Mayor of Edmonton

His Worship Mayor Andrew Knack is Edmonton’s 37th Mayor, bringing a community-focused and independent approach to City Hall. A former three-term City Councillor representing west Edmonton (2013–2025), he is known for collaborative, data-driven leadership and strong advocacy for public transit, infrastructure, and local businesses. With experience in local business and community leagues, he is recognized for listening openly and championing the everyday needs of Edmontonians while working to build a stronger, more inclusive city.

MLA, Edmonton-City Centre

David Shepherd is the MLA for Edmonton-City Centre and a dynamic advocate for his community, championing technology and innovation, affordable housing, mental health, and public healthcare. He worked extensively on anti-racism policy including the Anti-Racism Act, supporting frameworks for race-based data collection. Widely regarded by many as a father of Black History Month in Alberta, Shepherd played a key role in Alberta officially recognizing February as Black History Month and helped host the first Black History Month celebration at the Alberta Legislature.

Filmmaker & CEO of 1844 Studios

Featured Film: ColorBlind

Nauzanin Knight is a Canadian writer, director, and producer of Afro-Caribbean and Middle Eastern descent whose work explores human emotion across borders. With an MSc from University College London, she shifted from academia to socially resonant films in documentary and narrative forms. Her projects have screened internationally, including The Forbidden University (EP Penn Badgley), Trusted to Serve, and Precarity (TELUS Optik). She is Executive Producer at 1844 Studios and an alumna of WIDC, ReelWorld, and Whistler Doc Lab.

At our event, we’re featuring her film ColorBlind. Known for impactful documentary and narrative storytelling, Nauzanin brings a thoughtful, community-centered lens to every project.

CEO of Edmonton Screen

Luke Azevedo is the CEO of Edmonton Screen, leading efforts to grow and promote Edmonton’s film, television, and digital media industry. He works closely with studios, producers, government, and industry partners to attract productions, support local talent, and strengthen the region’s creative economy. Under his leadership, Edmonton Screen advances the city’s reputation as a competitive and dynamic production destination.

Featured Film: There's more to capoeira than you think

Sandro Silva is a Brazilian-Canadian filmmaker and co-founder of Dona Ana Films & Multimedia. He has produced award-winning documentaries and worked as a local producer on international projects. Formerly a copyright lawyer in São Paulo, Sandro shifted into the arts after moving to Canada. Since 2021, he has written, directed, and produced documentary shorts for CBC’s Creator Network. A Hot Docs alum and Storyhive Black Creators Edition recipient, he continues to develop new film and podcast projects.

Featured Film: Exploring the World of Halal Food

Amal Mohamud is an award-winning journalist and producer from Edmonton. A first-generation Somali Canadian, she spotlights underrepresented voices and stories from marginalized communities. She has worked with OMNI Alberta, AMI Accessible Media, CBC Edmonton Creator Network, CityNews Edmonton, Edmonton Community Foundation, and Muslim Kids TV. She began in 2015 as a volunteer with Shaw TV Edmonton and has earned multiple awards, including the AC Junior Achievement Award (2019) and the Fil Fraser Award (2020).

Featured Film: Scents of Black Excellence

Emilie Rubayita is an Edmonton-based journalist and filmmaker passionate about storytelling and representation. She brings skills in interviewing, research, writing, copyediting, and audio/video production. Emilie created the CBC Creator Network short “Scents of Black Excellence,” highlighting local entrepreneur Kejina Robinson-Rose of BLK Rose Candles, and continues using media to amplify Black voices in the community.

Filmmaker & Storyteller

Ije is a Canadian-born Nigerian community connector, storyteller, and advocate dedicated to amplifying the voices of Black women and historically marginalized communities. In 2020, she launched the podcast Unfiltered Real Talk with Ije to raise awareness on issues impacting Black women. In 2021, she debuted her TELUS TV documentary Untold Stories of Black Women in Edmonton. She has since written, directed, and produced three documentaries highlighting Black women, Muslim women, and BIPOC youth.

Training & Development Specialist and Nationally Certified Career Development Professional

Natasha Daniel is a Project Manager and career-development professional passionate about community impact and empowerment. She is a Certified Career Development Practitioner, Work-Life Balance Coach, Strengthening Families Coach, and a Trauma-Informed Community Facilitator. As a consultant and non-profit strategist, she supports grant writing, program delivery, training, reporting, and strategic planning. Natasha has also served as a grant reviewer (City of Edmonton, SBCCI) and leads DEI and anti-racism work.

Public Service Professional, My Radio 580AM Contributor, and Founder of Welcome to Canada: What’s Next

Marie Agnès Messi is a public service professional with a multidisciplinary background and a Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany. With experience across federal systems, she has a strong understanding of how public institutions, legislation, and policies function in practice. She is also a community advocate, founder and host of the YouTube channel Welcome to Canada: What’s Next, and a contributor to My Radio 580 AM, promoting inclusion and empowering newcomers, particularly young immigrant women.

Writer & Spoken Word Artist

Divine-Favour Ohanwe Chizara (Divine) is an Igbo Nigerian writer and spoken-word artist based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). A Computing Science student at The King’s University, her work has been featured in the university’s 2025 Ballyhoo publication. Divine’s writing is tender, witty, and deeply grounded—exploring identity in a fast-moving world and the quiet strength of returning to what shaped her: African literature, art, and pop music. You can read more of her work on Substack at whatdivineshares.

Musical Artist

Born in the Central African Republic, he began writing lyrics at the age of 13 and sang as a choir member from 14 to 16. His lifelong dream has been to become a great singer and songwriter. For him, music is more than a passion—it is a way of life and a powerful means of expression. After arriving in Canada at 17, he continued writing with determination. A proud participant of Polyfonik 35, he has now lived his dream and is committed to giving everything to make it a reality.

Dance Artist

AfricanQueenBorah was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where her passion for cultural dance and traditional African fashion began. After moving to Canada in 2018, she continued her mission to preserve Africa’s royal heritage and ancestral identity. Through dance—“history in motion”—and traditional fashion, she revives the legacy of historic African Queens and teaches younger generations the meaning behind beads, crowns, headwraps, and royal fabrics. Her work celebrates cultural pride, dignity, and identity.

Author & Cultural Inclusion Advocate

Busayo Disu is a community leader, author, and cultural inclusion advocate, and the Founder and President of the Africans Society of Strathcona County (ASOSC). A pharmacist and machine learning analyst, she is the author of Our Story, Our Voice and uses storytelling and education to promote cultural inclusion across Alberta.

Author, Poet & Playwrite

Robert Suraki Watum is a German national of Congolese (DRC) origin, a poet, playwright, and writer based in Edmonton, Canada. An award-winning author, his poetry, plays, and books have received national and international recognition. He is also active in Alberta’s francophone arts community as a cultural leader and project coordinator.

Visual Artist & Gallery Founder

Tania Ymbi is a Montreal-born artist of Nigerian and Haitian descent, currently based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the founder of Whispering Brush Gallery, her free-form acrylic work explores movement, texture, and emotional storytelling, often inviting viewers to uncover subtle hidden details.

Visual Artist

Glory Tchuitio is an emerging visual artist whose work blends classical techniques with cultural identity. Inspired by her Cameroonian heritage, the Renaissance, and the Victorian era, her portraits and landscapes celebrate Black beauty and nature. Her practice is rooted in community, creativity, and empowerment.

Photographer

Theresa Muth is a nature photographer based in Parkland County. Her landscape and night photography have been featured in numerous shows and galleries throughout the Edmonton area. In addition to her passion for nature, her commercial work has appeared in publications including Business in Edmonton.