Diaspora Dialogues

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Archived Event: Becoming an Author Entrepreneur

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Join us on August 12 at 6:30 p.m. EST for an informative workshop with author-entrepreneur Yolanda T. Marshall on the business of writing and building your author business. Yolanda, who is both self-published and traditional published, will discuss her writing journey, along with with the things she’s learned over 14 years in the business of writing and publishing books.

Register for the workshop HERE.

About the Presenter

Yolanda T. Marshall is a Guyanese-born Canadian author. She ventured into the world of publishing in 2008. In 2015, after becoming a mom, Yolanda was inspired to write her first children’s book, Keman’s First Carnival. Yolanda is also the author of C is for Carnival, A Piece of Black Cake for Santa, Sweet Sorrel Stand, Miles Away In The Caribbean, My Soca Birthday Party: with Jollof Rice and Steel Pans and Hot Cross Buns For Everyone. Her picture books are all about celebrations, inclusion and recipes! A world traveller, a jazz lover and a devoted mother, she embodies art and takes her readers on adventurous, cultured journeys. Yolanda lives in Toronto, Canada with her family.

View the full event replay below:

Job Opportunity: Loans and Grants Administrative Assistant (Position Filled)

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Position: Loans and Grants Administrative Assistant

Work term: May 9, 2022 to July 17, 2022 (six weeks)

Compensation: $16.00 per hour, 30 hours per week

Location: Toronto/online

JOB OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a qualified go getter to work remotely with our small non-profit team. This position is funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program.

Responsibilities:

– under supervision of Manager of Business Operations research and create a calendar of deadlines for all applicable government granting agencies and the relevant programs to Diaspora Dialogues for application for funding, that can be updated from funding year to funding year

– under the guidance of Manager of Business Operations and President, research public and private foundations that have grants that are applicable to apply for and add them to the funding calendar as well, including hyperlinks for websites and relevant application information

– assess current pitches for funding and identify changes to be made to match up with potential funder guidelines with mentoring by board Director and President in charge of fundraising

– assess our online email database and update with necessary information, new clients, and remove and clean up duplications etc. under supervision of Marketing and Communications Coordinator

– organize database for ease of fundraising emails and create templates for major email campaigns in the spring, early fall, and end of year

– aid in updating our TOK Magazine and Diaspora Dialogues websites with content.

Experience/requirements for the job:

Candidates must be able to provide their own computer and internet access, as well as facility for Zoom calls.

Candidates must be 30 or younger( as per the Canada Summer Jobs program requirements), and have some experience working in small teams in an office setting (remote or in person). Experience in writing and communication required, and past fundraising an asset. Knowledge of WordPress or similar website experience is also desirable. Post secondary degree or degree in progress preferred, but not necessary.

Please apply directly to Christian Sharpe, Manager of Business Operations, by email at christian@diasporadialogues.com

Application deadline: Thursday May 5, 12 PM

DD-TD Black Playwrights Mentoring Program presents: Definition. February 2nd, 7:30 PM online presentation

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Definition, a play by Luke Reece, presented by Soulpepper Theatre

About the Playwright:

In a failed attempt to escape Presto Luke left his hometown of Mississauga under the guise of becoming a Toronto-based artist. He strives to share authentic and engaging stories with audiences through his work as an award-winning producer, playwright, poet and educator. Luke is the Associate Artistic Director at Soulpepper Theatre, one of Canada’s leading non-profit theatre companies. Through Luke’s work as an artistic leader within the national arts community, he advocates for engaging and nuanced storytelling that challenges Canadian audiences. In 2021 Luke was included in York University’s inaugural Top 30 Changemakers Under 30 list. 

Event Registration: admission free of charge

Introducing the TOK Toronto 2021 Lineup

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Professional Development Workshops

Thursday September 16, 2021 | 3pm-5pm

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/introduction-to-poetry-tickets-167248198865

Whether you’re just getting started or familiar with the craft, writing poetry can be a tricky art to master. Join writer and editor Terese Mason Pierre as we dive deeper into the structures, styles and techniques of one of the oldest forms of writing.

Saturday September 18, 2021 | 12pm-1pm

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/graphic-novels-masterclass-tickets-168205696767

Graphic novels have captured audiences of all ages for decades, bringing together the craft of writing and art of illustration. Join 2D Location Designer and Comic Artist Ashley Hafsal for a masterclass that will help you get started with your graphic novel journey.

In Conversation Events

Saturday September 18, 2021 | 10am-11am

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-conversation-with-kamal-al-solaylee-and-tamas-dobozy-tickets-168202138123

Join us for a conversation with authors Kamal al-Solaylee and Tama Dobozy as we dive deeper into their works Ghost Geographies and Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Come.

