Final Convocation Keynote Takeaway—Personal resilience is overrated; always recognize the power of community. I’m fortunate to be lifted up by indomitable ancestors & I belong to many beautiful communities. In fact, the video clip cuts off before I named y’all but I see and appreciate everyone. Happy Wednesday ✨
Last night, I didn’t prepare an acceptance speech because I attended expecting to cheer on others in my field & celebrate the fact that we’d been shortlisted for any award prior to the publication of the full plan. In my emotional haze I forgot to say many things that I’ll be sharing with you throughout the day. But let me start by saying this, I am so very blessed to lead a purpose driven practice and life. I take nothing for granted and understand that I accomplish nothing alone. I am covered by grace, the prayers of my elders and the love of my Creator.
I don’t recall “becoming” Sarah Nixey’s friend. The moment we met, we were friends. I miss not having her in Toronto but I’m grateful that it takes us exactly zero seconds pick back up where we left off and that her kid is continuing to grow into an extraordinary human. 💕
My Vancouver schedule has been beautifully nonstop. After my Writing and Researching From a Place of Joy workshop, I was invited to rest for a while in the Black Student Centre wellness. Normally, I would have declined. I rarely pause like this or even stop for a proper meal in the middle of a workday filled with engagements.
But one of the gifts this season of my practice is that I’m feeling increasingly compelled to live my book’s lessons: to resist hyper-performance, to ensure that I, too, am included in the notion of collective flourishing, and to understand that if I’m going to advance the idea of co-stewardship of each other’s joy, I also have to consider my own.
So, although I didn’t hike or hit my daily steps or remember to take my organic ginger-turmeric immunity shots, I adjusted my itinerary and accepted an invitation to lay down for a couple of hours.
Baby steps.
#BlackPublicJoy
Woke up in Vancouver this morning with another beautiful Saturday ahead, but wanted to share this moment from last night. It officially marked the end of a really meaningful week of work and gathering here in the city.
I had the privilege of breaking bread with some of my favourite people working in and around public space — brilliant thinkers, generous women, and folks whose work and presence I deeply appreciate. I also got to spend time with extraordinary planner Jodie, daughter of my good friend Carl, which is always special.
Because I was honouring Elder and civil rights icon Minnijean Brown-Trickey of the Little Rock Nine during the Vancouver reading, it was important to me that Isaiah — whose voice is also featured in Black Public Joy — was here with us. I don’t take lightly the trust involved when he directly connected me to his mother, and entrusted me with parts of his own story as well. His presence here truly mattered, and my practice was honoured to fly him out to Vancouver for the occasion. Although I chatted with the fam after my talk, it was great to spend some down time with Isaiah, his two amazing sisters, and his son last night as well.
A few people who attended the talk also joined us, and altogether, it was just the perfect way to end a truly perfect week.
I still have so many practice highlights to share from the formal work I did here, and so many people to thank, including folks who made me homemade meals like all week. I’ll get there, but just sharing this moment for now.
#BlackPublicJoy #community #gratitude
Belinda Chan is one of my Vancouver day ones. Steadily supportive, consistent in character, and genuinely one of the smartest public space practitioners I know.
Through her work with the City of Vancouver, she has become such an incredible asset to the city and such a thoughtful servant leader. Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of watching her grow more deeply into her beauty, clarity, and power.
I just have so much love for her.
Yesterday marked my third Vancouver engagement in three days. This one was a Public Joy Framework workshop with municipal staff and community practitioners. I will circle back later with a proper round-up of the three engagements generously hosted by Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue, along with reflections, highlights, lessons, and acknowledgements.
But this morning I just want to thank Andrea Reimer and Michelle Hoar.
Andrea served three terms on Vancouver City Council, was a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, is an Adjunct Professor of Practice at UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and leads the brilliant PowerU series.
Michelle directs the new Hey Neighbour Collective project at SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, was co-founder of The Tyee, and previously managed The Tyee’s Housing Fix project, a solutions journalism and civic engagement initiative.
I share this to say they’re pretty busy women with their own important practices. Yet when my pathway to Vancouver narrowed due to immense municipal budgetary and staff cuts, they stepped up.
They organized a Zoom meeting and treated it like a full strategic planning session. They took notes, mapped out contacts and organizations to approach, made introductions, followed up behind the scenes, gently checked in on how conversations were progressing, and continued opening doors with such care and intentionality.
Additionally. Andrea also hosted not one but two Black Public Joy reading group discussions and dedicated an episode of her PowerU series to reflect on ideas from the book. And last night, Michelle hosted Greg and me in her home alongside Andrea after an incredibly full few days.
Quite literally, these women are a huge part of the reason I have had such an unbelievably full and meaningful three days in Vancouver. The people who show up for you first in the quiet moments, before momentum builds, are your people. That is your community. I cannot thank these two women enough.
Now running to an Urbanarium planning meeting ‘cause they’ll also be collaborating with me here!
#BlackPublicJoy
Woke up to day three in Vancouver on my book tour to messages that Black Public Joy had been featured on a summer reading list.
While the book explores Black people’s spatial intelligence, rituals, and expressions, it’s also a broader reflection on belonging, memory, healthy spatial entitlement, and becoming better stewards of each other’s public joy. I wrote this book for everyone passionate about public spaces and our collective flourishing.
Another Story has been genuinely and selflessly supportive of my book. Hearing Anju — someone so respected and influential in the city’s literary ecosystem — speak about Black Public Joy with such enthusiasm means a great deal to me. I really appreciated her pointing out that Black Public Joy is one of the more substantive summer reads — not exactly light and fluffy — but also, please still bring me to the beach. ☀️
#BlackPublicJoy #gratitude #summerreading
Day Two: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby
Workshop: Writing and Researching From a Place of Joy
Key insights and co-thinking highlights later. Another really beautiful experience with students and scholars. I absolutely love the discourse and energy this book is creating. I’m so grateful for this engagement.
#PublicJoy #BlackPublicJoy
My Vancouver book launch began with an interview with CBC. Had the opportunity to talk about my book and why public joy is needed now. I also gave a shout out to a couple of local organizations doing great work here. The host was generous and engaged, which is honestly the typical experience I have with CBC journalists. The conversation and energy were the perfect precursor to another incredible, sold out book launch. Will share moments from the actual event later but for now I’m going g to try to grab another hour of sleep ‘cause I’m still on Toronto time :)
#BlackPublicJoy
