ABOUT THIS EVENT
In recognition of both Black Excellence Day, celebrated on January 15, and Black History Month, which takes place in February, the Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Office, is pleased to invite you to this special event, Celebrating Black Excellence, with special guests Yannick Craigwell and Erin Reddick.
Black Excellence Day is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about and support the achievements of Black people and Black Canadians. Join us for this celebratory event where we will be joined by two distinguished guests to talk about what Black excellence means to them.
Moderator
Orrett Morgan (he/him/his) is a seasoned professional with a profound passion for both technology and wellness. Currently serving as a Program Head for the Technology Support Professional program at British Columbia Institute of Technology, Orrett brings a unique blend of expertise in both technical and human-centered domains to the classroom. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in education, Orrett Morgan endeavors to instill a deep understanding of networking principles while nurturing critical thinking skills among students. Orrett’s philosophy on education is centred around creating a brave space for students to learn and grow, with a commitment to fostering intellectual curiosity and personal development. Orrett’s mission is to help others leverage this knowledge to promote holistic well-being tin both personal and professional contexts.
Guest Speakers
Yannick Craigwell is the CEO of TREATSANDTREATS INC., where he oversees operations, marketing, product development, and financial strategy. His leadership has driven consistent year-over-year sales growth, expanding the business from a local to a national footprint in just two years. Yannick focuses on quality production, customer satisfaction, and innovative SKUs while ensuring team onboarding and training. His achievements include strengthening profit margins through strategic pricing and sourcing. Passionate about excellence, he combines creativity and business acumen to build a thriving enterprise.
Erin Reddick (she/her), AI Developer and Founder of ChatBlackGPT, has carved a notable path in the technology industry. Her career encompasses significant roles at major tech companies including Meta, Microsoft, AWS, and Facebook. Reddick’s most impactful contribution to the field is the creation of ChatBlackGPT, an AI software providing perspectives from the Black and African American communities. This innovation reflects her commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity in technology. Reddick’s journey in tech, marked by her identity as a Black woman, involves addressing the racial biases present in AI. Her dedication led her to become a certified ChatGPT Expert and Prompt Engineer, culminating in the development of ChatBlackGPT. This platform aims to offer a safe, inclusive space for exploring AI, specifically tailored to the Black American experience. ChatBlackGPT, under Reddick’s guidance, ensures a response style that is culturally aware and respectful. Reddick’s work is pivotal in diversifying AI, promoting technology that is equitable and representative of diverse experiences. Her efforts are a testament to the importance of inclusive technology development, inspiring further advancements in the field.
Registration
Register below to attend in-person and a calendar invite will be provided to you prior to the event. Note that in-person registration is limited to 60 attendees.
To watch the event via livestream, please email the RDI office for the link.
ASL interpretation will be provided. Please let us know if you have any additional needs to participate. Light refreshments will be provided by Calabash Bistro, please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions. This session is open to BCIT employees and students, along with BCIT alumni, and employees of the BCITSA & BCITFSA.
Expectations for Behaviour
Diversity Circles, as part of the BCIT Respect, Diversity, and Inclusion (RDI) Office, has outlined the Expectations for Behaviour for our events and initiatives.
Diversity Circles has always benefitted from the empathy, sincerity, and respectful curiosity of our community, and this has helped create events and initiatives where we hold productive and authentic discussions, advancing our knowledge and utilization of equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
As our events and initiatives continue to reach out to diverse audiences which include BCIT employees, students, and partners (BCIT Student Association, BCIT Alumni Association, and industry guests), and as we have moved towards presenting events both in person and via teleconferencing platforms, we realize that having a set of expectations for behaviour will help maintain the accountable, respectful spaces our community has come to expect from Diversity Circles events and initiatives.
Please take the time to review our Expectations for Behaviour prior to your upcoming participation
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