Issue 33: Kween – Canadian National Ms. Guelph, Founder Kween Company & Co-Owner The Heels Academy

Thadinadonnih (Guelph), born and raised, the University of Guelph Alumni, Valedictorian from the Randolph Academy for Performing Arts, Kween is a Black settler living out her passions. She is a dancer, teacher, actor, choreographer, director, producer, advocate, curator, marketing/social media guru, TEDx and International Speaker and co-contributing Author to 100 Women of Inspiration and The Stage Light Flickers. Kween is the CEO and owner of The Kween Company and Co-owns The Heels Academy. Kween was the leader of the Solidarity March in Support of BLM (Black Lives Matter) in 2020 and the Executive Director and Social Justice Initiatives Coordinator for Guelph Black Heritage Society. Kween is also a host and community producer on Rogers Channel 20 with "Diverse and Converse," a BIPOC panel discussion. Kween specialized in EDI work, especially for Violence, Oppression, Harm and Indigenous Relationship Building. Kween held a Residency with Guelph Dance in 2020/2021, was a winner of Woman of the Year 2020, nominee for RBC Women of Influence 2021, Women of Inspiration 2021 Finalist and nominee for RBC Canadian Entrepreneur Awards 2022 and Women Who Rock Awards 2022

"At ten years old, I was pushed off the jungle gym and called the n-word. I was removed from that school. Then the next school, I was constantly bullied for the richness of my melanin, the form of curls, and the way I seemed just too different from everyone around me. I grew up in a white town, with white parents, and white siblings, in a white Christian school, where my appearance determined my whole identity. I constantly struggled to see myself in the media and the representation around me when it wasn't in my own home. And I even remember shaving off my eyebrows to look more like Whoopi Goldberg because I finally saw someone who looked like me when I watched Coraline, Coraline. And yes - she has no eyebrows; ask Google. Since then, I grew my eyebrows back, ran away from home in several different forms, and then literally moved cities. I travelled to countries and did all I could to disconnect from Guelph. My racist experiences, from medical to police altercations in my young teens. Of course, I never told my family - too fragile, and would they understand? I now know - they weren't - and we had to have these uncomfortable conversations. I later realized that my voice and work would bring me back to the place I felt, unseen, unheard and undervalued. I tell you this - because this is not even 2% of my experience of being a Black Woman in a world that regularly subjected our people to violence, oppression, and harm. And that's not even a sliver, a grain of sand of what our community goes through. I cannot speak for all - but I can do my best to advocate and educate. My advocacy is so important to me - "as it is not time to get complacent - it is time to get in action and not be in fear of what is to come - but rather brave for what can change."

Kween's experience fuelled her passion for 'VOH,' Violence, Oppression, and Harm. It moves us from the conversations about equity, diversity, and inclusion to the reality facing individuals within the BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, People of Colour Community. Many equity policies and practices rationales are geared toward the demographics of specific populations while neglecting others, enhancing the systemic cultural and institutionalized injustices. The issue faced in Canada is the establishment of the social, economic, financial, and governmental hierarchy, which frequently leaves Black and Indigenous people at the bottom of such a hierarchal system. Unfortunately, we have yet to break from this frightening reality. Kween is dedicated to dismantling such systemic oppression while actively referring to education and history to enhance these intersectional conversations. Through her social justice work, platforms geared towards enhancing voices, business support, artistic work, and pageantry, Kween aspires to unpack, challenge, and systemic question systems. To allow opportunities for justice dialogues to occur, to effectively eliminate barriers for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour. She encourages individuals apart of the BIPOC Community to be seen, heard, and feel empowered by her community through various actions: Pillars, Initiatives, Goals, and opportunities to ensure everyone can take action to create inclusive and safe spaces.

Kween wants you, the reader, to keep in mind:

"We are in such heavily impactful times. Both good and bad impacts. We must return to community care, compassion and acting with more love. We are still on lands that do not belong to us with yet no justice for Indigenous peoples. We still are battling racial, gender, environmental, financial, and mental crises, and the list goes on. We must do better for ourselves and others. And I say, "If you want to see change, you must be the change."

Want to learn more about Krissy and her platform? Check out her Instagram

@kween.of.kweenz

@canadiannationalmsguelph

@thekweencompany

@theheelsacademy

@guelphblackheritage

@diverseandconverse

Are you someone who is a positive change-maker? Have a story to tell? Passionate about a particular issue? Contact The REAL Resilient Michayla Del Guidice for more information:

Michayla Del Guidice | RSSW., B.A., M.Ed. Candidate

Email: michayladelguidice@gmail.com

Instagram: @msmichaylad_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MsMichaylaD

TikTok: @therealresilient