About this Event
Join us for a community conversation as we reflect on the Black community’s resilience and activism in Mississauga now and during the 1980s and 1990s. Leaders who have contributed to shaping the city’s past and present will share personal stories of a Black activist movement that sparked after the untimely death of Michael Wade Lawson in Mississauga in 1988. The community conversation will delve into how his passing catalyzed activism by Black youth in Mississauga and across the Greater Toronto Area. Guest speakers will also discuss what Black youth need now as they advocate for a better future as the city marks its 50th anniversary.
This event continues the discussion generated by Generation X Marks the Spot, an exhibition curated by Dayo Kefentse that launched at Bradley Museum in February 2024. Read what people are saying about the exhibition here.
Doors open at 7:00pm.
Moderator:
Dayo Kefentse
Panelists:
Valerie Williams, retired Child & Youth Counsellor
Heather Carter, former youth advocate to Peel Regional Police
Davantee Glaves, Black Youth School Success Initiative
Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, Peel Regional Police
Please note this conversation will touch on subject matter that may upset some attendees. We welcome all guests ages 14 and up. Limited spaces for child supervision are available - please contact [email protected] for more information.
Vendors and Services:
At this event you will also be able to enjoy refreshments from local vendors and explore our informational market, featuring Black-owned and operated businesses including counselling services, community organizations and local support groups.
Dayo Media and Communications
Hummingbird Vegan Patty
Bold Quality Lemonaide
Roots Community Services
Congress of Black Women of Canada
City of Mississauga Black Employee Resource Group
Music:
DJ Jonathan Shaw
Refreshments:
Wanda's Caribbean Kitchen
How to get here:
Small Arms Inspection Building is located on Lakeshore Road East, near the border between Mississauga and Etobicoke. It’s conveniently located on the MiWay 5 Dixie and 23 Lakeshore bus routes and within a 10-minute walk from the Long Branch GO Station on the eastern border of the Mississauga waterfront.
Parking:
Free parking is available on the east side of the building. The parking lot can accommodate up to 160 vehicles with nine spots designated for accessible parking.
Bike racks are available outside of the main entrance.
Accessibility:
Small Arms Inspection Building has a ground-level entrance with automatic doors. There are accessible, single-user, all-gender washrooms with baby changing stations available inside the building.
Dayo Kefentse
Dayo Kefentse is the curator for Generation X Marks the Spot. She spent her childhood in Mississauga, living in many neighbourhoods including Rathwood on Willowbank Trail.
Dayo is the Managing Director of DAYO Media & Communications. The firm started in Mississauga and continues to serve clients in the GTA and beyond. She leads a team that bridges the intersection of journalism and communications to craft compelling storytelling while bringing joy to the experience. Today, as an established journalist, broadcaster and communications director based in Toronto, Canada, she enjoys bringing people together to converse, collaborate and create.
Valerie Williams
Valerie Williams is a dynamic Motivational Speaker and Parent Educator. She worked as a Child & Youth Counsellor with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District Board, where she specialized in motivating students and coaching parents to help them build stronger relationships with their children.
Valerie is a keynote speaker and Parent Educator at local and international events. She gives back to the community by volunteering with the Congress of Black Women, Mississauga Chapter, and Vita Centre, an agency for pregnant and parenting teens.
Heather Carter
Heather Carter is a Mississauga-raised Generation X change leader. She attended Woodlands High School during the 1980s and 1990s and developed a keen interest in Black activism after the death of Michael Wade Lawson. She studied law and security at Humber College and subsequently worked as a customs officer for the Canadian Border Services Agency. As a change leader, Heather speaks from her lived experience as an advocate.
Davantee Glaves
Davantee Glaves is a child and youth advocate who works with the Black Youth Success Student Initiative (BYSSI), which is based in Mississauga. As BYSSI’s Youth Engagement Coordinator, she advocates for equitable policies and resources that empower and uplift young people. Davantee is currently pursuing her degree in Child and Youth Care at Humber College, and is deeply committed to bridging educational gaps and providing culturally relevant support that fosters resilience, confidence, and a sense of identity in Black youth.
Deputy Chief Marc Andrews
Deputy Chief Marc Andrews grew up in and attended high school in Mississauga. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Master's of Business Administration degree from the University of Athabasca.
Prior to joining Peel Regional Police in 1990, Deputy Chief Andrews was a commissioned officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. During his tenure with Peel Regional Police, he has received multiple promotions and was most recently appointed Deputy Chief of Police on March 27, 2018.
Since September 2013, Deputy Chief Andrews has been an aide-de-camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, serving under the Honourable David Onley and the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell. He is also a Member of the Order of Merit Canada.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Small Arms Inspection Building, 1352 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga, Canada
CAD 0.00
