Rhythm & Blues Cambridge celebrates Black History Month
Cambridge, Ontario. (February 1, 2022) – Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present. This year, the City of Cambridge is proud to partner once again with Rhythm and Blues Cambridge (R&B), Idea Exchange and the KW Multicultural Centre to officially announce: Rhythm & Blues presents: Black History Month 2022 - a month-long series of virtual events for Cambridge residents of all ages.
Now in its third year, this celebration of black history and culture acknowledges the many accomplishments and contributions of members of African-Canadian communities in Cambridge and across Canada. An important goal of this resident-led group is to provide a safe engaging space to empower, inform and inspire the Black community in Cambridge.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s events will once again be virtual. Event participants will experience a unique look at the historical and contemporary struggles and triumphs of Black communities in Waterloo Region through virtual presentations and discussions of Black history, art, culture, and social justice. One of the main highlights of the R&B event line-up is the Black Girl Excellence (BGX) program, which exists to empower and uplift Black girls in Cambridge. We explore our unique cultural identities and learn about our bright and vibrant history, as it relates to our shared lived experiences. BGX is a space for young girls to claim their voice, build friendships and increase self-esteem.
“Black History Month is a time for reflection and celebration, as we celebrate the Black Canadian community; including the painful history, incredible resilience and rich culture,” said Mayor Kathryn McGarry. “Thank you to the Rhythm & Blues committee for yet again bringing us together so everyone can learn and be inspired by the compelling stories and enduring impact of our Black community.”
Rhythm & Blues Cambridge is a resident-led group of local members of the Black community. The name Rhythm & Blues comes from the saying “They want our rhythm but not our blues”.
Funding for this event was made possible by the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation, Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation (CNDCF) and the Office of Mayor and Council.
Event Schedule:
Date/Time | Event Details |
Sunday, February 6 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Rhythm & Blues Family Storytime featuring author Stephanie Duff |
Sunday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. | Live at Night a Poet Experience featuring Sherice- live on Instagram |
Saturday, February 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. | Black Girl Excellence Ages 4-8 ‘Free To Be You’ featuring Selam Debs and Nehal Ezzat |
Saturday, February 12 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Black Girl Excellence Ages 9-18 ‘The Grief born in our Bodies’ featuring Selam Debs and Nicole Brown Faulkor |
Thursday, February 17 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | No Shame in My Flow Game Period Box Project: Paint Night featuring Alana Deckert and Changing The Flow |
Saturday, February 19 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Black Rest and Wellness Afternoon Yoga - featuring Selam Debs Owner of Juicy Yoga
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Sunday, February 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Raising The Bar When Youth Speak - Youth Panel
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Additional Resources
For more information, including registration details, please visit the Rhythm & Blues website: www.rhythmbluescambridge.com or follow Rhythm & Blues on Instagram @Rhythmandbluescambridge
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Media Contact:
Allison Jones
Supervisor of Communications
Corporate Communications Division
Project Contact
Marjorie-Ann Knight
Krysanne McLean
Rhythm & Blues Committee
rhythmandbluescambridge@gmail.com
For more information about the City and its services, visit www.cambridge.ca. For accessibility accommodations, please contact accessibility@cambridge.ca. To opt out of the news release distribution, email corpcomm@cambridge.ca.