Join the WE-CAN community as it comes together for FUSION 2020, an inspiring learning forum showcasing the successes of racially diverse women entrepreneurs in the Kingston region.

The event will be co-hosted by Aba Mortley, owner of Cher-Mere (Kingston) and Elizabeth Hesp, owner of Elizabeth Hesp Coaching & Consulting (Kingston).

We are honoured to welcome keynote speaker Nadine Spencer, CEO of Brand EQ Group Inc. (Toronto) and President of the Black Business & Professional Association (BBPA).

Spoken word poet Abena Beloved Green will add her unique brand of artistry to this event, with a commissioned poem written especially for our FUSION audience.

FUSION 2020 will also feature a dynamic showcase of several Kingston area businesses owned by women entrepreneurs of colour, including:

Improbable Escapes, owned by Melissa Eapen and Emma Rochon

Afiya Beauty, owned by Shamsa Hassan and Kaltum Hassan

Munchy Guru, owned by Shenice Scott and Lucy Asemota

Al Amal Baklava, owned by Amal Sourani and family

The purpose of this event is to bring together a community of women supporting women, and to celebrate the diversity of the exciting business talent among us.

We hope you will join us to share, learn and inspire.

ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Nadine Spencer is the CEO of BrandEQ Group Inc., a global agency specializing in social change marketing, communications, and public relations. She has accelerated strategic growth and brand visibility for a diverse client portfolio. Nadine also pioneered BrandEQ Black, BrandEQ’s cultural sensitivity arm, whose goal is to work with organizations and governments to look at racial biases in advertising and marketing.

Nadine serves as president of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), which was founded in 1983. The BBPA is a charitable organization whose mission is to advance Canada’s Black community by addressing equity, and though the delivery of programs that support business and professional excellence, higher education, and economic development.

She has been acknowledged in the publication 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women and has received numerous awards, including the BBPA Harry Jerome Business Award.

A dedicated Black community champion, Nadine has devoted her life and work to fighting discrimination, battling poverty and advancing women’s education, including equality for women and girls of colour and other relevant topics related to the uplifting of society’s marginalized people. She holds a B.A. in political science with honours from York University and serves on the York Alumni Board.

ABOUT THE WE-CAN PROJECT:

The WE-CAN Project is led by Queen’s University and supported by the Government of Canada. Its mission is to inspire and empower existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs by providing them with tools, resources, expert mentors, networks and community building to expand existing businesses and to launch new ventures.

The Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund is providing $3.2 million for Queen’s University to design and deliver programs and services to accelerate, train, mentor and provide resources to women entrepreneurs and women-led companies in the community.

The focus of the WES strategy is to provide support to women entrepreneurs from diverse and underrepresented groups.

Please note: Queen’s University’s collection of personal information is authorized by its Royal Charter of 1841, as amended. Personal information is collected for the purpose of admissions, registration, academic progress, and administering University programs, university-related student services and activities, activities of student societies, safety, financial assistance and awards, and advancement, and will be used for those or consistent purposes. Personal information may be disclosed to and used by employees of the University who need the information in the performance of their duties.