By Amy Shelley, Manager - Skills, Training and Economic Development
The Building Inclusive Community – The Beauty to Belong event brought together members of the Kingston community to discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in Kingston. During the event a thought-provoking panel candidly shared their personal and professional experiences while discussing the over-arching theme of belonging.
As part of this event, Kingston Economic Development and Kingston Immigration Partnership celebrated the first annual Newcomer Entrepreneur Awards, by recognizing outstanding individuals in the Kingston community for their exceptional contributions to Kingston’s economy and community. This presentation also included a special “Inclusive Community Champion Award” which I was proud to accept on behalf of the Texture with Confidence hairstyling program.
Accompanying me on stage to accept this award was Paula Dickson, SLC Program Coordinator – Hairstyling, industry expert Andrea Sampson – content creator and program facilitator, and Liam Hamilton and Nadi Danilova – representing the SPARK team.
The success of the Texture with Confidence program could not have been possible without the collaboration, hard work and dedication of so many individuals. This award represents the ability to make a difference when we work together and support one another; it represents the importance of listening to those living in our communities and seeking solutions to support the beauty to belong.
The Inclusive Community Champion Award was presented by Kingston Economic Development and Kingston Immigration Partnership who said:
“We are thrilled to announce the establishment of the Inclusive Community Champion Award, which recognizes local organizations that intentionally inclusive spaces and design equity-based initiatives to support this community. Building a welcoming environment for all members of a community requires institutional champions who are always at the forefront of creating conditions for diverse community members to feel appreciated and included.
We are proud to recognize St. Lawrence College for its exceptional work in developing the Textured Hair with Confidence program. The program is aimed at empowering local business owners, particularly salon businesses, with the skills required to serve every community member who walks through their doors with confidence. This initiative reflects the college's commitment to listening to the community's challenges and dedicating resources to making positive changes designed to help eliminate those challenges.
We believe that such initiatives are crucial in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the community. It is heartening to see organizations like St. Lawrence College leading the way in this endeavor. We hope that this recognition inspires everyone to seek out opportunities to promote inclusivity in their own ways, no matter how small or big. Let us all continue to work towards building a more inclusive and welcoming community for everyone.”
Watch the Texture with Confidence program wrap-up video created by the SPARK team: