Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Title of the Event:
Voices United, Healing The Global Heart

Date & Time:
April 10, 2025, 9:00 AM Central (10:00 AM EST, 7:00 AM PST, 3:00 PM GMT)

Organized by:
Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival

Hosted by:
Princess Eulogia

Event Overview:
This side event, Voices United, Healing The Global Heart, aims to bridge the gap between the Garifuna diaspora and global communities, addressing reparatory justice, human rights, and economic inclusion for people of African descent. Through panel discussions and interactive Q&A, we will explore barriers preventing marginalized communities from monetizing social media platforms, highlighting how digital opportunities can empower women and girls to navigate motherhood and economic challenges. The conversation will further examine systemic racism in policy-making, the role of artificial intelligence in digital justice, and the intersection of culture, media, and economic sustainability.

Additionally, this event will highlight the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ acquisition of Balliceaux Island and its significance to the Garifuna people. The Garifuna delegations traveling to reconnect with their ancestral roots will also take part in these vital discussions. This gathering will serve as a platform to engage in transformative conversations that can shape the future of Garifuna descendants and the broader diaspora.
A crucial aspect of this discussion will be the connection between mental health and intergenerational historical trauma. The psychological impact of displacement, marginalization, and cultural erasure continues to affect the well-being of Garifuna descendants and other people of African descent. This event will explore how these historical traumas manifest in modern struggles, particularly for mothers raising children in challenging socio-economic environments. Addressing these issues through reparatory justice frameworks will provide a pathway toward healing, resilience, and empowerment.

The Second Decade: Development, Justice, and Recognition for Africans and People of African Descent
Topics to be Addressed:
Reparatory Justice for Africa and People of African Descent
Human Rights of Women and Girls of African Descent
Media, Journalism, and the importance and struggles of "relaying the message"  
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Justice for People of African Descent
Mental Health, Well-Being, and Intergenerational Trauma
Educational Aspects of Ancestral Knowledge and Preserving Cultural Heritage

Key Features:
Twin Islands St. Maarten/St. Martin reparations-themed conference
Participation from the Chairperson of the Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance
Participation from Africa: Secretary General of African Unity 6th Region Global & Economic Community African Six Region
CSO Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean
Acquisition of Balliceaux by the Saint Vincent & the Grenadines Government

Special Presentations:

1. The Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance will present its plan for building bridges between the Garifuna communities and Africa: The Journey of Return Opportunities
2. The AU6RG/ECASR will share information about the framework for engagement

Speakers:
Macaulay Kalu, Secretary General of African Unity 6th Region Global & Economic Community African Six Region
Amb. Okama Ekpe Brook, CSO Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean
Chief Queen Mother Freda, CEO of Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
Jacqueline Roberts FRSA, SV2G (St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation) UK
Odenke Ibiang, Singer and Influencer from Ekori, Nigeria
& More

Format & Speakers:
The event will feature keynote speakers, panelists, and audience participation. A live Q&A session will encourage engagement from diverse stakeholders, including cultural organizations, policymakers, and technology advocates.

Contributing Entities:
SV2G
Mannequins N Motion
The Garifuna Museum of Los Angeles
El Museo Garifuna SAWAINA
Freedom Hair by Melony
Other supporting organizations providing public speakers, video clips, free giveaways, and advertising support.

Target Audience:
Global African and Caribbean Diaspora
The Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival
Museum and cultural organizations
Human rights advocates
Digital justice and AI experts
Women and girls of African descent seeking economic empowerment
Social media and content creators facing monetization barriers
Government representatives and policymakers invested in the Garifuna diaspora and reparatory justice
Mental health professionals and advocates focusing on intergenerational trauma

Accredited Media: Media representatives for the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

Language:
English (Some Spanish and Garifuna might be used).

Venue:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87942982480?pwd=bCTk9Ht6qpnEvzG0EB7Uwpmzo9AnEI.1
Meeting ID: 879 4298 2480
Passcode: 570935

Lead Organizer Contact:
Princess Eulogia
pr@mannequinsnmotion.com

● Title of the side event: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Human Rights for People of African Descent: a time to refocus.

● Date, time and time zone of side event: April 10 at 12pm ET

● Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies: Diversity Institute

● Language(s) in which the side event will be held: Mainly in English (some questions will be answered in French.)

● Description of the side event
The side event will delve into the need to evaluate the impact of the crusade against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. The murder of George Floyd added impetus to DEI and inclusion efforts worldwide and a more specific focus on anti Black racism. However, the adaptability of capital and the changing tides of public opinion are revealing the potential fragility of the DEI approach. Is the DEI approach still the right way to recognize the lasting and structural harms of systemic and intersectional racism? Does a human rights framework could effectively replace the DEI infrastructure in organizations that embrace it?

Speakers:
● Dr. Wendy Cukier, Founder and Academic Director, Diversity Institute, TMU
● Tamara Thermitus, Visiting Scholar, McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism
● Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen, President and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.
● Moderated by: Dr. Susan Swayze, Associate Professor, Educational Research, The George Washington University

●Link to connect: https://torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nwUe5nv5SlqTxGnEZenxng#/registration


● Name and email address of the lead organizer (and permission to publish the lead organizer’s contact details): Nancy Mitchell, Diversity Institute, n.mitchell@torontomu.ca

Title of the side event: AI SIDE EVENT
Black AI: The Ascension to Excellence - Dream Tanks: Afrofuturism as a Transformative Strategy for Systemic Change and Reparatory Justice

Date, time and time zone of side event:
Thursday, April 10, 2025, | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Pacific Time)

Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies:
International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG) 

Language(s) in which the side event will be held
English

Description of the side event (no more than 100 words):                                                                         This presentation explores the concept of "Dream Tanks," a visionary approach to strategic planning rooted in Afrofuturism. By leveraging collaborative design, Ubuntu theory, artificial intelligence, and appreciative inquiry, Dream Tanks serve as incubators for imagining transformative futures that address systemic challenges. The session will highlight how Afrofuturism’s lens of empowerment, resilience, and creativity can be applied to organizational, community, and global strategic initiatives. Attendees will learn how to harness this framework to inspire visionary thinking and actionable solutions that honor diverse identities and collective progress.

Location of the side event (or website for registration, for events held online). For
online events, kindly ensure to send the connection link to facilitate participants’
access. Virtually on Zoom
Zoom Registration Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Gwz5kId6QHi-AAyeZeXwxQ

Name and email address of the lead organizer (and permission to publish the lead
organizer’s contact details)
Submitted by: ICSWG Programs Co-lead Prophet N. Anyanwu Cox, R.N (MO)., M.Ed.,
Email: anyanwu1950@gmail.com | Permission to publish given

Discussants- Primary Presenter: Dr. Lawana Richmond, Discussant 1: Kelsey Daniels, Co-Host Perspective, Discussant: 2: Jasmine Leflore, Participant Viewpoint, Moderator- Lena Young

Weblink for any further information: https://iwgpfpad.mn.co/spaces/9306480/feed