MODERATOR

Will Prosper, a visionary documentary filmmaker and graduate of the École de cinéma et de télévision du Québec, is renowned for his moving exploration of under-represented communities and Afro-descendant cultures in Québec. Among his notable works, The Lost Tapes of hip-hop in Quebec (2008) tells the fascinating story of Québec's rap pioneers, while Les derniers pèlerins (2011) explores the religious Haitian diaspora in Québec. His award-winning film Kenbe la - Jusqu'à la victoire (2019) highlights his narrative talent.

Currently, Prosper is working on Fredy, a poignant story of a tragedy involving the Montréal police, as well as Dreams Without Ceiling, an intimate portrait of painter Manuel Mathieu. His film Northern Beats was recently selected for TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2023, exploring Canada's thriving hip-hop scene with its rich heritage of struggle and success.

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A graduate in marketing from HEC Montréal, Cassandra decided to stop her business career and fully devote herself to community activism. For the past four years, Cassandra has led Hoodstock's transformation from a volunteer collective to a co-working space that remains true to its founding principles. Her dedication, along with that of her team, has been acknowledged with prestigious awards, including the Jack Layton Award in 2021 and the Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven Award from the American Political Science Association in 2022.

On a personal level, Cassandra Exumé distinguished herself by being selected as one of the 20 women chosen for the 2022 cohort of Concertation Montréal's Young Women Leaders Network. More recently, she was one of 10 winners of the Montreal Canadiens' Impact Player program, a distinction that rewards the contributions of Black individuals in Montréal.

Photo: Vincent Marchessault

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Ms. Carla Beauvais is a social entrepreneur, commentator, and consultant. Convinced that an equitable and inclusive society starts with awareness, respectful dialogue, and the creation of an inclusive climate and willingness to act, Ms. Carla Beauvais is very involved in several like-minded organizations and projects.

For over ten years and until recently, she orchestrated and coordinated the development and organization of Black History Month, which runs programs highlighting Quebecois individuals from Black communities who contribute to the development of society. In addition, Ms. Carla Beauvais co-founded Fondation Dynastie, which promotes diversity and inclusion in the sector of arts, culture and media. She then co-founded Orijin Village, in order to provide businesses in Black communities with technological solutions to reach new market sectors and bridge the digital divide. Having lived in Haiti, she co-organized several events, creating social and economic momentum in the country. While there, she also founded Konsome Lokal, an organization that raises public awareness of the role that buying locally plays in the country's future and in the health of consumers. Finally, as a columnist and contributor to various media, Ms. Beauvais also raises public awareness of diversity and inclusion issues, and denounces social injustice.

Thanks to her strong interpersonal skills and her social engagement, she is constantly seeking to create more inclusive environments by building bridges between institutions, creators from Black communities, and the public.

Photo: Yacine Sanou