INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Welcoming & Inclusive Community Committee is launching its new speakers series with a bang.
On June 8 the committee (IWICC) is hosting a free virtual event featuring acclaimed Edmonton actor, entrepreneur, and activist Jesse Lipscombe.
A proud fourth-generation black Albertan, Lipscombe, along with his wife Julia and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, launched the #MakeItAwkward campaign in 2017 to combat racism, misogyny and homophobia, a movement that has made a real positive difference in the lives of many Albertans.
“I often ask myself. Why am I doing this work? For me, it always comes back to justice, fairness and equity,” said Lipscombe in a personal essay that appeared on www.cbc.ca/radio last January.
“I want to live in a place where everyone understands that I belong — in a place where people don't ask, "Where are you from?"
“I am fighting for a home,” he added. As a descendant of people who were enslaved, I am not afforded the knowledge of "where I came from." Where I am, where I was born, is where I call home. If not here, then where?
“My fight is to be at home in this place, whether you call it Edmonton or Amiskwacîwâskahikan, Canada or Turtle Island.”
His 90-minute virtual talk on June 8 fits in well with the IWICC mandate to confront racism in the Innisfail community.
June 8 date of Lipscombe’s virtual talk comes almost exactly a year after the town hosted an anti-racism rally that generated passionate chatter across the country on the racism issue, and placed Innisfail at the centre of a full-scale media storm.
The IWICC, which had handled other issues since its inception in 2005, was resurrected with a mission to have the community finally address the issue head-on.
“The series is important to IWICC because we are sharing stories and information so that people can develop an understanding of the issues and challenges faced by our citizens on a daily basis,” said Pat Bidart, the committee’s co-chair.
It is important to have uncomfortable discussions on racism and discrimination so that we can make changes individually on we react and act to situations so that as a community we can say that each day we strive to be welcoming and inclusive. The speakers will bring their stories, their thoughts, recommendations and challenge us to be welcoming and inclusive.”
Lipscombe was born and raised in St. Albert and started his acting career at age 14 alongside Sidney Poitier in the Calgary-shot film Children of the Dust.
At 18, he received a full track-and-field scholarship to Martin Luther King Jr.’s alma mater, Morehouse College, in Atlanta, Ga.
Lipscombe went on to win multiple national high jumping championships in both Canada and the U.S., and was ranked 6th in the world in his sport.
Back in Edmonton, he launched a full entrepreneurial and artistic career, opening fitness studios and restaurants, while continuing to act and produce in award-winning film and television productions.
In 2018, he was the recipient of the Obsidian Award for top business Leader in western Canada, and was named Community Man of the Year by Diversity Magazine.
“I know some of us have heard him, and he’s a very dynamic speaker and so we wanted to start of with a bang,” said Donna Arnold, a member of WICC. “He’s been very popular, and he’s really good and that’s a really good way to start our speakers series because of the topic.”
To attend this free event join the Zoom meeting at: https://zoom.us/j/7321480024. The Meeting ID is: 732 148 0024
For further information contact IWICC by email: [email protected], or phone 403-227-2866. For more information on the WICC go to its Facebook page called Innisfail Welcoming & Inclusive Community Committees #4.
