Black History Month: Elevate & Connect Conference
🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, February 27, 2027
Okwera Foundation presents Black History Month: Elevate and Connect, a full-day Black History Month conference in the Cowichan Valley. The day brings together professionals, entrepreneurs, community leaders and allies from across Vancouver Island to learn, connect and elevate, with a live pitch competition and startup capital on the line.
THE THEME: BUILT IN THE VALLEY Building a career or a business is hard anywhere, and it is harder from a valley. The Cowichan Valley and the other valleys across Vancouver Island are rich in talent and community, but funding, mentorship and professional networks tend to be concentrated in Toronto and Victoria, with very little in between.
Built in the Valley also speaks to a metaphorical valley: the gap in access to funding, mentorship, networks and resources that marginalized and racialized communities too often face. The talent is already here. The access is what is missing. This conference is about closing that gap, together.
WHAT TO EXPECT 🚀 Elevate: a live pitch competition in front of judges, with multiple prizes and startup capital for winners (open to every Black entrepreneur on Vancouver Island), plus a Founders Corner where founders exhibit their businesses.
🤝 Connect: a room full of professionals, founders and community leaders from across the Island, with leaders from government, universities and Black-led organizations being invited to show their support. Shuttles from Victoria are planned.
📚 Learn: hands-on learning rooms, professional headshots so you leave with real assets for your business and career, and a Built in the Valley panel on building from the Island.
WHO IS IT FOR Everyone on Vancouver Island is welcome. The day centres Black professionals, entrepreneurs and youth, and we want allies, employers, funders and neighbours in the room too.
DETAILS 📅 Saturday, February 27, 2027 📍 Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island (venue and full schedule to be announced)
Register on this page to receive updates as details are confirmed.
Learn more about Okwera Foundation: https://okwerafoundation.org/