Brittney Griner is a Black, queer woman. And for western society, that isn’t enough to fuss about.

Steeven K. is a Congolese-Canadian filmmaker, director and writer currently residing and working in Vancouver. Recently, Steeven was one of 30 recipients of the Telus StoryHive grant for Emerging Black Creators, and is currently working on the pilot episode for a series focusing on the story of a young Congolese immigrant.

Since the first pickup in October 2012, the Leftovers Foundation’s volunteer crew has grown the organization, redirecting over-produced goods from bakeries, restaurants, and grocery stores to local nonprofits and charities that provide emergency food services.

At Afros In Tha City, we want to see Black folks thriving all year round, and our way of contributing to this mission is by amplifying voices and fostering a sense of community and belonging. So as Black History Month is behind us, we wanted to check in on folks to see how optimistic they are about their future here in Calgary.

We do not owe the continual educating of our historic pain if that process of education causes exhaustion. Pain is not the sole proprietor for Blackness.