Black Spaces Symposium 2026: History, Memory & the Making of Future Legacies

A Celebration of Black Leadership, Cultural Preservation, Creative Wealth, and the Power of Community

October 17, 2026 | Vancity Culture Lab at The Cultch | Vancouver, BC

On Saturday, October 17, 2026, Afro Van Connect Society, in collaboration with Black Space Media Inc., welcomed community members, cultural leaders, artists, educators, and changemakers to the second gathering of the Black Spaces Summit & Symposium 2026.

Hosted at the Vancity Culture Lab at The Cultch, the afternoon brought together diverse voices for meaningful conversations about Black history, collective memory, economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and the responsibility we share in building lasting legacies for future generations.

Under the theme “Black Spaces: History, Memory & the Making of Future Legacies,” the symposium invited participants to reflect on an important question:

How do we move beyond simply creating space for Black communities and begin building the cultural, social, and economic foundations that ensure these spaces endure for generations?

For Afro Van Connect, this gathering represented more than a one-day event. It was part of our ongoing commitment to advancing spatial justice, strengthening community relationships, and ensuring that Black voices, experiences, and contributions remain central to the future of our cities.

Part One: Creative Wealth — Building Foundations for Future Generations

The afternoon began with an engaging Creative Wealth Workshop, presented by Matthew Steinbach of RBC.

This session explored the importance of financial knowledge, economic empowerment, and long-term wealth creation within Black communities, particularly for artists, entrepreneurs, cultural workers, and emerging community leaders.

The workshop created an opportunity to consider how financial literacy and access to resources intersect with cultural sustainability and community development.

For many Black-led organizations and creatives, building wealth is not simply about individual financial success. It is also about developing the capacity to invest in our communities, support future generations, preserve cultural institutions, and create opportunities that extend beyond ourselves.

The conversation reinforced a central principle of the Black Spaces Initiative: lasting community spaces require more than physical infrastructure. They also require economic opportunity, collective ownership, and sustainable investment.

We extend our appreciation to Matthew Steinbach and RBC for contributing their knowledge and supporting this important conversation.

Part Two: History, Memory & Future Legacies

The second half of the symposium brought together a dynamic panel of community leaders, cultural practitioners, and professionals to explore the relationship between Black history, collective memory, leadership, and the future of Black spaces.

Featured panelists included:

• Jamila Douhaibi
• Rohene Bouajram
• Yabome Gilpin-Jackson
• Michelle Fenton
• Ndidi Cascade

Together, these voices brought perspectives spanning education, leadership, architecture, community development, and artistic expression.

The discussion invited participants to consider how Black communities preserve their histories while actively shaping the environments, institutions, and opportunities that future generations will inherit.

Preserving History While Building the Future

One of the central themes guiding the symposium was the importance of recognizing Black history as a living foundation for community development.

In Vancouver, the history of Hogan's Alley remains a powerful reminder of the contributions Black communities have made to the city's cultural and social fabric, as well as the lasting consequences of displacement, exclusion, and systemic inequity.

These histories remind us that the creation and preservation of Black spaces are deeply connected to questions of belonging, representation, cultural identity, and justice.

As we look toward the future, we must ask ourselves how we can ensure that Black communities are not only represented in conversations about urban development but are also actively involved in designing, governing, and sustaining the spaces that shape their lives.

Black history is not simply something we remember. It is something we build upon.

Spatial Justice and the Importance of Permanent Black Spaces

At Afro Van Connect, we believe that access to culturally meaningful spaces is essential to the health, creativity, and long-term prosperity of Black communities.

Through our Black Spaces Initiative, we continue to advocate for community-led approaches to cultural infrastructure, creative development, and spatial justice.

This work includes our ongoing efforts to develop the Ernie King Outdoor Amphitheatre and Community Garden at Trillium Park, located near Vancouver's historic Hogan's Alley neighbourhood.

The project represents an opportunity to establish a permanent, accessible cultural and environmental gathering space where artistic expression, intergenerational learning, food sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and community connection can thrive.

The themes explored during the symposium directly connect to this broader vision.

When we invest in Black spaces, we are investing in more than buildings, gardens, and gathering places. We are investing in cultural continuity, community ownership, collective well-being, and the ability of future generations to see themselves reflected in the places they call home.

The Power of Intergenerational Knowledge and Collective Leadership

Another important focus of the symposium was the role of intergenerational knowledge in strengthening Black communities.

Our elders, artists, educators, organizers, and emerging leaders each carry experiences and perspectives that contribute to our collective understanding of community.

Creating opportunities for these voices to connect allows us to preserve valuable cultural knowledge while encouraging new approaches to leadership, creativity, and community development.

At Afro Van Connect, we recognize that meaningful progress requires collaboration across generations, sectors, and lived experiences.

Our goal is not simply to create opportunities for individuals to succeed but to build networks of support that allow communities to thrive collectively.

The legacies we leave behind are shaped by the relationships we build, the knowledge we share, and the opportunities we create for those who come after us.

Building Beyond the Symposium

While the 2026 Black Spaces Summit & Symposium has concluded, the conversations and relationships developed through these gatherings will continue to inform our work.

The two-part event series created opportunities to explore authentic leadership, Black political and community power, financial empowerment, cultural preservation, and the importance of creating permanent spaces for Black communities.

Together, these conversations contribute to a broader movement toward community self-determination and more equitable access to cultural and economic resources.

Looking ahead to 2027, Afro Van Connect and Black Space Media are committed to expanding the Black Spaces platform through continued public dialogue, educational workshops, creative programming, strategic partnerships, and community-led initiatives.

Our vision is to ensure that Black Spaces continues to evolve as a platform where ideas become relationships, relationships become opportunities, and opportunities become lasting community infrastructure.

Thank You to Our Community and Partners

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the second day of the Black Spaces Summit & Symposium 2026 possible.

Thank you to our featured panelists, Jamila Douhaibi, Rohene Bouajram, Yabome Gilpin-Jackson, Michelle Fenton, and Ndidi Cascade, for sharing their perspectives and contributing to this important dialogue.

We also thank Matthew Steinbach and RBC for supporting the Creative Wealth Workshop and helping advance conversations around financial empowerment and sustainable community development.

Our appreciation extends to The Cultch and the Vancity Culture Lab team for hosting us, along with our volunteers, collaborators, community partners, and everyone who joined us for the afternoon.

Most importantly, thank you to the community members who continue to show up, participate, share their experiences, and support the vision of creating meaningful and lasting Black spaces.

Your presence reminds us why this work matters.

Black Spaces Are Not Temporary. Our Legacies Shouldn't Be Either.

As we reflect on the 2026 Black Spaces Summit & Symposium, one message remains clear:

Black communities deserve more than temporary access, symbolic representation, or short-term opportunities. We deserve the resources, relationships, and permanent infrastructure necessary to shape our own futures.

At Afro Van Connect, we remain committed to building spaces where Black culture is celebrated, Black knowledge is valued, Black leadership is strengthened, and future generations have the opportunity to thrive.

Because creating Black spaces is not only about where we gather today.

It is about what we leave behind tomorrow.

About Afro Van Connect Society

Afro Van Connect Society is a Vancouver-based, Black-led non-profit organization dedicated to empowering people of African descent through conversation, collaboration, creation, and performance. Through initiatives focused on arts and culture, education, food sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and spatial justice, we work to create opportunities and culturally meaningful spaces that strengthen communities and support future generations.

Learn more: www.afrovanconnect.ca

Presented by: Afro Van Connect Society & Black Space Media Inc.

Black Spaces Summit & Symposium 2026 — Building Community, Preserving History, Creating Future Legacies.