About the Black Academy

The Black Academy is a membership-based, national, year-round Canadian organization that operates at the intersection of Black popular culture and social justice. It celebrates, empowers, and showcases Black Canadian talent and inspires generations to come.

Co-founded by actors, producers, and Scarborough-born brothers Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, The Black Academy is born out of a longstanding commitment to their community and is dedicated to dismantling systemic racism in Canada. Established in 2020, The Black Academy is based in Toronto and is a division of the not-for-profit B.L.A.C.K. Canada.

Team

Tse Daniel, Director of Operations
Morgan Blades, Director of Programming and Membership
Teneica Toban, Director of Digital Strategy

The Black Academy’s Board of Directors

Alicia Hall, Executive Director of Nia Centre
Divya Shahani, Entertainment Lawyer at Miller Thomson LLP
Jennifer Holness, Board Chair of the Black Screen Office and the President of Hungry Eyes Media
Tonya Williams, Award-winning actress, producer, and the founder and executive director of the Reelworld Film Festival and Reelworld Screen Institute
Vanessa Craft, Director of Content and Partnerships at TikTok Canada
Wes Hall, Executive Chairman and Founder, Kingsdale Advisors, and the Founder and Chair of the BlackNorth Initiative

The Black Academy’s Partners