Dr. Ujunma Egbuawa, Support Services Manager at Positive Living North, opened the evening with a compelling presentation on The Socio-Economic Integration of Afro-Caribbean Women in Northern BC. She highlighted how systems of oppression intersect—through race, gender, culture, and class—shaping the experiences of immigrant women navigating a new society.

Key points from her presentation included:

• Barriers to integration, such as accent/language bias, cultural expectations, and gender stereotyping.
• Identity and access, including the challenges traditional names and immigration status can pose in employment and belonging.
• Opportunities, including programs like caregiver pathways and family sponsorships, and ways the community can uplift itself through Ubuntu principles.
•  She also encouraged individual and collective responsibility, emphasising certifications, community involvement, and unlearning harmful norms as essential steps toward meaningful integration and empowerment.

Following Dr. Uju, Dr. Emmanuel Chilanga, Assistant Professor of Social Work at UNBC and BFARP Coordinator, presented on Striving for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the Work and School Environment.

His session walked participants through the following:

• Foundational EDI concepts—equity vs. equality, diversity, and inclusion/exclusion.
• The realities of bias, tokenism, and microaggressions, both systemic and interpersonal.
• Strategies for achieving EDI at multiple levels, urging attendees to reflect on how culture, behaviour, and language can either promote or hinder inclusivity.

Dr. Chilanga emphasized that while eliminating all forms of bias may be difficult, it is our responsibility to constantly examine our practices, empower marginalized voices, and create spaces where everyone feels valued.