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Our Strategic Goals

Black Legacy Collective’s strategic goals outline our approach to research, inclusivity, collaboration, policy advocacy, financial sustainability, future generations, and mental health support, creating a more holistic and sustainable framework for empowering Ottawa’s diverse Black communities.

Education & Knowledge Sharing

Empower Through Education

Black Legacy Collective (BLC) develops inclusive programs, workshops, and curricula that highlight Black history, culture, and contributions in Ottawa, Canada. These initiatives foster critical thinking, dialogue, and social change while ensuring accessible learning opportunities through both in-person and digital platforms.

Focus Areas:

  • Public programs and community workshops

  • Inclusive curricula and educational resources

  • Accessible learning (digital + in-person)

Engage Future Generations

BLC invests in youth mentorship, outreach, and leadership development to inspire the next generation of change makers. By creating intergenerational spaces for storytelling and knowledge-sharing, young Black people in Ottawa are empowered to carry cultural preservation forward.

Focus Areas:

  • Youth mentorship and leadership development

  • Educational outreach for schools and communities

  • Intergenerational knowledge-sharing initiatives

Preservation & Oral Histories

Preserve Black Histories

Black Legacy Collective safeguards oral histories, archives, and cultural legacies to ensure Black peoples experiences in Canada are remembered, celebrated, and passed to future generations.

Focus Areas:

  • Oral history projects and storytelling

  • Archival collections and preservation

  • Correcting omissions in Ottawa’s and Canada’s historical record

Innovate Through Technology

BLC leverages digital platforms to make Black histories more interactive, accessible, and widely shared, empowering communities to co-create and engage with their histories.

Focus Areas:

  • Digital storytelling and archives

  • Interactive online platforms

  • Community-driven content creation

Leadership & Sustainability

Build Sustainable Black Leadership

BLC supports Black cultural workers with fair compensation, resources, and leadership opportunities, ensuring long-term community impact.

Focus Areas:

  • Funding for Black-led initiatives

  • Leadership training and mentorship

  • Strengthening organizational infrastructure

Ensure Long-Term Financial Sustainability

BLC develops diverse funding streams and partnerships to secure operational stability and independence.

Focus Areas:

  • Philanthropic and government partnerships

  • Community fundraising initiatives

  • Diversified financial strategies

Health & Well-Being

Support Mental Health and Well-Being

BLC provides healing spaces and mental health resources to support cultural workers and community members in processing difficult histories and building resilience.

Focus Areas:

  • Mental health resources and referrals

  • Healing workshops and community care

  • Addressing historical trauma

Community & Collaboration

Connect Local & National Voices

BLC builds bridges between Black communities in Ottawa for its residents while realizing the network across the diaspora helps to amplify diverse cultural and historical perspectives for Ottawa residents.

Focus Areas:

  • Regional partnerships and collaborations

  • Sharing community histories nationwide

  • Strengthening collective identity

Expand Collaborations

BLC forges national and international partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and solidarity across borders.

Focus Areas:

  • Primary focus is Ottawa residents with;

  • National organizational partnerships;

  • International solidarity networks and;

  • Resource and knowledge exchange

Ensure Inclusivity Within Black Communities

BLC acknowledges and celebrates diversity within Black communities, ensuring representation of all voices. Being situated in the nations capital allows collaboration across communities.

Focus Areas:

  • Representation of racial, ethnic, and regional groups

  • Inclusive program design

  • Celebrating diverse cultural expressions

Advocacy & Policy

Advocate for Policy Change

Black Legacy Collective works with policymakers and institutions in Ottawa to embed Black history and culture in education, media, and public spaces, while advocating for greater support of Black-led initiatives. This ensures a stronger Canadian identity, which reflects our combined histories and diverse cultures.

Focus Areas:

  • Policy development and lobbying

  • Inclusion in public education and media

  • Increasing support for Black organizations

Accountability & Impact

Evaluate Impact and Ensure Accountability

BLC measures outcomes both quantitatively and qualitatively and collects feedback to ensure transparency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement across all initiatives.

Focus Areas:

  • Data collection and evaluation

  • Transparent reporting

  • Continuous program improvement

Join Us in Preserving Our Shared Histories and Building a Stronger Future. Take Action Today!

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Land Acknowledgement

Black Legacy Collective recognizes and acknowledges with gratitude the sacred land on which our main office is situated as the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeq Nation. We are cognizant that Canadian contemporary society, beneath a veil of “equality” and “reconciliation”, maintains the long-held colonial tactic to dispossess our Indigenous friends of their traditional lands and livelihoods. We stand in solidarity with these lands’ original peoples. We acknowledge the continued presence and vibrance of these Nations as well as the growing, thriving communities of urban Indigenous peoples. We remain committed to learning how to be better neighbours. A portion of our annual proceeds is donated to Indigenous led causes.

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