In the heart of Toronto, a profound gathering is on the horizon – the Annual African Descent Summit 2024, hosted by African Descent Ontario (ADSON). This year’s summit carries a powerful theme: “Recognition, Justice, and Development,” and is scheduled to take place at the splendid Toronto Pavilion, 190 Railside Road, North York, Ontario, Canada, from July 17th to July 20th, 2024.
This summit holds unique significance as it coincides with the concluding chapter of the “UN International Decade for People of African Descent.” Launched by the United Nations, this pivotal initiative aimed to address and rectify the historical injustices faced by people of African Descent across the globe. The year 2024 marks the culmination of this monumental decade, making it an opportune moment to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still persist.
The African Descent Summit 2024 promises to be a beacon of enlightenment and empowerment. Assembled under one roof will be a distinguished array of expert speakers and panelists, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. They will delve into the past nine years, examining the impact of the UN declaration and assessing the extent to which people of African Descent have benefited from this historic proclamation.
Yet, this event is not just about dialogue and retrospection. It is a grand celebration of the vibrant tapestry of African art and culture in Canada. A captivating exhibition of talents will grace the summit, showcasing the profound heritage and boundless creativity of African Canadian artists. The event stands as a testament to the power of culture and artistic expression in conveying messages of social justice, recognition, development, and social impact.
The overarching mission of the African Descent Summit is to engage stakeholders and unite artists, performers, cultural enthusiasts, and advocates in a harmonious symphony of voices and talents. It is a dynamic showcase that promotes concrete measures to combat discrimination, foster diversity and equity, and uphold human dignity.
This gathering aims to foster learning, collaboration, and dialogue, employing the medium of music, art, and culture as tools for social justice and social impact. It serves as a rallying point for all those committed to driving positive change and advocating for the rights and well-being of people of African Descent in Canada and beyond. The African Descent Summit 2024 is not merely an event; it is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and unity of a community striving for a more just, recognized, and developed world.
One of the key highlights of the summit is the presence of Henry Luyombya, a Mental Fitness and Diversity Coach, who will host and moderate the first day of the event. Henry’s commitment to collective empowerment is evident through his nearly two decades in community advocacy, health promotion, HIV education, and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and other marginalized groups. His work focuses on addressing systemic barriers to service access and mental well-being.
Henry is the Chief Visionary Officer and co-founder of New African Canadians (NAC), a non-profit offering mental health support and settlement assistance to newcomers. Every August, NAC organizes an annual global conference on mental well-being and substance (mis)use in Charlottetown, PEI through a trauma-informed lens. Henry also served as a diversity consultant for the PEI 2023 Canada Games.
Born and raised in Uganda, Henry lives in Stratford, Prince Edward Island (PE), Atlantic Canada with his wife and two of their three children. His mantra, “progress, not perfection,” is critical to overall well-being. Henry’s extensive experience and dedication to fostering inclusive communities make him an ideal host for the summit’s opening day, setting the tone for the meaningful discussions and celebrations that will follow.
Summit Mission:
Advocating and inspiring people of African descent in Canada and International Organizations to fully participate, empower and promote the international decade for people of African Descent.
Summit Overall Goal:
The overall goal of the summit is to empower the people of African Descent and contribute towards the cross-cutting issues in areas, protection and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people of African Descent as by universal declaration of human rights.
