Black Daddies’ Club celebrates 16 years with special panel event focused on connection with community
Finding a partner after the age of 40 can be challenging for anyone. however, for Black folks who navigate anti-black racism, internalized racism, disclosure of an STI or HIV when dating, traditional/outdated gender expectations, among other things, the process of dating can be quite difficult and scary, and it can leave one to wonder if they will ever find the right partner for them, especially in Toronto, recently dubbed one of Canada’s loneliest cities.
The Black Daddies Club celebrates its 16th year anniversary with the event,Finding a Partner After 40: A Conversation with Black Folks. Happening November 25th at the scenic Evergreen Brick Works, his moderated conversation will feature Black therapists, Black sexual educators, Black Academics and everyday Black folks talking about their various experiences around dating and finding a partner after the age of 40. The evening aims to create a space for attendees to listen, learn, discuss — and decrease — the loneliness and isolation they might be feeling.
The panel discussion will cover various topics, including:
dating after a divorce
the experiences of dating while having an STI and HIV
dating outside of your culture, race and also outside of your country
dating from the perspective of a recovering sex addict
dating in a polyamorous relationship in Toronto
One the panellists, Dr. Tamari Kitossa from Brock University, author of Black Men, Sexual Tropes, Trauma and Resilience, will explain the impacts of erotic racism, stereotypes and sexual trauma on Black men in the dating world.
The event welcomes anyone who’s wondering how they’re going to find ‘their person’ in our increasingly complicated world, including people of all genders who identify as Black, racialized and non-black [those who identify as white or European], people who are in relationships or single, and people above and under the age of 40.
The event partners include: The Neighborhood Group (TNG), Taibu Community Health Centre, Rainbow Railroad, Women’s Health in Women’s Hand, Riverdale Mediation, BRI Counselling, The Tech Effect, Evergreen Brick Works, Chic Peas Vegetarian, Christian Dior, Valley of Mother of God Gin, Toronto, Community Benefits Network, Alterna Savings, Local 27 and Black Men’s Therapy Fund.
Interviews with panellists and organisers are available upon request..
The Black Daddies Club is a Toronto-based grassroots organization that focuses on co-creating spaces for Black fathers, Black men and the Black community in Toronto for various community-based education initiatives.
For media inquiries: please contact Brandon Hay (Founder, the Black Daddies Club)
The Black Daddies Club wanted to highlight the bios of Finding a Partner after 40: Conversation with Black Folks, we are excited at this diverse and panellists coming from Toronto, Montreal and Chicago.
After exploring her interests in securities and corporate law during her summering and articles, upon being called to the Bar in 2008, Mrs. Mara Clarke returned to her social justice/public legal education roots when she joined the outreach team of Ontario Justice Education Network. In her role as Director of Outreach, Mara was responsible for managing the team that created programs for vulnerable youth about the law. In this role, Mara designed family law public legal education programs for some of Ontario’s most vulnerable parents, as a result of this challenging work, Mara found her passion: family law. Mara is a family law lawyer, owner and operator of The Law Office of Mara Clarke. Her resolution-focused, culturally sensitive approach to family law practice prioritizes her client’s interests and the parties’ relationship, helping them establish the “new normal” that will guide their interactions moving forward. At times, the assistance of the court is required to settle matters, in those cases, Mara offers zealous advocacy, paired with a no-nonsense but reasonable, client-focused approach. —
ADÉX LAVA – Montreal
ADÉX LAVA is a multi hypenhate artist – he is a writer, visual artist, cultural raggamuffin, installation artist, events curator, and political activist. Drawing on his interest in the arts and law, ADÉX LAVA creates work that focuses on the savage beauty of life. He is the founder of the provocative art studio known as ATELIER (UN) REMARK (ABLE).
In 2022, ADÉX LAVA explored the intersections of violence, dancehall, memory, and same-sex love through an installation and exhibition at the stack market, Toronto. Murder Music: The Malice Afterthought: is an archival account of the Stop Murder Music (Canada) campaign which he founded in 2009. Stop Murder Music (Canada) was a campaign that opposed Caribbean artists who produced music with lyrics that glorified the murder of homosexuals.
His latest body of work – BODILY FLUIDS: CUM(PILATION): is a living mosaic documenting his HIV journey by using seminal fluid in his art to disrupt our preconceived notions about procreation, beauty, sensuality, deviant expression, and going viral.
He lives, plays, and works on the island of Montréal. www.adexlava.com
L.A. Wade – Toronto
Introducing L.A. Wade, a creative powerhouse whose remarkable journey continues to evolve. Not only an award-winning author and influential filmmaker, but she’s also the
visionary writer behind The Adventures of a Recovering Sex Addict: Vol.1 Married Men and F**k Boys and Vol.2: Friends with Benefits, but Mostly Liabilities. Her artistic repertoire now extends to the world of cinema, where she made her directorial debut with her first short film, Thirsty AF based on the anthology series.
L.A.’s is a dynamic and multifaceted artist who consistently pushes the boundaries of creativity and inspiration. Her illustrious career includes titles such as author, filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and a captivating podcast host. Her ability to ignite authentic conversations that challenge preconceived notions and broaden horizons is to be celebrated. A testament to her profound impact on storytelling and personal growth.
L.A.’s numerous accolades and awards include the prestigious ByBlacks People’s Choice Award for Best Author, the Scotiabank African Canadian Achievement Award, The University of Toronto’s National Book and President’s Award, and the esteemed Mark Riesman Literature Award. These accolades reflect her dedication to crafting compelling narratives and unearthing deep truths while defying conventional norms.
L.A. doesn’t seek to dictate thoughts but, rather, aspires to ignite minds and connect people to something greater than themselves. L.A. Wade is a visionary storyteller on a powerful mission to make a profound and meaningful impact. Her journey continues to inspire and uplift and bring fresh perspectives and genuine connections to the world of creative storytelling.
Millie Boella (she/they) is of mixed Kenyan background, born in Kenya, and hailing from the Dorobo, Nandi, Kikuyu, and Maasai tribes, as well as having diverse ancestral roots in Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Indigenous Mexican heritage. Growing up due to her father’s work with the United Nations, Millie’s childhood was a globetrotting journey, living in Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, Cambodia, and Thailand. At the age of 12, she moved to the Netherlands to live with her mother and step-father. In 2006, she relocated to Toronto, Canada, to pursue studies in English literature.
Millie’s unique experiences have shaped her identity, including her polyamorous outlook, influenced by her time in Kenya within a Maasai community that practiced polygamy. With over two decades of activism, she founded the Toronto Non-Monogamous BIPOC group (TNB) in 2017, creating a safe space for BIPOC polyamorous individuals and leading polyamory workshops tailored for BIPOC. Millie is also a professional writer, poet, social media consultant, organizer and actress.
As the co-founder of Decolonizing Love, Millie educates about polyamory from a decolonizing perspective, shedding light on how European colonization impacted relational structures, such as the formation of the nuclear family and community destruction. Decolonizing Love boasts a substantial following, with 160,000 followers and over 50 million views since its inception in November 2021. Her work on polyamory education has earned her features in prominent publications like Cosmopolitan, Buzzfeed, Insider, Yahoo Business, and The Daily Mail, as well as inclusion in three books. She further offers workshops and coaching services on polyamory.
Antonio J. Wheeler Jr. – Chicago
Antonio J. Wheeler Jr., Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor, is a humble servant facilitating the space for change and resilience. Mr. Wheeler’s focus is to understand what has happened to you and empower individuals to reach self-actualization and sustain being anchored in wellness. Antonio is the founder of Anchored In Wellness Chicago which is a private practice that focuses on providing resilience focused therapy to Black men & youth.
