Our Story
AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives builds on the groundbreaking vision of interstellar artivist Quentin VerCetty, who created Carnegie Hall's first-ever commissioned art piece in 2021. Our mission is to create more opportunities for Black creatives and youth engaged in Black science and speculative fiction with a unique approach that encompasses the five dimensions of Afrofuturism: metaphysics, aesthetics, sciences, social science, and programmatic spaces.
We curate and produce exhibitions, public art installations, conventions, panels, and Web3 projects, including NFT initiatives and metaverse explorations. These efforts are a testament to our unwavering commitment to strengthening the connection between the arts and the Black community's ancestral roots, empowering a brighter future.
AstroSankofa, as the managing body for the Black Speculative Arts Movement Canada ®©™, founded by VerCetty in 2016, is pivotal in advancing the cause of Black speculative arts. Inspired by Afrofuturist icon June Tyson and the Akan proverb 'Sankofa,' which emphasizes the importance of learning from the past to inform the future, our name, 'AstroSankofa,' reflects this vision.
Becoming Visual Griots
Meet the Team
Art Director
Quentin VerCetty
Afrofuturists, Artivist, Visual Imagineer and an ever-growing interstellar tree.
Public Art Manager
Kareen Odd0ne Weir
Muralist, sculptor, playwright and performer who believes in the power of the arts.
Web 3 Project Manager
Kanisha Dabreo
Techy, painter, lover of learning, life long student, community member
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrea PEACHTREE Boucaud
Co-Chair
Andrea Boucaud, (known to many as ‘Peachtree’) has worked within the community development, small business, and arts spaces for over 20 years. She current focus on regenerative growing practices, seed saving, beekeeping, community gardens, farmers markets, green employment, herbal medicines and all ways food and land intersect with equity and representation.
Zamani RA
Co-Chair
Zamani Ra is the Executive Director of CEED Canada. Her organization provides environmental education workshops to Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURB) residents and property owners in social housing communities. RA aim is to increase climate action among tenants and encourage them to use their local footsteps to reduce our global imprint
Saran James-Vaughan
Director
is the Founder of Wellness By Saran, a full-service Holistic Wellness Education platform dedicated to Menstrual Health and a Decolonized Approach to Well-being. Saran is a Culture Curator, creating safe learning spaces at the intersection of Wellness, Art and Culture - she is also an investor in the Web3 space. She facilitates programmes and workshops for Black Youth in the Afro Diasporic Community, centred around Cultural Identity and Wellness.
Sarah Musa
Secretary
A poet, copy editor, digital marketing and advertising professional. Musa has years of experience of working with different clients and entities with a focus of empowering and amplifying marginalized voices.
Courdell Baker
Treasurer
With a long standing freelance experience with consulting and investing in stocks and cryptocurrency. Baker has worked as an consultant and investor for numerous start up companies and established enterprises and philanthropists.