What does freedom look like across history, health care, the arts, technology and innovation?
This question will guide three days of conversation exploring Blackness and freedom, bringing together PAIR members, the University of Waterloo community, partners and guests to share ideas, build relationships and envision transformative futures.
From history and health care to the arts, technology and innovation, the program invites participants to consider how Blackness and freedom inform research, creative practice and everyday life.
What to expect
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Keynote presentations featuring Chereda Grannum and Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae among the symposium’s speakers.
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Roundtable discussions that bring different perspectives into conversation.
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Interactive workshops that create space for shared learning and exploration.
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Opportunities to connect across disciplines, generations and communities.
Be part of the conversation
Whether you’re engaged in research, creative work, community partnerships or simply curious about the questions at the heart of the symposium, you’re invited to take part and join researchers, the University of Waterloo community, partners and guests for three days of conversation, learning and connection centred on Blackness and freedom.
Day 1 - Tuesday, November 3, 2026
| 9:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. | Coffee/Mingle |
| 9:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. | Welcome, Land Acknowledgement and Opening Remarks By Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor |
| 10:00 A.M.- 10:15 A.M. |
Introduction to the Black And Free Edition By Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae |
| 10:15 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. |
Opening Keynote: Chereda Grannum, Reclaiming our Atlantic Destiney (R.O.A.D) Introduced by Dr. Ian Milligan |
| 11:15 A.M - 11:30 A.M. | Break |
| 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. |
Roundtable: PAIRing People, Places, and Perspectives with Silas Ifeanyi, MASc, Dr. Eric Andrianasolo, and Dr. Enoch Ofusu Moderated by Dr. Fatima Suleiman |
| 12:30 P.M. - 1:30 P.M. | Lunch |
| 1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. |
Roundtable: Black Faculty Collective Moderated by Pamela Braza Pitman |
| 2:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. |
Workshop: Centering Black, African and Afro-Diasporic Knowledge Systems Led by Isra Saeed, The Speculative Collective |
| 3:30 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. |
Book Launch, Dr. Christopher Start Taylor, Unmasking DEI: New Frameworks for Confronting Anti-Black Racism in the Black Atlantic. Introduced by Dr. Tracy Penny |
Day 2 - Wednesday, November 4, 2026
| 10:00 A..M. - 10:15 A.M. | Coffee/Mingle (NH 3318) |
| 10:15 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. |
Arist Talk: Abraham O. Oghobase, Notes to Self: Offerings on History and Memory (NH 3318) Introduced by Ivan Jurakic |
| 11:15 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. | Break |
| 11:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. |
Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae, Black And Free: An Unkeynote Performance
Introduced by Dr. Jay Dolmage |
| 1:00 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. |
Roundtable and Lunch: On Art, Blackness, and Freedom with artists and scholars from the Unkeynote Performance Moderated by Dr. Naila Keleta-Mae Led by Isabella Akaliza |
Day 3 - Thursday, November 5, 2026
| 9:30 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. | Coffee/Mingle |
| 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. |
Roundtable: Black and Free on Campus with Johnny Dodoo, Avri Jeffcott, Isra Saeed, and Garth Yarde Moderated by Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor |
| 11:00 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. | Break |
| 11:15 A.M.- 12:15 P.M. |
In Conversation: PAIR Founding Members Dr. Paul Ugor, Dr. Yverick Pascal Rangom, and Dr. Charity Oga-Omenka Moderated by Dr. Nasser Mohieddin Abukhdeir |
| 12:15 P.M - 1:15 P.M. |
Lunch Break |
| 1:15 P.M - 2:15 P.M |
Keynote: Dr. Richard Norman, (re)Pebbling: A Story of Blackness and Curling Introduced by Dr. Heather Mair |
| 2:15 P.M - 2:30 P.M. |
Break |
| 2:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. |
Workshop: Synthesis, Reflection and Next Steps Led by Graham Edwards |
| 4:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. |
Closing Remarks by Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor |