About Us

We are Hamilton’s literary community for teens and young adults. 

We believe in meeting young people where they are, with the stories they love, in the communities where they tell their stories. Be it comic books, video games, Dungeons and Dragons board games, we want to use the stories they love and experience to inspire them to get deeper into the writer’s craft.

We aim to support young writers of diverse African and Black heritage to discover and harness their stories through written and verbal arts.

We serve the greater Hamilton region and all the young people in it. We offer unique programs that uplift racialized storytellers, their unique literary forms, aesthetics, and storytelling traditions. 

Our programs enhance reading and writing, engender confidence and self-efficacy, nurture community, build resilience and positive mental health, and cultivate artistic excellence in young people. 

We do this through storytelling workshops, creative writing development, and creating public performance and presentation opportunities for young people.

We are funded by Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services and thank them for their ongoing support.

Board of Directors

Alex Thomson

Board Chair

Susan Goodman

Board Member

Victoria Long

Board Member

Staff

Chukky Ibe

Executive Director

Rachel Shadid

Program & Logistics Coordinator

Aseja Dava

Program Manager

Aisha Yussuf

Story Coordinator

Olivia Edeh

Communications Manager