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

register now!

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

January 30th, 10am-12pm PST

Let's Do The Work Together

A workshop exploring how we can sustain our relations, cultivate accountability, and hold true to our values across and within Black queer communities.

Nic Wayara

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

Live CART captioning on all virtual events.

ASL-EN interpretation on all virtual events.

Free therapy sessions for Black attendees.

(Currently 10 available - set to increase based on donations)

Subsidized therapy sessions for non-Black people of colour and Indigenous people.

(Currently 10 available - set to increase based on donations)

Black Community Access tickets ($25) and 50-100% scholarships for anyone in need. Apply here.

Nine incredible workshops and panels to inspire, educate and motivate.

Access to internal Slack community with fellow Stratagizers for two months.

Unlearning Anti-Blackness reading lists and resources.

Free Black-inspired cocktail to pair with your trivia night for the first 30 sign ups (Vancouver only).

Special offer on RIPPLE OF CHANGE Magazine.

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.

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