Integrating with our Community
Integrating with our community is essential to our work at AADFC. We actively build relationships with local stakeholders, such as schools, businesses, service providers, and community organizations, to strengthen collaboration and ensure our members feel connected and welcomed throughout St. Albert. Through participation in local events and partnerships, we bring African and African-descendant culture into the broader community, fostering meaningful cultural exchange, inclusion, and shared understanding.
Our volunteers contribute their time and talents to uplift the local community, demonstrating our commitment to giving back and supporting collective well-being.
By engaging in partnerships and supporting local economy and services, we contribute to a thriving community ecosystem that benefits everyone. Together, these efforts help us build bridges, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful connections between AADFC members and the wider St. Albert community.
We prioritize visibility and communication to ensure that our presence, programs, and contributions are recognized and understood. Through education and awareness initiatives, alongside advocacy and representation efforts, we help create a more inclusive environment where diverse voices and experiences are valued.
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Our partnership with St. Albert Public Schools and Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools strengthens our role as a community resource by contributing anti-racism perspectives and culturally responsive content throughout the year.
We support student learning through inclusive programming in Physical Education, Foods, and Music, and collaborate on meaningful initiatives during Black History Month and Alberta Culture Days. Together, these efforts help schools foster greater understanding, respect, and a strong sense of belonging for all students.
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Our contribution to the St. Albert Rodeo Parade helps bring greater visibility, cultural expression, and community pride to one of the city’s most cherished traditions. The St. Albert Rainmaker Festival, which includes the parade, began in 1965 as a fundraising rodeo organized by the local Kinsmen Club and has since grown into a major annual celebration of community spirit, entertainment, and family fun.
Through our participation, we showcase African and Afro-Caribbean cultures with vibrant displays, music, dance, and youth involvement. Our presence promotes inclusion, celebrates multiculturalism, and strengthens community connections, helping reflect the diversity and unity of St. Albert in a joyful and welcoming way.
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Since 2020, our involvement in Integrating with Our Community has included a strong partnership with the St. Albert Public Library to create welcoming, inclusive spaces for learning and connection.
Together, we have hosted community-focused initiatives such as movie nights, Black authors book reviews, and we have supported library programming by providing access to our 3D printer. We are also currently collaborating to deliver a four-week course, Black Canadians: History, Presence, and Anti-Racist Futures, which further supports community education, meaningful dialogue, and a stronger sense of belonging in St. Albert.
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Our participation in Canada Day celebrations in St. Albert supports inclusion and community connection by highlighting the city’s rich cultural diversity. We contribute by recommending Afro-Caribbean performers for the event and hosting an interactive community table.
At our table, we offer Afro-Caribbean treats to the public and share information about our programs and services through brochures and conversation. This engagement gives residents the opportunity to experience the richness of Afro-Caribbean cultures, learn more about our community, and feel welcomed as part of St. Albert’s Canada Day celebrations.
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Since 2022, we have volunteered each spring with the St. Albert Food Bank by managing a donation location during their annual fundraising drives. This involvement creates meaningful opportunities for community members to volunteer together, including with their families, while supporting an essential community service.
We also host one of the Food Bank’s monthly Cultural Kitchen nights, where we share how Afro-Caribbean dishes are prepared using locally available ingredients. These evenings promote cultural exchange, learning, and stronger community connections through food and shared experience.
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We support the Salvation Army in St. Albert by volunteering to ring the bell during the annual Kettle Campaign. This contribution helps raise critical funds for individuals and families in need, particularly during the holiday season.
The initiative also provides our members with a meaningful opportunity to give back to the community and support those facing hardship in St. Albert, reinforcing a spirit of compassion and community care.
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We partner with the St. Albert Seniors Association to help ensure seniors in our community can access and benefit from the services they offer. During Seniors’ Week, we host activities that seniors enjoy, such as sewing with African fabrics, and providing Afro-Caribbean entertainment at their events.
We also support the association through fundraising donations and by organizing our youth to volunteer at seniors’ programs and events. This collaboration strengthens intergenerational connections and builds a greater sense of community care and support.
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Our partnership with the Musée Héritage Museum supports cultural education and representation by contributing African art pieces for museum displays during Black History Month.
We also share the stories of our community members for exhibition, helping to preserve and highlight the histories, lived experiences, and contributions of people of African descent in St. Albert. This collaboration strengthens visibility, understanding, and appreciation of our community’s heritage.
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We recently partnered with the St. Albert Sturgeon Hospice Association (SASHA) to bring Afro-Caribbean cultural content to their first Light the Night Concert for Compassion event this year.
This collaboration enriches the event through meaningful cultural expression while supporting an important cause focused on compassion, remembrance, and community care.
Below are some of our programs