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Stratagem:
Black queer futures
We've always considered Stratagem to be a hub for those who are excited by social change which is why we wanted to continue the conversation.
Welcome to our first pop up event!
Stratagem: Black Queer Futures is a series of virtual talks and workshops by Black activists, thought-leaders and revolutionaries that dive deep into the nuance of Black queer identity, resistance and movement building.
Spread out over Black History Month, we invite you to explore the intersectional experience of Black LBGTQ2S+ lived realities and histories.
This is the space, open to everyone, to delve deeply into topics like identity, culture, resistance, healing, and allyship within a moving and honest context.
event schedule
january 23rd-february 27th
January 23rd, 10am-12pm PST
Intro to Racial Justice
An immersive and in depth workshop that exposes our complicity in racist power structures that exist all around us. Participants gain a deeper understanding of the manifestations of racism from systems of power to workplace microaggressions and most importantly gain the skills to speak up and combat racism in their communities.
Cicely Belle Blain
February 4th, 5-7pm PST
Afrofuturism: Creating Us Into Existence
This panel brings together a cross discipline group of Black queer and trans artists to discuss the power of Afrofuturism in shaping new and brilliant futures where Blackness is celebrated and liberated.
Qil Rogers
Jillian Christmas
D'Arcee Charington Neal
Jacob V Joyce
February 16th, 4-6.30pm PST
Out There Without Fear: Black Bodies in Motion
Out There Without Fear is a documentary directed by Joelle Powe out of Jamaica that tells the story of the Jamaican dancehall scene. Join for a film screening followed by a panel with the director alongside visionary Black dancers and movers.
Joelle Powe
Brandon Gray
Maria Hitchin
Simone Blais
January 28th, 6-8.30pm PST
misogynoir at work: film premiere + panel
RISE is a short film written and filmed in Vancouver that centres the story of Imani, a Black woman experiencing the brunt of anti-Black microaggressions. In response, she finds her power! The film is produced by Cicely Blain Consulting and written and directed by Mariam Barry. Film followed by a panel with the director alongside Black women who share their professional experiences of misogyny and anti-Black racism.
Mariam Barry
Udokam Iroegbu
February 9th, 12-2pm PST
Police Surveillance in Black Queer Activism
Former Black Lives Matter organizer and surveillance researcher talks about activist safety and police surveillance in protests, marches and parades. This session exposes and unpacks the use of technology to continue violent persecution of Black activists in the 21st century.
Daniella Barreto
February 23rd, 5-7pm PST
Redefining Black Masculinity
Black masculinity is a criminalized identity. Join four queer and trans masc-identifying speakers and community organizers to engage in transformative redefinition of Black masculinity - unpack stereotypes and understand the intersections of anti-Blackness and toxic masculinity through a Black feminist lens.
Azuka Nduka-Agwu
Crystal Mason
KB Boyce
Rev. Louis Mitchell
February 13th, 10am-12pm PST
Afro-Indigenous Resilience
This panel brings together Afro-Indigenous thought leaders, activists and community organizers from across Turtle Island for a powerful dialogue on the living at the intersections of Blackness and Indigeneity. Speakers share their lived and professional experience resisting anti-Blackness and settler colonialism through words and action.
Orene Askew
Joy Henderson
Jade Byard Peek
Ignacio G Hutía Xeiti Rivera
February 27th, 6-7pm PST
Black Brilliance Trivia Night
Join us for a fun closing night to our Stratagem Pop Up! Test your knowledge of Black history (and futures) with our interactive trivia night. Laugh and learn with fellow Stratagizers!
Embellish your evening with a Black-inspired cocktail (first 30 sign ups, Vancouver only).
Stratagem Team
accessibility
features
1.
Live CART captioning on all virtual events.
2.
ASL-EN interpretation on all virtual events.
3.
Free therapy sessions for Black attendees.
(Currently 10 available - set to increase based on donations)
4.
Subsidized therapy sessions for non-Black people of colour and Indigenous people.
(Currently 10 available - set to increase based on donations)
5.
Black Community Access tickets ($25) and 50-100% scholarships for anyone in need. Apply here.
1.
Nine incredible workshops and panels to inspire, educate and motivate.
2.
Access to internal Slack community with fellow Stratagizers for two months.
3.
Unlearning Anti-Blackness reading lists and resources.
4
Free Black-inspired cocktail to pair with your trivia night for the first 30 sign ups (Vancouver only).
5.
Special offer on RIPPLE OF CHANGE Magazine.
6.
Recorded content access for 1 month.
speakers
(more to be announced)
mariam barry
she/her
Mariam Ingrid Barry (she/her) is a multidisciplinary from Norway and The Gambia, West Africa. She is currently based in Vancouver, Canada, where she works in mediums from theatre and film to poetry.
Mariam is an actor, writer and producer with a love for all things creative.
Her art is grounded in her experience as a third culture kid in the diaspora. She grew up between Europe, Africa and North America and loves exploring how this multi-lens feeds into her larger understanding of what it means to be Black around the world.
Mariam has a BFA in Acting from the University of British Columbia and is currently work as a youth arts facilitator and film editor for Reel Youth. In this position, she mentors young people across Canada in filmmaking and the digital arts.