KARELLA CUMMINGS

by: TANEYA ROGERS

Karella Cummings is a rare musical talent. An established DJ, who plays multiple instruments, and happens to have a vocal range that could devour any genre of music. Born in Oakville ON but raised in Edmonton by musicloving, Trinidadian parents, created a cultural fluidity that translates into her music. She shares that to be a successful DJ or musician in Edmonton, you must remain versed in a range of musical genres.

Soca music, however, is her first love.``I’m attracted to the creativity that you have to use with the lyrics in soca. You’re essentially playing with three chords but how you manipulate and present them demands creativity. Performing soca music is also the funnest thing you can do.”

Karella is working to develop her skills in R&B and Soca. However, she’s also making use of her vocal skills around Alberta at major sporting events, as the anthem singer. She shares, “Performing the anthem is different, because you have the crowd’s absolute, undivided attention. If I tripped on stage performing soca, I could maybe play it off. With the anthem everything is noticeable.”

There is no doubt that Karella’s talents will continue to shape Edmonton’s musical landscape.

To follow her musical journey or for bookings visit: @itskarella.com, IG: @itskarella

Black Canadian Women (BCW) in Action— Empowering Leaders of Tomorrow

From outsider to trailblazer: How Black Canadian Women in Action is breaking new ground in Western Canada

When Jeanne Lehman moved to Edmonton in 2011, she immediately felt like an outsider. Lehman was born in Cameroon where she immigrated to Paris and eventually found roots in Canada as a Francophone. At the time, less than three per cent of the people in her new city identified as Black. Even fewer as Black and Francophone.

“I realized that there were a lot of Black families, including myself, living in this province that were not as immersed or integrated into the community,” she said. “On top of this, I noticed there were not many groups or resources for French-speaking teachers of African origin as well, so this, coupled with a feeling of being excluded from society, made me want to do something about it.” She founded Francophonie Albertaine Plurielle (FRAP) , currently the main francophone settlement organization in Edmonton.

Jeanne Lehman

Six years later, Lehman created Black Canadian Women (BCW) in Action. The bilingual, non-profit organization is committed to empowering Black women, girls and families living in Western Canada, by creating a space that fosters cultural inclusion, provides professionals with opportunities for career development, and offers coaching specifically for entrepreneurs.

“[Our] program trains and inspires Black entrepreneurs by enabling them to learn from peers who also recognize the unique challenges facing Black business owners,” she said.

One of Lehman and BCW’s proudest accomplishments to date is a mentorship program designed specifically for young women ages 16 to 18. It’s the first of its kind and includes workshops, job shadowing, leadership development, and self-esteem seminars. Lehman says the goal is to ensure future generations of girls and women will demand their seat at the table and make a difference.

“As we think about Black History Month, we reflect on the hurdles that many Black women and families have endured. BCW in Action wants to continue shaping the future of women in our Black communities and strives to continue to diversify our footprint across the Canadian market and provide opportunities. We’re grateful to continue expanding our services through support from sponsors like TD Bank Group (TD).”

During Black History Month, BCW in Action will be holding a Traditional Black History Month Brunch Celebration on February 11th from 11am2pm, where there will be exciting presentations in its different locations with different themes reflecting on our past, celebrating our contribution and shaping our future.

To learn more about upcoming programs and to support BCW visit: www.bcwinaction.ca, or follow along on Instagram and Facebook at @BCWINACTION.

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