Antonio J. Wheeler Jr., started his professional career over a decade ago in 2009 in the Mental Health field as a substance abuse counselor. Prior to this transition, Mr. Wheeler graduated from Chicago State University with his undergraduate’s degree in Criminal Justice. Mr. Wheeler later received his master’s degree in social work from The University of Chicago. Mr. Wheeler is in his second year of his PhD program at UIC with a focus on social work. In addition to being a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor since, Mr. Wheeler has also provided counseling to perpetrators of domestic violence & anger management. One of Mr. Wheeler’s most passionate work was providing resilience focused therapy to gunshot victims immediately following their injury.
Sean Mauricette – Toronto
Sean Mauricette has been an actor, musician, educator, and motivational speaker for more than a decade. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Architecture, Sean has worked on various projects. Most notably, the Jane and Finch Centre for Green Change and as Head Architectural Designer for the Toronto Community Housing’s support centre for young fathers.
The recipient of more than 20 awards, Sean was presented with the 2012 Medal of Appreciation for his work with youth from the United Nations Association of Canada. In 2014 Sean caught the attention of the historic Southern Poverty Law Centre. The esteemed civil rights organization requested the use of two of his poems for their alternative-learning curriculum for teachers across the United States.
After spending years as a motivational speaker, Sean branched out and began presenting to corporations. His talk “Dismantling Racial Bias In The Workplace,” focuses on how to address anti-Black racism in the workplace and offers collaborative solutions on how to dismantle racial bias.
The Founder and Director of Laying Foundations Together inc. (LFT), Sean has helped several national and multinational companies take major strides in reaching their Diversity and Equity goals for a more inclusive workplace. Through performing, lecturing, and mentoring, Sean continues to cement his role as an active leader in the global community.
Tomika Long- Toronto
Tomika Long embodies resilience and determination. She’s the visionary behind Zee Zee’s World, a thriving Puzzle Company, with her puzzles gracing the shelves of renowned stores such as Indigo, Winners, and Marshalls. Her journey is a testament to her business acumen and her unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers.
As a devoted mother to seven children, juggling basketball practices and parent-teacher committee meetings, Tomika’s life is a whirlwind of activity. Yet, she found the time to seek love, venturing outside her comfort zone and embracing a long-distance relationship. Looking back,Tomika is amazed at the life she now leads.
With several years of marriage under her belt, she has become an inspiration to countless Black women who may have doubted the possibility of finding love, let alone a life partner. Tomika’s relationship caught fire when she decided to be open to love, regardless of geographic boundaries, and it continues to burn brightly to this day. Now, she’s ventured into the realm of long-distance love expertise, helping women in their quest for love and offering hope that their ideal partner is indeed out there, waiting to be found.
Mawuli Chai – Moderator – Toronto
Mawuli Chai is a gregarious human being who is a creative savant and social entrepreneur. He brings 10-plus years of progressive engagement in capacity building, stakeholder engagement, youth and community development, and media relations. He brings multi-sector experience that spans municipal, provincial and federal levels—leading major projects, initiatives that has had social impact on individuals, communities and organizations he has consulted and engaged with.
Mawuli is a consummate content creator, writer and publicist that brings an immersive repertoire of compelling celebrity interviews and encounters. A Carleton University alumnus with learnings in Sociology & Anthropology; with specialization in media, film and television. He has consulted with major entertainment conglomerates such as Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Def Jam Recordings. He has interviewed several celebrities including Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah, Maxwell, DeVon Franklin and Oprah Winfrey.
He has augmented his professional endeavours with his love for community by participating in youth mentorship, community development, advocacy and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Simone Jennifer Smith- Moderator – Toronto
For over 15 years Simone Jennifer Smith has been a noteworthy leader in the written media, creative design/social media, mental health, and education/mentoring spaces. You may know her as the Columnist, Talk Show Host, Operations Manager and Chief Correspondent at Carib101 Media Group, but Simone can also be credited with contributions to the African-Caribbean community in her role as: Project Manager for Brothers Who Care, Clear Journey Inc. (located in Baltimore, United States), and Vice-Chair at Emmanuel Life Management Centre.
In addition to this, she is the founder of Hear 2 Help Inc., a Community Development Company with services ranging from; Tutoring to Adult Learning, Project Management, Life Coaching, Copywriting, Content Creation, Copyediting and Business Development.
Simone Jennifer aspires to influence future generations while supporting and enriching current ones. As Project Manager at Brother’s Who Care, she works alongside professionals in the financial and mental health sectors assisting in projects such as: Mental Health Hour, Financial Literacy, LegUp Mastermind Program, and the I AM Campaign.
As a testament to her desire for change, Simone is also Vice-Chair at Emmanuel Life Management Centre, a non-profit organization with a focus on holistic community building and youth empowerment. Tuning in the skills she obtained from being a Social Media Coordinator at INPM, Simone has created content for: The Beloved Project (Mark Stoddart), House of Sass and Magic, Matrix Mortgage, Black Feminist Fund, Workspot/Terravis Energy, Parents for Black Children, Chonilla Network, Love Story Coaching, and Dark Nubia Naturals.
Simone holds a M.A. in Humanistic and Clinical Psychology from The Michigan School of Professional Psychology. She expresses her love for fashion and self-expression through her work for Fiati Fashions, and passes on her knowledge and wisdom through her role as a mentor to young, emerging creatives across Canada.
Through her work, Simone strives to empower, enrich and embody the youth and families of her community.
Natasha Lawrence – Toronto
Natasha Lawrence (she/her/Natty) is a Community Health Worker at WHIWH CHC. She is passionate about all things sexual health, and incorporates that passion in her day to day work supporting African, Caribbean, and Black communities. She has several years of experience providing sexual health education to youth, parents, women, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and applies Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression, Intersectional Feminist, and Queer Theoretical frameworks to support the communities she serves.”
Micheal Lambie– Toronto
Micheal Lambie is a design expert, entrepreneur, public speaker and multi-faceted artist with experience in graphic design and visual arts from Toronto, Canada.
Early in his career, as the Creative Director and Partner of an advertising agency, Micheal won awards developing television commercials, print ads and graphic layouts. But it was his love for decorating, designing and flipping homes, that helped him realize his passion for interior design. In 2011, he founded “Micheal Lambie Interiors”, which creates elegant and contemporary spaces for residential and commercial clients, and is now an award-winning interior design firm.
For the past three years, this Ontario College of Art and Design alumni, has been sharing his talents as a “Design Expert” on Canada’s top lifestyle television show, “CityLine”, and can now be seen as a judge on the CBC reality competition series “Best In Miniature”.
We are excited to announce the panelists and moderators for the Black Daddies Club presents Finding a Partner After 40: Conversations with Black Folks panel discussion. Which will take place at Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, on Saturday, November 25th 2023, doors open at 730pm.
Get your early bird tickets until November 1st and special discounted tickets until November 15th on Eventbrite.
Panelists:
Dr. Tamari Kitossa | Professor – Brock University | Toronto, CA
Tomika Long | Founder of Zee-Zee’s World | Toronto, CA
Natasha Lawrence | Community Health Worker at WHIWH CHC | Toronto, CA
Micheal Lambie | Design Expert & Entrepreneur | Toronto, CA
Millie Boella | Co-Founder of Decolonizing Love | Toronto, CA
Antonio J. Wheeler Jr. | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor | Chicago, IL
Sean Mauricette | Laying Foundations Together Inc. (Founder & Director) | Toronto, CA
Mara Clarke | The Law Office of Mara Clarke | (Owner & Operator) | Toronto, CA
L.A. Wade | Author/ Director | Toronto, CA
Moderators
Mawuli Chai | Social Entrepreneur | Toronto, CA
Rachael-Lea Rickards | Real Talk Creative | (Owner & Founder)
Reminder
Get your early bird tickets until November 1st and special discounted tickets until November 15th on Eventbrite.
This moderated panel discussion event will feature Black therapists, Black sexual educators, Black Academics and Black folks talking about the various experiences of dating and finding a partner after the age of 40.
The event will take place at Evergreen Brick works (Toronto) on Saturday, November 25th 2023, doors open at 8pm and the event will go until 12am.
We are grateful and thankful to our event sponsors as this event would be possible without your support.
Please register at the Eventbrite link below and or share with your networks.
The Black Daddies Clubco-presents The Black Families Un-Conference is a three-day gathering for families who identify as Black or Racialized to take part in a camping experience for the entire family that will take place in one of Tim Hortons Camps in Ontario, at no cost to the families that attend.
The idea behind the Black Families Un-Conference is to create positive memories and experiences for these families (parents or guardians and their children) as a whole in a safe environment that they may not be able to afford. The Black Daddies Club (BDC) over the 16 years of operating in the Greater Toronto Area, has created programs which promote creating positive memorable memories within green spaces for Black families and their allies.
This initiative is a collaboration between Justice Fund, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), Tim Hortons Camp and The Black Daddies Club (BDC). The dates and location of the Black Families Un-Conference will be at a Tim Hortons Camp in Ontario will take place on Friday, November 3rd 2023 to Sunday, November 5th, 2023
The Black Daddies Club is teaming up with Jah Grey, the founder and director of Black Men’s Therapy Fund for an incredible video installation that will capture the captivating stories of Black men over the age of 40, encouraging men to reclaim the best part of themselves, while also addressing the most common concerns that Black men face when it comes to love. This project will explore the challenges and barriers that Black men often encounter in the pursuit of love, shedding light on these issues to create a transformative conversation.
Please join us in reclaiming your personal power, navigating the complexities of love, and finding inspiration in the stories of others. Together, we can break through the barriers and redefine the way we approach love and relationships.
This project is a part of the Black Daddies Club’s 16th year anniversary event, “Finding a Partner After 40: A Conversation with Black Folks.” Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 25th, 2023, because this event will be held at the amazing Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Canada. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to share your story and be a part of something truly impactful!
The deadline to submit your interest in participating in this video project is October 2nd, 2023
The Black Daddies Club (BDC) which is a toronto based organization that has been co-creating accessible spaces for Black fathers, Black families and Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area for the past 16th year, is bringing back their annual Summer Hikes for Black and racialized families on Sunday August 27th 2023 at Evergreen Brick works.
In this idea that Blackness is not a monolith; BDC defines Black families in our various entry points as; heterosexual, queer, mixed race, adopted, chosen families, etc. if you identify as a Black or racialized family or an ally, this event is for you.
The purpose of these Summer hikes are for Black and Racialized families as well as allies to gather at a green space in Toronto on a Sunday morning to take part in a group hike and a day filled of various nature and healing modalities focusing on Black families, which will include, Yoga for families, Art and nature play activities for children and circle discussion for Black parents.
This event is free and registration is needed to attend, space will be limited at this event.
Event Agenda at a glance:
10 AM Meet in Tiffany Commons. Welcome circle, introduction and grounding (led by Brandon)
with opening stretches (led by Tramaine)
10:15 AM EBW Introduction/Space orientation & Nature Hike (led by EBW team)
11:45 AM Cool down & stretches (led by Tramaine)
12 PM Catered lunch in Bricks & Bites Community Kitchen (Brandon to arrange catering)
1 PM Activity choices*:
1. Join Weekend Nature Play activities and participate in partnered programming in the CG
2. Yoga by Tramaine on the RBC Terrace
3. Black parent circle discussions location
3 PM Closing circle and event wrap up and survey requests led by Brandon
Register at the link below or on the QR code on the flyer
The Black Daddies Club is beyond excited to announce this new collaboration with Evergreen Brickwork and their commitment to ensure that green spaces are accessible to Black and racialized folks living in the Greater Toronto Area.