Sunday September 19, 2021 | 10am-11am

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-conversation-with-anosh-ironi-and-john-krizanc-tickets-168884743815

Join us for a conversation with best-selling writers and playwrights Anosh Ironi and John Krizanc as we explore their new dramas Buffoon and Tamara. Moderated by Akosua Amo-Adem.

Saturday September 25, 2021 | 10am-11am

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-conversation-with-linda-rui-feng-and-isabella-wang-tickets-167246872899

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Linda Rui Feng and Isabella Wang as they discuss their new releases Swimming Back to Trout River and Pebble Swing covering Chinese culture and identity.

Sunday September 26, 2021 | 10am-11am

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-conversation-with-shayda-kafai-and-amanda-leduc-tickets-167247390447

Join us for an exciting conversation with Shayda Kafai and Amanda Leduc as they explore disability justice and activism through their works Crip Kinship and Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space.

Diaspora Dialogues to Launch New Mentoring Program for Emerging Black Playwrights with Support from TD Bank Group

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 Diaspora Dialogues is excited to announce the DD-TD Black Playwrights Mentoring Program, a transformational new initiative that matches four emerging playwrights with four of Canada’s top dramaturges to develop their first full-length play for mainstage production. 

The intensive one-on-one mentorship over six months will enable the playwrights and their mentors to dive deep into work that explores the multifaceted reality of the lived Black experience in Canada and provoke meaningful conversations both within the Black community and within the wider Canadian society.

A nurturing environment is baked into the structural design of this playwright’s unit, including mentorship, peer-to-peer and professional development opportunities. In all DD’s suite of mentoring programs, the organization focuses on supporting writers as they tell their own stories and that of their communities, often tackling difficult subjects such as systemic racism and oppression.

DD will partner with theatre companies Canadian Stage, Obsidian Theatre, Soulpepper and New Harlem Productions to produce this program. Each theatre partner has nominated an emerging playwright to take part, as well as identified the appropriate dramaturge for the work.

As part of Black History Month in February 2021, this program will present digital table readings from two of the plays under development which will be free and open to the public. Additionally, in later spring, all four will have public readings.

There’s been a significant new wave of female, Black theatre artists taking positions of power at theatre companies over the past couple years including Weyni Mengesha at Soulpepper, Mumbi Tindyebwa Otu and Myekah Payne at Obsidian, and Mel Hague at Canadian Stage. DD is fortunate and grateful to work with, and learn from, these stellar artists through partnership on this program.

The DD-TD Black Playwrights Mentoring Program is sponsored by the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank’s global corporate citizenship platform.

“Black playwrights are playing an important role in telling the stories of Black communities in Canada, but systemic barriers have inhibited their progress. TD is thrilled to support Diaspora Dialogues in facilitating the professional development of emerging Black talent in arts and theatre and to help address systemic barriers in the sector,” says Naki Osutei, Associate Vice President, Social Impact (Canada), at TD Bank Group. “As part of our corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, we are proud to support organizations like Diaspora Dialogues in building a diverse and inclusive arts sector across Canada.”

“We’re delighted to add the DD-TD Black Playwrights Mentoring Program to our existing development activities, which have resulted in plays such as The Orchard (After Chekov) by Sarena Parmar, Chicho by Augusto Bitter and dozens of books,” DD president Helen Walsh said. “It is our hope that this program, in addition to helping develop four new major plays, also contributes to forging a life-long connection between the playwright and the theatre company.”

Meet the playwrights and dramaturgs:

Yellow by Kalale Dalton-Lutale follows two artists/lovers trying to make work together while also sorting through their romantic relationship.

Dramaturge: Jay Northcott. Partner theatre company: Canadian Stage.

Blood and Memory by Dainty Smith tackles Lilith and Eve, two Black women, talk about life, sex, shadism, and choices within the Garden of Eden moments before Eve bites the apple.

Dramaturge: Myekah Payne. Partner theatre company: Obsidian Theatre Company.

When a fight breaks out on a streetcar, Toronto’s newly instituted broken windows policing strategy leads to a fatal shooting and two women are forced to deal with the consequences in Broken Windows by Fiona Raye Clarke.

Dramaturge: Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. Partner theatre company: New Harlem Productions

Table For Two by Akosua Amo-Adem is a comedic play about a thirty-five year old Ghanaian-Canadian woman on a journey to find an epic love.

Dramaturge: Tawiah Ben M’Carthy. Partner theatre company: Soulpepper

To follow and support the program journey, follow DD on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and use #DDTDBlackPlaywrights

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