Holding Space
I offer arts-based workshops, and curate community talk-balk sessions and performance spaces that centre the experiences of African Black Caribbean, Muslim and Indigenous communities and seek to imagine new pathways to liberation. With 7 years of experience in community and youth program development, I love to hold space for intergenerational community across various ages and experiences. My teaching style uses mindfulness, writing, visual art, and dance/music activities and centres opportunities for participant relationship-building.
"All That You Change" Artist Talkback and Spoken Word showcase at the AGA's 5 Artists 1 Love Gallery with Dr. Lebogang Disele
When African Women Talk "Intergenerational Panel"
"Building Roots" Multi-Media Visual Art Workshop
Self-care and mindfulness workshop featuring colouring pages by artist Brnesh Berhe.
"Muslim on Treaty Workshop" reflecting on treaty with Dene & Métis poet & artist Mathew James Weigel
Exploring the ties between food, place, culture and identity as communities on Treaty 6 with Conroy Smith of Flava Cafe at Wâposo-Wâti Park and Community Garden with Conroy Smith of Flava Cafe
"The Chatroom" virtual open mic series
Screening and Panel with local artists and mental health practitioners of Mustafa's "When Smoke Rises"
"Art in the Park" visual art workshop with JD arts
"Black Muslim Futures Creative Space" multi-media art workshop
Workshops
Writing for Justice
This spoken word workshop considers the uses art as a call to action across a rich tradition of Black and Muslim artists. This workshop draws inspiration from writers such as Mahmoud Darwish and Assata Shakur.
Prayers for the Land and the People
Explore our relationship to the land through creative writing, personal stories of belonging and spiritual connection to the land. Use the Muslim tradition of du’a to meaningfully acknowledge the history of this place and the first peoples. This session was hosted by the SFU Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies.
I Got A Lot to be M.A.D About
How do we stay human with these systems trying to kill us? To live under white supremacy, and colonialism and remain whole as Black, queer, Indigenous, and disabled communities is to know anger and hatred intimately. Inspired by Audre Lorde, Octavia Butler, Aja Monet, Solange, and Islamic spirituality. This session considers the path to liberation, as one paved by connection to the emotions that make us human.
Building Roots
A blend of visual art and creative writing, this workshop considers our histories and identities as people on Turtle Island. It blends collage art, discussion and creative writing to spark intergenerational dialogue about identity, place and belonging.
New Worlds
Utilizing a culturally rooted arts-based approach, this session establishes a common language for anti-racism discourse that considers the histories of colonization and settlement on Treaty 6. From allyship to collective action how can we work to build new worlds by first understanding the social and cultural context that we exist within? Informed by my work with the EPSB civic engagement lab and the Centre for Race and Culture.
Watch the full session with the Simon Fraser centre for Comparative Muslim Studies.
Let’s imagine the ideal session for your students, community group, or organization.
Student Artwork- "New Worlds" Multi-media art workshop with the ACGC youth cohort
Student Artwork- "New Worlds" Multi-media art workshop with the ACGC youth cohort
"Prayers for the Land and the People" a collection of land acknowledgements reflecting on colonialism, spirituality, settlement and belonging, each written in the form of prayers and reflections. I led 6 months of arts-based engagement including an online campaign and community spaces in collaboration with Muslim and Indigenous Artists at the Green Room youth program.
"Prayers for the Land and the People"
"Prayers for the Land and the People"
Participant artwork "Black Muslim Futures" Creative Space
Participant photography "Black Muslim Futures" Creative Space
Curation and Facilitation
Black Every Day: Community Tour
Community tour of the “Black Every Day” at the Art Gallery of Alberta takes viewers on a journey through the works of local Black Artists.
The Universe is a Poem
Curated in collaboration with the Mosquers Film Festival and The Green Room Youth Program “The Universe is a poem” was an evening of storytelling featuring Amir Sulaiman and local Black Muslim artists.
Blackbird Spoken Word Showcase
In collaboration with the JABULANI Festival, Blackbird was a spoken word and hip hop showcase which I curated featuring local artists
