firm.鈥</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-02/2024-02-28-BHM-Lunch-%282%29-crop.jpg?itok=U56gERBR" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em>Attendees line up in Hart House鈥檚 Great Hall as volunteers serve food (photo by Johnny Guatto)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>Jean said her mother told her to use her voice, not just for her own cause, but for others too.&nbsp;</p> <p>鈥淗aving perspective and knowing you can make a difference 鈥 that is the key to rising above adversity.鈥&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:52:10 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 306409 at 茄子直播鈥檚 Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence /news/u-t-s-black-history-month-luncheon-mark-22-years-celebrating-black-excellence <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">茄子直播鈥檚 Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-02/grid-6.jpg?h=0d2c82db&amp;itok=_X5k_B3c 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2024-02/grid-6.jpg?h=0d2c82db&amp;itok=0JiPdLxE 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2024-02/grid-6.jpg?h=0d2c82db&amp;itok=Fd68Ixbm 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2024-02/grid-6.jpg?h=0d2c82db&amp;itok=_X5k_B3c" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>mattimar</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2024-02-01T15:19:27-05:00" title="Thursday, February 1, 2024 - 15:19" class="datetime">Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"><p><em>The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Micha毛lle Jean, top row, middle,&nbsp;as the keynote speaker (photo of&nbsp;Micha毛lle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/mariam-matti" hreflang="en">Mariam Matti</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-history-month-luncheon" hreflang="en">Black History Month Luncheon</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/black-history-month" hreflang="en">Black History Month</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/division-university-advancement" hreflang="en">Division of University Advancement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-applied-science-engineering" hreflang="en">Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/hart-house" hreflang="en">Hart House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-libraries" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Libraries</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-scarborough" hreflang="en">茄子直播 Scarborough</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">The luncheon is one of many events taking place across 茄子直播鈥檚 three campuses during Black History Month</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Over the past two decades, the University of Toronto鈥檚 annual <a href="https://harthouse.ca/events/annual-black-history-month-luncheon/">Black History Month Luncheon</a> has grown in popularity and significance across 茄子直播鈥檚 three campuses 鈥 and beyond.</p> <p><strong>Glen Boothe</strong>, <a href="/news/celebrating-black-culture-and-food-glen-boothe-origins-u-t-s-black-history-month-luncheon" target="_blank">the luncheon鈥檚 co-founder</a>, attributes the event鈥檚 ongoing success to a 鈥渄iversity for all鈥 approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.</p> <p>鈥淚t gets bigger every year, and it鈥檚 heartening to see because that鈥檚 an indication that the message is resonating with more people,鈥 says Boothe, who works for 茄子直播鈥檚 division of advancement.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2024-02/GettyImages-461041080-crop.jpg" width="300" height="300" alt="&quot;&quot;"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em><strong>Micha毛lle Jean</strong> (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>This year鈥檚 luncheon 鈥 the 22nd edition of the event 鈥 will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker <strong>Micha毛lle Jean</strong>, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet 鈥&nbsp;and Ontario鈥檚 first poet laureate 鈥 <strong>Randell Adjei</strong>.</p> <p>Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be <a href="https://secureca.imodules.com/s/731/form-blank/index.aspx?sid=731&amp;gid=1&amp;pgid=22078&amp;cid=36337" target="_blank">emailed to individuals who register for the event</a>.</p> <p>The luncheon will also have a separate program 鈥 <a href="https://secureca.imodules.com/s/731/form-blank/index.aspx?sid=731&amp;gid=1&amp;pgid=22087&amp;cid=36349" target="_blank">and livestream</a> 鈥 for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by <strong>Dalton Higgins</strong>, an author and journalist, <strong>Esie Mensah</strong>, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna,<strong> Aiza</strong>, a singer and songwriter, <strong>Brandon Gonez</strong>, the CEO of Gonez Media, and <strong>Stacey McKenzie</strong>, a model and motivational speaker.</p> <p>鈥淲e like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, 鈥楾his is what you can aspire to,鈥欌 Boothe says.</p> <p>In 2022, 茄子直播 established the Black History Month Luncheon Award and committed to matching donations up to a total of $50,000. The award supports a Black undergraduate student in financial need. Air Canada is one of the sponsors of the event and has donated airline tickets for a raffle. The lunch is also sponsored by Coca-Cola and TD Bank.</p> <figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center"> <div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/scale_image_750_width_/public/2024-01/GettyImages-1708172836-crop.jpg?itok=NIVjVPqQ" width="750" height="500" alt="&quot;&quot;" class="image-style-scale-image-750-width-"> </div> </div> <figcaption><em><strong>Randell Adjei&nbsp;</strong>(photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)</em></figcaption> </figure> <p>The luncheon is one of many events across 茄子直播鈥檚 three campuses that mark Black History Month.</p> <p>From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, 茄子直播 Mississauga <a href="https://black.utm.utoronto.ca/all-events/month/2024-02/" target="_blank">has a full program</a> of Black History Month events, including <a href="https://black.utm.utoronto.ca/event/black-history-month-welcome-ceremony/" target="_blank">a dinner and a welcome ceremony</a> on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.</p> <p>At 茄子直播 Scarborough, a <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/u-t-scarborough-celebrates-black-history-month-2024" target="_blank">tri-campus event called Our Stories</a> on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month 鈥 one of <a href="https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/home/u-t-scarborough-celebrates-black-history-month-2024" target="_blank">several events happening on the campus</a> in February.</p> <p>On the St. George campus, there鈥檚 a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found <a href="https://antiracism.utoronto.ca/black-history-month/" target="_blank">at the Anti-Racism &amp; Cultural Diversity Office</a>, <a href="https://harthouse.ca/black-futures" target="_blank">Hart House</a> and <a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=JsKqeAMvTUuQN7RtVsVSECbWkGowBmlBtzfgS7uhJqpUNU41UENEUEYxMEFLOU1QTkRFMTNNUEpSRi4u" target="_blank">茄子直播 Libraries</a>, among others. They include <a href="https://bhetoronto.my.canva.site/" target="_blank">a series of free events</a> 鈥 organized by libraries at 茄子直播, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University 鈥 to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and <a href="https://nsbehacksuoft.ca/#homepage" target="_blank">a student-run Black hackathon</a> organized by the 茄子直播 chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.</p> <p>As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.</p> <p>鈥淚nitially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody鈥檚 support and excitement.鈥</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">On</div> </div> Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000 mattimar 305804 at