Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta is a local organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and promoting equity in central Alberta. This Black History Month, the organization is looking forward highlighting, supporting, and promoting Black-owned businesses in local communities with a social media campaign that will be running throughout the month of February.  

“You will see different business owners featured sharing their journey and also their wisdom about what that journey has taught them and what kind of advice they would give to a young black person who wants to take on that journey as well,” said Levis Kabahizi, a Social Work Student with Red Deer Polytechnique who is doing their practicum with Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta. 

The social media campaign has been kicked off with a video that introduces the viewer to a number of Black business owners and entrepreneurs who live, work, and thrive in central Alberta recognizing their work and accomplishments. 

Ubuntu is challenging central Albertans to take the time to find Black-owned business and spend money at those locations, not just for the month of February but all-year-round. 

“The simplest way of supporting these businesses is by buying their product or buying their services and sharing them with your family and friends [and saying] ‘there is this business around the corner or in our neighborhood or in our city, that is offering diverse products’,” added Kabahizi. 

However, there are other ways of showing support, if you are not financially able. 

“There’s always spreading the word sharing their pages on social media and their businesses. Speak to friends and family too so they can put them on that stage where people can know about them,” he added. 

The organization will be sharing those businesses on social media through their Instagram and Facebook accounts but they encourage people to do their own research and step out of their comfort zones by shopping at smaller Black-owned businesses regularly. 

“If you see a new small business in particular, that has recently opened go in and check them out. We see Black-owned businesses have very specific names. Their cultural heritage will oftentimes be in the business name… [It’s about] just being intentional and stepping outside the box, outside of their comfort zone, and making sure that they are supporting other businesses as well,” said Dieulita Datus, Program Director for Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta. 

Making a point to regularly support these businesses, offers a way to support Black locals that outlasts the month of February. 

“[We’re] not making it a trend to go and support the Black businesses just because it's Black History Month. It needs to be sustainable. It needs to be done all year around. It cannot be just because Ubuntu is doing this work and putting these businesses out into the community and sharing it to them, but you need to go to them all the time and then share the word,” added Sadia Anwar, Executive Director of Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta.

You can check out Ubuntu's video called Highlighting, Supporting, & Promoting Black-Owned Businesses & Entrepreneurs In Central Alberta here. 

Black History Month Photo featuring painted Black people.

Image courtesy of Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta. 

In addition to supporting the Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, Ubuntu’s Youth Council will be focusing on celebrating Black Canadian Historical figures. Kabahizi says it is common for Canadians to celebrate American Civil Rights Leaders such as Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks but that Black people also have a strong role in the history of Canada as well. 

“We have Viola Desmond who recently has been put on the face of our ten dollar bill. As a way of showing that black Canadians have made an impact on Canadian Society and on what the country, [we are] highlighting that part of history, highlighting Black Canadian figures,” said Kabahizi. 

Each week, the youth have prepared one to two announcements that highlight the impact a Black person has made on Canadian society which they will be sharing with the school.  

“People don't know that—which is fascinating—that there was a black Canadian battalion during World War II. Those are really kind of educational pieces that the Youth Council is working on. Hopefully with that, these high schools, their principals, and the institution themselves take on from there and decide to celebrate Black History not only during the month of February, but throughout the year where they can hopefully incorporate some Black Canadian theories in the curriculum,” explained Kabahizi. 

Overall, Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta hopes all Albertans take the time to celebrate Black achievement, businesses, culture, and life together. 

“There's so much more to us than just the color of our skin, but at the same time it's what holds us. It's what makes us who we are the same way that our hair is different, but it makes us who we are and it's an ode to our ancestors,” said Datus. 

“The fact that I was able to survive means a lot. That means that I am my ancestor’s wildest dream. To think that their great, great, great grandchild was able to survive the brutality of slavery, the brutality of the middle passage, the brutality of being kidnapped from their homeland and brought to a foreign land and was still able to survive is everything. We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams and the fact that we still have such a connection to the homeland, that we're still out here thriving, that we're still out here breaking records [is amazing].” 

For more information on Ubuntu Mobilizing Central Alberta click here.