2023 Annual Summit
- January 28, 2023
- Quebec
Sixth edition - Culture, economy, education and justice
Every year, on the last Saturday of January, all the leaders from the Black Francophone and Anglophone, Haitian, African and Caribbean communities gather for our annual summit.
Together, researchers, academics, parents, students, social entrepreneurs, businesswomen and businessmen, community leaders and stakeholders, professionals and engaged citizens are focusing all their attention on the concerns of Black communities in Quebec in general, and young people in particular.
This is also an opportunity for the leaders of the Afro Youth Summit to be accountable to Black communities for their various activities and initiatives.
Topics covered
Environmental challenges in the age of inclusion
Black communities are still insufficiently represented in debates on the environment and related public policies. This panel helped to address this gap by giving a voice to members of Black communities involved in finding solutions for an effective and just ecological transition.
Racial profiling: a social justice issue
Exploration of the issues, challenges and potential solutions related to racial profiling in the Quebec context, by mobilizing the expertise of the scientific, community and legal sectors.
Our panelists and experts.
In total, more than 250 people attended the presentations and panels throughout the day and were able to share their questions and concerns.
Panel 1 - Environmental challenges in the era of inclusion
Moderation: Alix Adrien, President of QBBE and Board Member of the Afro Youth Summit
Claudia Gbetholancy
Policy Analyst, Department of the Environment and Climate Change Canada
Claudia holds a bachelor's degree in geography and a master's degree in urban planning. She works as a policy analyst at Environment and Climate Change Canada, contributing to the development of policies to ensure that the effects of climate change are considered in federal decisions.
Leïla Cantave
Co-founder of Black Eco Bloom
She holds a bachelor's degree in international development, economics, and environmental studies from McGill University. Her interest in social justice naturally led her to incorporate an intersectional approach into her activism for environmental and climate justice. In 2022, she co-founded the non-profit organization Black Eco Bloom to promote Black women's leadership in the environmental sector.
Panel 2 - Racial profiling, a social justice issue
Moderator: Marjorie Villefranche, Executive Director of Maison d'Haïti and member of the Board of Directors of the Afro Youth Summit
Rosie Kasongo
Co-coordinator of the 1629 Collective and board member of the Afro Youth Summit
She holds a master's degree in international development management and humanitarian action, as well as a bachelor's degree in political science from Laval University. She is involved in several causes, notably in the anti-racist and feminist movements, as well as in youth movements.
Fernando Belton
Lawyer and president of the Saint-Michel Legal Clinic
Mr. Belton is a lawyer specializing in criminal and penal law. A graduate of UQAM in legal sciences and holder of a certificate in history, he entered the legal profession in 2015. Sensitive to current social issues, he is the president and co-founder of the Saint-Michel Legal Clinic (CJSM) where he notably coordinates the racial profiling team.
Maxim Fortin
Coordinator at the League for Rights and Freedoms and research member of the IRIS Board of Directors
A political scientist by training, Maxim Fortin holds a doctorate in Political Science (Université Laval). His primary areas of study are social movements, philanthropy, community action, and public policy. He is currently the coordinator of the Quebec chapter of the League for Rights and Freedoms.
The impact of the Summit
This sixth edition in Quebec City brought together leaders from Black communities to discuss the crucial issues facing communities in terms of culture, economy, education and justice.
The annual summit has become an essential event for the community, allowing leaders of the Afro Youth Summit to report on their activities and initiatives, while offering a space for dialogue and collective reflection.
This event was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Quebec Secretariat for Youth.