SOLD OUT!

Thank You for Being Part of the 3rd Annual ACT Now! Conference

The 3rd Annual ACT Now! Conference took place in Edmonton, Alberta, from March 19–21, 2025, and was a resounding success! This year’s gathering brought together participants from across the country for inspiring keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions, and powerful performances, all exploring healing through Ubuntu.

While in-person attendance reached capacity, a free online ZOOM webinar allowed virtual participants to engage with the main sessions.

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Thank you for joining the movement to redefine mental health through Ubuntu and Africentric traditions. The 3rd National ACT Now! Conference brought together voices from across Canada to share insights, research, and creativity, fostering collective healing and cultural resilience.

Conference Goal

To create a learning environment rooted in traditions and holistic practices, with the purpose of exchanging knowledge that promotes the health and well-being of Black Canadians.

This conference was part of TAIBU’s Amandla Olwazi – The Power of Knowledge project. Building on existing research around anti-Black racism and its impact in Canada, the project raised awareness of how anti-Black racism affects the mental health and wellness of Black communities. Centering cultural heritage and Africentric knowledge systems, the conference highlighted strategies for fostering strength to thrive against adversity, building strong support networks, and overcoming systemic barriers to mental health care.

View Program Outline

Conference Theme Enhancement:

The 3rd Annual ACT Now! Conference explored transformative ways to integrate Ancestral Traditions and Ubuntu, a philosophy of interconnectedness and collective well-being into mental health practices. The conference focused on communal healing approaches, emphasizing cultural identity, collective responsibility, and empowerment to address mental health challenges in Black communities.

Integrating Ancestral Traditions and Ubuntu:

Explore how ancestral practices and the philosophy of Ubuntu—interconnectedness and collective well-being—can enhance mental health approaches.

Emphasizing Communal Healing:

Highlight the power of collective healing methods that reinforce cultural identity, shared responsibility, and community empowerment.

Centering Cultural Heritage:

Utilize Africentric knowledge systems to address mental health challenges while celebrating and preserving cultural traditions.

Fostering Resilience and Strength:

Discover strategies for overcoming adversity, building support networks, and empowering individuals and communities to thrive.

Addressing Systemic Barriers:

Identify and tackle structural inequities to create equitable access to mental health care for Black communities.

Objectives:

Empowerment and Advocacy:

Equip attendees with knowledge and tools to advocate for mental health wellness within Black communities.

Focus on Mental Health:

Examine the unique mental health challenges faced by Black individuals and communities due to systemic racism.

Community Engagement:

Foster dialogue, network and collaboration among community members, researchers, healthcare professionals, leaders, and activists.

Conference Themes:

The 3rd Annual ACT Now! Conference featured presentations and discussions centered around the following themes:

Reclaiming Ancestral Mental Health Traditions for Black Communities

Developing culturally tailored, accessible mental health practices to address the needs of Black Canadians.

Culturally Tailored Healing Practices
Highlighting the role of cultural identity in mental health, reclaiming Africentric traditions, and building resilience against systemic oppression.
Ubuntu and Collectivity in Mental Health Practices
Applying Ubuntu principles to promote collective healing, uplifting, and empowerment within Black communities.
Addressing Systemic Barriers to Mental Health Access
Identifying and overcoming structural barriers to ensure equitable access to mental health services for Black individuals.
Holistic Healing Practices
Integrating Afrocentric, spiritual, faith-based, and community-centered approaches with modern therapeutic methods to foster mental wellness.
Intersectionality, Diversity, and Shared Traditions in Black Communities
  • Acknowledging the richness and diversity within Black communities while emphasizing unity and shared cultural heritage.
  • Exploring how distinct identities and traditions contribute to holistic healing and resilience.
  • How language barriers impact the system navigation for newcomers and refguee populations.

The 2025 conference provided dedicated space and dialogue around Black youth, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, and faith and spirituality. Abstract submissions focused on these areas were prioritized.

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