The Reach and Abbotsford Community Services (ACS) celebrate diversity with an event on Thursday, March 21.
The free Block Party @ The Reach takes place at The Reach (32388 Veterans Way) at 7:30 p.m. and includes a range of musical acts, dancers, and multi-talented performers.
Lia Bishop, diversity education program coordinator at ACS, said the goal of the event is to raise community awareness around racism, equality, and the “intersectionality of human identity.”
“The intention of this event is to build communities across barriers to confront the harms of racism, xenophobia and all other forms of hate, and we’re using musical performances, choreography, fashion, and the support of some key community groups to send the message,” she said.
Featured performers include:
• Lowkita, a young Afro-Caribbean Canadian recording and performing artist whose sound is influenced by her Caribbean roots, hip-hop and UK grime;
• Kristin Witko, who makes music that is hooky and unsettling, gothic and effervescent;
• Mamarudegyal, an MC and dancer who is motivated by justice and inspired by diversity;
• HOPE, a hip-hop artist and performer from Leq’a:mel First Nation British Columbia who uses storytelling and rhyme to depict life on the reservation;
• Doobie, from Skatin Nation (AKA Skookumchuck), who raps about being Indigenous in Canada;
• Christie Lee Charles, aka Miss Christie Lee, who raps in her Indigenous Musqueam language with a passion to empower Aboriginal youth;
• Immigrant Lessons, a dance/art collaboration from Kevin Fraser and Alyssa Amarshi that aids in the creation of opportunities in dance, film, performance, and community development for POCs and other marginalized communities;
• Kimmortal, a queer, filipinx, second-generation musician recognized as “a voice to be heard” by Exclaim! Magazine; and
• Pattern Nation, a collaborative and inclusive platform aimed at connecting artists who embrace bold colour and pattern globally.
The evening will be capped off with a fashion showcase by Sleepless Mindz.
This collaborative project from Jason Bempong and Marisa Gold features colourful, vibrant pieces that express their unique individuality, including their African roots.
Visit thereach.ca for more information.