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St. James Town Celebrates Black Brilliance and the Power of Storytelling for Change
On February 28, 2025, the Wellesley Community Centre became a hub of energy, celebration, and reflection as St. James Town marked Black Futures Month. Organized by The St. James Town Community Corner, The Centre for Advancing the Interests of Black People, Dixon Hall, and other key partners, the event showcased Black excellence, resilience, and the collective fight against anti-Black racism.
Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative
A central part of the gathering was the Community Fair, where organizations provided vital resources, including economic opportunities, mental health support, and employment assistance. Beyond celebrating Black culture and achievements, attendees engaged with service providers offering tangible pathways for change.
The program, hosted by MCs Amanda and Kendra, opened with a dynamic African drum performance by Izimba Arts, filling the space with rhythmic energy. Spoken word artist Kaynn delivered a powerful poem inspired in Black History Month. Ward 13 Councillor Chris Moise followed with opening remarks, underscoring the importance of sustained advocacy for Black communities.
One of the night’s standout moments was the screening of Stories of Strength: Black Residents Uplift St. James Town, a documentary by RPTV journalist Fred Alvarado, amplifying the voices of local Black residents.
The event’s keynote panel, Voices of Change – Healing, Storytelling, and Empowerment, brought together influential speakers. Among them was Adonis Huggins, Executive Director of Focus Media Arts Centre, whose decades-long commitment to youth empowerment through media has transformed countless lives in Regent Park. Huggins spoke about the power of storytelling in reclaiming narratives, particularly for Black youth, and how media can be a tool for self-expression and social change. Joining him were Feven Zewdu and Dr. Joan Samuels-Denis of Coming to Fruition, who explored storytelling as a path to healing from systemic oppression.
This gathering was more than a celebration—it was a powerful statement of resilience, the importance of amplifying Black voices, and the continuous work required to create a future rooted in equity and justice for St. James Town and beyond.
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FOCUS Media Arts Centre (FOCUS) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1990 to counter negative media stereotypes of low income communities and provide relevant information to residents living in the Regent Park area and surrounding communities.
We seek to empower marginalized individuals and under represented communities to have a voice, through the use of professional training, mentorships and participatory based media practices that enable the sharing of stories, experiences and perspectives on relevant matters and issues. In brief our mandate is to empower marginalized individuals and under-serviced communities to have a voice and tell their own stories.
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