Black History Month Celebration

Black History month was celebrated on February 2, 2010 at Centennial with a Keynote Speaker and a research panel.

The Keynote Speaker, Professor Njoki Wane spoke about Indigenous Knowledge's and Spirituality. Dr. Njoki is Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Director of the Office of Teacher Support at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She is also the 2008 Recipient of the Harry Jerome Award for Professional Excellence. In her speech Dr. Njoki encouraged youth to know themselves, nurture themselves, and explore their identities. She pointed out that there are many different types of knowledge and also many ways of knowing, of teaching and of learning. The research presentations included a presentation by Andrea Jacobs on employment and income outcomes of female black college graduates. There was also a presentation by Gale Solomon-Henry on African indigenous knowledge and the Canadian school system. She identified 4 main principles in African indigenous knowledge that she felt were relevant to the education system today. They were Preparationalism; Functionalism; Communalism and Wholisticism. Chris Harris spoke on community activism and talked about his role in youth engagement in his community. He invited students who are currently being trained to use the skills they gain from the College to engage other youth in their neighborhoods.