Our organization’s name, Ninandotoo Society, comes from the Swahili word \u2018nina ndoto\u2019 which translates to \u2018I have a dream.\u2019 We added another o at the end, because we have a dream \u201ctoo\u201d!<\/p>\n
After supporting “Black Shirt Day,” which received overwhelming support around\u00a0 the world on January 15, 2021,\u00a0 the members of Ninandotoo Society created the Black Excellence Day<\/strong> initiative. We chose to create our own event after consulting with various community members, including Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs<\/a>, Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre<\/a>, and BC Human Rights Commission<\/a>, who all voiced that the words \u2018Black shirt\u2019 and seeing people march wearing black shirts brought up traumatic experiences of Holocaust survivors.<\/p>\n Being truly anti-racist is about inclusion for all and Black Excellence Day<\/strong> was born. Despite moving away from “Black Shirt Day,” the meaning of Black Excellence Day<\/strong> remains the same: acknowledging the ongoing civil rights struggle of Black and racialized Canadians and fighting for mandatory curriculum on Black history.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_row_inner column_margin=”80px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” delay=”50″][team_member image_url=”641″ bio_alt_image_url=”641″ team_memeber_style=”bio_fullscreen_alt” image_loading=”lazy-load” team_member_bio_full_html=”simple” name=”Kamika Williams” job_position=”President & Co-Founder” team_member_mini_bio=”As President and Co-Founder of Ninandotoo Society Kamika plays an active role within the organization.” team_member_bio=”As President and Co-Founder of Ninandotoo Society Kamika plays an active role within the organization. She has a strong background in business, finance, and hospitality and uses those skills to provide business strategies that support the organizations direction and growth.<\/p>\n Kamika currently works for the Ministry of Education and Child Care as a Project Coordinator on the “erase“ portfolio, which is all about building safe and caring school communities. Kamika’s own experience with racism and going through the criminal justice system as a youth is what drives her to fight for systemic change. One of her goals is to fight for the redistribution of funds and resources away from the criminal justice system and into community programs that prevent people, especially youth, from entering into the criminal justice system in the first place.<\/p>\n Growing up and attending school in Victoria, she learned very little about Black History. She is vocal in how such a lack of representation impacts one\u2019s sense of belonging. In 2021 Kamika initiated and mobilized advocacy around Black Excellence Day to mark the civil rights struggles of Black Canadians and to push for more Black history in the school curriculum. For this achievement, she was the recipient of the 2021 ‘Hands Against Racism’ award.<\/p>\n A firm believer in community, Kamika has experience volunteering in various roles such as Community Engagement Coordinator during the 2015 federal election, as a mentor with Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Canada, and with the Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee for the City of Vancouver. She always makes time to connect with and advocate alongside racialized communities against systemic racism and discrimination.” social_icon_1=”fa fa-linkedin” social_link_1=”#https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kamikawilliams\/” social_icon_2=”fa fa-instagram” social_link_2=”#https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kamika_w\/”][\/team_member][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][team_member image_url=”448″ bio_alt_image_url=”448″ team_memeber_style=”bio_fullscreen_alt” image_loading=”lazy-load” team_member_bio_full_html=”simple” name=”Gloria Abada” job_position=”Director” team_member_mini_bio=”I believe strongly in bringing communities together and I do that through food, as food is a universal language and can connect people together in spite of your background.” team_member_bio=”I moved to Canada over two decades ago. Now married with three kids. I hold a degree in Business Administration and Management. Currently working from home as a financial analyst. I have numerous experience volunteering with different communities. Currently sit as membership committee with the Guildtown housing, because I believe affordable housing should be a human right. I believe strongly in bringing communities together and I do that through food, as food is a universal language and can connect people together in spite of your background.” social_link_1=”#” social_link_2=”#” social_link_3=”#”][\/team_member][divider line_type=”No Line”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” enable_animation=”true” animation=”fade-in-from-bottom” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” delay=”100″][team_member image_url=”638″ bio_alt_image_url=”638″ team_memeber_style=”bio_fullscreen_alt” image_loading=”lazy-load” team_member_bio_full_html=”simple” name=”Adrianne Williams” job_position=”Director” team_member_mini_bio=”Adrianne Williams is a multidisciplinary artist, working with themes of urban culture and the individual. Her paintings, installations and video works explore her Caribbean ancestry, while often highlighting ideas of pop culture and culture clash. Williams completed her BFA in Drawing at the Alberta University of the Arts in 2007. She has shown her work in Calgary, Edmonton, Italy and Spain.” team_member_bio=”Connie is a marketing professional with a passion for bringing communities together. She believes strongly in giving back to the community and helping where she can. She is always looking for opportunities to learn and for ways to be better. Connie is an active volunteer in the community, having worked with children, seniors, and racialized groups. She strives to help make the communities she\u2019s a part of more equitable, inclusive, and diverse.” social_link_1=”#” social_link_2=”#” social_link_3=”#”][\/team_member][divider line_type=”No Line”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”20px” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10","page","type-page","status-publish"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":664,"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions\/664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blackexcellenceday.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}