Young people of African heritage from across Canada are gearing up for a landmark event in Edmonton aimed at celebrating identity, fostering cultural bonds, tackling challenges, and building networks.

Scheduled for June 27 and 28 at the Westin Hotel, the inaugural National African Descent Youth Summit promises a platform for empowerment and community building. Participants like 32-year-old Yssra Abakar from Calgary express anticipation about being in a supportive environment.

“I’m so excited to be in a room with all Black people where I don’t feel like I’m a weird person or I’m just the only Black person in there,” Abakar shared enthusiastically. “I want to be around Black people. I want to party with my Black people, I want to enjoy my Black people.”

The summit, organized by the African Canadian Civic Engagement Council (ACCEC), aims to empower Black youth under the theme “Who we are, how we live and where we are going.” It features a lineup of influential speakers covering a range of topics including African history, achievements, wellness, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation.

Among the esteemed speakers is Edmonton’s own Ivan Ngandjui Touko, founder and CEO of La Connexional, renowned for promoting African, Caribbean, and Latin cultures through social enterprise initiatives that foster community cohesion.

Keynote speaker Mohamed Camara, Chair of the Department of African Studies at Howard University, will provide insights into the history and current dynamics of African diasporas, highlighting their contributions across various fields. Additionally, humanitarian and women’s advocate Sophie Jama Malindi will address systemic racism’s root causes and its impact on the physical, mental, and emotional health of youth, offering coping strategies and avenues for healing.

Dunia Nur, President and CEO of ACCEC, emphasized the summit’s significance in addressing complex issues faced by Black youth, drawing from her own experiences navigating multiple identities after resettling in Canada from Somalia. “Yes, we carry the ancestral trauma that flows through our blood,” Nur stated. “This is the stuff that our community goes through.”

The summit seeks to empower attendees to embrace their identities confidently. “If you don’t know who you are, others will define you,” Nur emphasized. “The Black youth summit aims to foster pride, community connection, and meaningful contributions.”

Registration for the summit is open on the event’s official website, offering young participants a chance to engage, learn, and contribute to shaping their futures positively.