In photos: U of T's Black History Month Luncheon 2024

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 19:52:10 +0000

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/29/2024 - 14:52

Cutline

Volunteers serve food during the 22^ndedition of the Black History Month Luncheon, a signature event at U of T during Black History Month (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Mariam Matti

Topic

City & Culture

Black History Month Luncheon

David Palmer

Hart House

Meric Gertler

Glen Boothe says he always wonders how many people will turn out for the Black History Month Luncheon – an annual event that brings together the ��Ƶ community to celebrate Black excellence, history and culture.

“Every year, I go through this, ‘are enough people going to show up?’,” said Boothe, who works in U of T’s division of advancement and co-founded the annual luncheon more than two decades ago.

He needn’t have worried.

Glen Boothe, a co-founder of the Black History Month Luncheon, thanks Michaëlle Jean for delivering the event’s keynote address (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Booth estimated nearly 600 people gathered in the Great Hall in Hart House for the 22^nd edition of the event this week – with many others joining the celebration virtually, including via a watch party hosted by U of T Mississauga.

“It’s incredible,” he said. “It’s tangible support.”

Lilly Phillip, a chef with U of T’s Food Services, has been cooking for the luncheon for eight years (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Those who attended in person and virtually heard from keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, a former journalist who served as governor general of Canada from 2005 to 2010, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and spoken-word poet Randell Adjei, who was named Ontario’s first poet laureate in 2021.

Spoken-word poet Randell Adjei gestures to the audience (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Senior U of T leaders, including President Meric Gertler, David Palmer, vice-president, advancement, Barbara Dick, assistant vice-president, alumni relations, and Dickson Eyoh, interim principal of U of T’s New College, welcomed attendees and commended the event’s volunteer organizers.

“This is one of the signature events for U of T’s annual Black History Month celebration,” President Gertler said.

U of T President Meric Gertler with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Michaëlle Jean, who served as Canada’s governor general from 2005 to 2010 (photo by Johnny Guatto)

President Gertler also remarked on the recent $5-million investment in the African Studies Centre and the Centre for Caribbean Studies by alumnus Richard Rooney, who was in attendance.

“It 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,” said President Gertler.

An estimated 600 people attended the Black History Month Luncheon in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Meanwhile, Palmer presented Jean with an achievement award – recognizing her service, leadership and impact nationally and globally.

Attendees at U of T Mississauga’s watch party listen to Michaëlle Jean via livestream (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Jean credited her mother and grandmother for motivating her to be an advocate from a young age.

“My mother constantly reminded me that indifference is not an option,” she said. “You have to be aware of what’s happening around you and how it affects you and others.

“Embrace this discomfort. Feel the pain but stand firm.”

Attendees line up in Hart House’s Great Hall as volunteers serve food (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Jean said her mother told her to use her voice, not just for her own cause, but for others too.

“Having perspective and knowing you can make a difference – that is the key to rising above adversity.”

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:19:27 +0000

U of T’s Black History Month Luncheon to mark 22 years of celebrating Black excellence

mattimar Thu, 02/01/2024 - 15:19

Cutline

The 22nd edition of the Black History Month Luncheon, to be held at Hart House on Feb. 28, will feature former governor general Michaëlle Jean, top row, middle, as the keynote speaker (photo of Michaëlle Jean by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty, others by Johnny Guatto and Mariam Matti)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Black History Month Luncheon

Black History Month

Division of University Advancement

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Subheadline

The luncheon is one of many events taking place across U of T’s three campuses during Black History Month

Over the past two decades, the ��Ƶ’s annual Black History Month Luncheon has grown in popularity and significance across U of T’s three campuses – and beyond.

Glen Boothe, the luncheon’s co-founder, attributes the event’s ongoing success to a “diversity for all” approach that stems from an inspiring mix of Black culture, history and, of course, delicious food.

“It gets bigger every year, and it’s heartening to see because that’s an indication that the message is resonating with more people,” says Boothe, who works for U of T’s division of advancement.

Michaëlle Jean (photo by Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images)

This year’s luncheon – the 22nd edition of the event – will be held inside the Great Hall at Hart House on Feb. 28 and will feature keynote speaker Michaëlle Jean, the former governor general of Canada. She will be joined by spoken-word poet – and Ontario’s first poet laureate – Randell Adjei.

Boothe encourages those who cannot attend in-person to organize a viewing party and watch the livestream of the luncheon, which will be emailed to individuals who register for the event.

The luncheon will also have a separate program – and livestream – for students from high schools across Greater Toronto. They will be joined by Dalton Higgins, an author and journalist, Esie Mensah, a choreographer who has worked with Drake and Rihanna, Aiza, a singer and songwriter, Brandon Gonez, the CEO of Gonez Media, and Stacey McKenzie, a model and motivational speaker.

“We like to showcase the idea of Black excellence, especially to the high school students, to say to them, ‘This is what you can aspire to,’” Boothe says.

In 2022, U of T 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.

Randell Adjei (photo by Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images)

The luncheon is one of many events across U of T’s three campuses that mark Black History Month.

From workshops to events highlighting Black authors, U of T Mississauga has a full program of Black History Month events, including a dinner and a welcome ceremony on Feb. 2 in the Kaneff Centre rotunda.

At U of T Scarborough, a tri-campus event called Our Stories on Feb. 7 will elevate the voices of international students with a focus on Black History Month – one of several events happening on the campus in February.

On the St. George campus, there’s a wide array of Black History Month events and programming offered by faculties, departments and other campus organizations. Details can be found at the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office, Hart House and U of T Libraries, among others. They include a series of free events – organized by libraries at U of T, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library and York University – to improve coverage of Black histories on Wikipedia and Wikidata, and a student-run Black hackathon organized by the U of T chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

As for the luncheon, Booth says he is thankful for the ongoing support.

“Initially this was an event within our community and now I feel everybody’s support and excitement.”