We are announcing a summary of the Black Daddies Club events that will be housed at Evergreen Brickworks for the fall 2023 and January 2024.
Black Daddies Club presents Family Hike and Health day
When: Sunday August 27th 2023, from 10am – 3pm
The purpose of these Summer hikes are for Black and Racialized families as well as allies to gather at a green space in Toronto on a Sunday morning to take part in a group hike and a day filled of various nature and healing modalities focusing on Black and racialized families, which will include, Yoga for families, Art and nature play activities for children and circle discussion for Black parents. This is an intergenerational event, grandparents to grandchildren are welcomed
This event will be free with registration, BDC T-shirts and lunch will be provided to attendees at this event.
Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversations amongst Black Folks (BDC 16th year anniversary event)
When: SaturdayNovember 25th 2023, from 8pm-1am
Black Daddies Club will be celebrating our 16th year anniversary with a panel discussion entitled “Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation amongst Black Folks”, this event will be engaging Black men from North America on their experiences around dating in hetero sexual or Queer communities. The event will also engage Black therapists that will speak about the macro challenges and opportunities for Black folks looking for love or partnership after the age of 40.
This event is a preliminary event to a quarterly series that will launch in 2024 for Black therapists to speak about various issues impacting Black communities around our mental health and spotlighting different Black therapists who are doing healing work.
This event is for folks 19 years and older and it will be a paid event.
Journey to Black Liberation Symposium and The Black Liberation Ball 2024
When: February 2024
We are bringing back this two day symposium that will focus on themes, discourses, strategies, and analysis that are centered around the Black struggle for justice and liberation through a transnational dialogue. The plenaries will engage all the five senses, from movement workshops (i.e. vogueing) , discussions, art work gallery, film and food. The event is a cross-border conversation on what liberation in the Black community looks like. Black folks from across the diaspora will be a part of this event engaging in a global conversation on how Black liberation, as a movement, can be advanced.
The event will conclude with The Black Liberation Ball, which will feature various houses from Canada and around the world who will be competing for the top house at this prestigious and international ballroom event.
This event is considered as a collaboration between the Black LGBTQ2S+ and Black Heterosexual communities.
This event is co-curated by Twysted Miyake-Muglar from the Toronto Kiki Ball Alliance (TKBA), Michael Roberson from Ultra-red and C-RRED (Center for Race, Religion, and Economic Democracy)/New York City and Brandon Hay, founder of the The Black Daddies Club (BDC)/Toronto,
The event will take place at a location in Toronto, Canada, in November 2023.
Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks will be a panel discussion exploring the experiences of various Black folks from various entry points into their Blackness talking about what it is like dating, finding love or finding a partner in this day and age. The event will feature the multiple experiences of Black men, and their entry points into Blackness (i.e. straight, bi-sexual, trans, gay, mixed, etc.) and their experiences around dating and finding a partner. The event will also include Black male therapists who also have their own experiences around dating but also will speak about the nuances in dating while Black, after age 40, from a North American context.
This upcoming BDC anniversary event in November 2023, is a precursor to a quarterly networking event series that will be launching in March 2024 in Toronto, which will be a space for Black therapists and Black healers sharing knowledge about best practices around working with the Black and African diaspora and mental health wellness. The Quarterly networking event series will highlight various Black identified therapists and Black healers from around North America, African diaspora, and the African continent.
Are you interested in being part of this event?
We are currently engaging businesses who would like to be event sponsors, table at the event, be a liquor sponsor or food vendor
We are also doing a call out for potential panellists for this event, if you are currently single and identify as Black and over the age of 40 years and identify with any of the following:
Heterosexual
Bi-sexual
Gay
Trans
Lesbian
Mixed Race
Living with HIV or STI
Divorced or separated with or without children
Living with a disability
We would love to hear from you if you are interested and want to share your experiences, there will be an honorarium for all panelists, we will go into details with those that are selected to take part in this initiative.
Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks”–(November 2023BDC 16th year anniversary event)
Background information on the Black Daddies Club
At the age of 24, Brandon Hay, founder of the Black Daddies Club (BDC), discovered he was about to become a dad for the first time. Being raised by a single mother and without the presence of a consistent father figure, he was filled with anxiety and fear about his own ability to be a great father. Knowing of other men in his situation, he believed that a forum where they could share ideas, struggles and victories seemed like it could be an effective network for support. Thus, in 2007, Hay founded BDC in response to the isolation he felt as a new Black father as well as to the lack of forums and spaces for Black men to discuss parenting issues and concerns facing the Black community as a whole. The main goals of the organization are to change the image of the “absent Black father” that is prevalent in the media and to assist young Black men to become better fathers. In doing so, BDC aims to support Black children, families and the larger community.
BDC’s Mandate/Guiding Principles are:
1. Develop a continuous support system for Black men and fathers to share their challenges and/or experiences.
2. Work with Black fathers and the community at large to address issues facing Black fathers, children and families.
3. Work with the media to provide alternate images of Black fathers, and assist in the creation of our own media that depicts Black fathers in a positive light.
Black Daddies Club will be celebrating our 16th year anniversary with a panel discussion entitled “Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks”, this event will be engaging Black men from North America on their experiences around dating in heterosexual or LGBTQ2S+ communities. The event will also engage Black therapists that will speak about the macro challenges and opportunities for Black folks looking for love or partnership after the age of 40.
The event will take place at a location in Toronto, Canada, that will be announced in the coming months, in November 2023.
Finding a Partner after 40: A Conversation with Black Folks will be a panel discussion exploring the experiences of various Black folks from various entry points into their Blackness talking about what it is like dating, finding love or finding a partner in this day and age. The event will feature the multiple experiences of Black men, and their entry points into Blackness (i.e. straight, bi-sexual, trans, gay, mixed, etc.) and their experiences around dating and finding a partner. The event will also include Black male therapists who also have their own experiences around dating but also will speak about the nuances in dating while Black, after age 40, from a North American context.
This upcoming BDC anniversary event in November 2023, is a precursor to a quarterly networking event series that will be launching in March 2024 in Toronto, which will be a space for Black therapists and Black healers sharing knowledge about best practices around working with the Black and African diaspora and mental health wellness. The Quarterly networking event series will highlight various Black identified therapists and Black healers from around North America, African diaspora, and the African continent.
We are seeking sponsors and partners:
Your generous sponsorship will also assist us in paying the costs of panelists, moderators, promotion of the event, purchasing items for goody bags, offering more events of this caliber, etc.
Below various levels of event sponsorship that are available:
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
● Platinum Sponsorship $5,000- speaking opportunity for their company, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, company logo displayed on event banner, promotional materials placed in goody bags, announcement made via social media campaign and free exhibit booth on event day,
VIP seating
● Gold Sponsorship $2,500- promotional materials placed in goody bags, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, company logo displayed on event banner, free exhibit booth on event day, VIP seating
● Silver Sponsorship $1,500- promotional materials placed in goody bags, company logo displayed on event website, company logo prominently displayed on event website and posters, VIP seating!
Tabling at the event $500- promote your event to attendees at the event, company logo displayed on promotional materials for event
Food vendor- Food vendor for event $800, sell your food to participants at this event, company logo featured on event website.
If you are interested in partnering or aligning with this event, please contact info@theblackdaddiesclub.com and we will set up a time to talk more about what partnering with this event can look like that best suits your organization
Regards,
Brandon Hay, MES (Business)
Therapist-In-Training with the Gestalt Institute of Toronto
