During the 2023- 2024 school year, Chief Dan George Public School as part of the Black Student Success and Excellence (BSSE) initiative had a variety of academic and cultural experiences to celebrate Black joy and combat anti-Black racism. Chief Dan George PS also formed a Black Student Alliance (BSA) with the assistance of K-12 Coach Joseph Galiwango and BSSE lead teachers. They brainstormed and decided to host three different student and community engagement events: a Black Joy Family Night, an assembly showcasing the diversity within Black culture and a Family Literacy Day.
On Black Joy Family Night, which took place on May 17, 2024, messages of Black Joy and anti-racism using ArtificiaI Intelligence (AI) technology were showcased. The school collaborated with community partners to create educational programming which promoted wellness and identity-affirming messages. Students used AI to amplify their voices with the help of African-Canadian author and A.I. educator Hezzy Clark from Urban Rez Solutions. Students created avatars, inputted their voices, and engaged in scriptwriting and recording as they explored identity and stereotypes as well as what Black joy means to them.
With their avatars, students discussed their visible and invisible identity markers, how they impact how they are seen, and how they see themselves in school and in society. In addition, students shared affirmations they can keep in their heart and minds while dealing with negativity. Students also created a campaign to end the use of the N-word.
During both the Black Joy Family Night and the African Heritage Month Assembly, there was a fashion show. Fashion and textiles from the continent of Africa and contemporary fashion was showcased. It was a culmination of culture, heritage and learning.
May 16, 2024, parents and caregivers were engaged through a Family Literacy Day. During the Family Literacy Day, families came to the school and worked directly with the students in the library. There were read aloud activities with identity-affirming texts,The Library Bus by Bahram Rahman and Granny’s Kitchen by Sad茅 Smith. There was also a school-wide reading and writing activity with the text, I AM Big by Itah Sadu.
Inquiry Question: What happens when we use the arts and literacy to explore lived experiences as methods of expression of Black joy and cultural identity?