About BKBQ

The BKBQ Movement is an initiative designed to bridge the gap between Black men and women by unifying and strengthening each individual in order to have a greater impact in society. Through BKBQ our aim is to promote Black love, Black power, Black Unity, Black excellence and Black legacy. Our target audience is multigenerational, with the aim of building a community with individuals from all walks of life. BKBQ has five sectors that keep a main focus on building community. 1. The general community Black King Black Queens. 2. BKBQ Generation Next which focuses on building Personal development, Self-awareness and Self love. 3. BKBQ Podcast which focuses on giving a voice to the unheard. a place where we use our voices to get our message across. 4. Black & Married which focuses on love, marriage and everything in between. 5. Queens With Dreams which focus on creating a space for all queens to pursue their purpose by dreaming again.

Our ultimate goal as an organization is to build a space for our black men and women to experience Black love, unity, power, excellence and learn about ways they can leave a legacy. Additionally, we want each individual to be confident, thriving, self aware individuals who love and feel loved through the community.

The Founders

Birthed from the traumatic painful death of young, marginalized men and women within the United States and Canada, Dean Samuels along with his wife and best friend Nicola Samuels founded BKBQ, a black not-for profit that caters to the emotional and physical needs of black women, men and youth in Canada to push past their pain and into purpose.

Using his strong business acumen and passion for humanitarianism, Founder Dean Samuels identified an intense need for programs that cater to the advancement, rehabilitation, and rebuilding of the black family structure. Pairing his background in music production and Nicola’s professional expertise and passion for children and education, together they seek to create and establish a business model that provides resources to the black community and supports other Black-led community groups and projects in the greater Toronto area.

Growing up in Toronto, Dean experienced and witnessed some of the many challenges black men and women faced that shape their owned skewed perceptions. With his wife Nicky, they hope to change the trajectory of the generational social and mental prejudices that hinder success in the black community.

Dean and Nicky reside in Scarborough, Ontario with their two beautiful daughters, Melody and Harmony.

BKBQ Official Commercial

BKBQ Generation Next

A foundational piece of BKBQ’s initiative is focused on building today’s youth for a better tomorrow. We understand the importance of investing in our youth and we are aware of the great benefits that come with this responsibility. Our objective is to keep our youth actively engaged while learning new skills, building upon a desire and, eventually figuring out their passions through various educational and artistic pathways. Education and awareness are an essential component of our program.

Our intent is to give our students and youth necessary tools and resources to prepare them for their future. Through inquiry it has been noted that there has been a lack of resources and knowledge offered and taught to our black community. Evenmore, in our society our black kings & queens are often counted out or looked down upon.

This notion and unpopular belief is something that we are determined to break. A few significant areas of education that we want to make our youth aware of include access to professional Therapy, Personal Development & Self Love, Financial Literacy (Life Insurance and Legacy Building), Law, Real Estate, Event Management & Production, Photography and Videography.

We believe that if our youth are exposed to these professions and resources earlier in life, they will have a better chance of finding and pursuing their passions.

Additionally, we trust that having a discussion around these topics give them an opportunity to sift through various areas until they find something they like. We anticipate that by the time they enter into highschool or graduate, that they will have a better idea of what career paths they would like to pursue.

We also know that representation matters and it plays a vital role in the development of our youth. That being said, we want to surround and expose our youth to black professionals who will pour into them. Through positive communication and hands on experiences. We anticipate given these experiences, our youth will be inspired and gain the courage to believe in themselves.

BKBQ Generation Next - Reels

BKBQ Music & Arts

At BKBQ, we believe that Music and Arts are key components to a healthy development and so, we want to use this to our advantage to help get our message across. Music and arts have demonstrated the ability to improve students self-esteem, confidence and an overall sense of achievement. Moreover, it has also been proven to provide students with an outlet to work through difficult situations while building responsibility, self- expression and self discipline.

BKBQ has created a community dance group. Our dancers are trained in Hip-Hop, Step and Praise dance. Each dance speaks a story of truth. Each movement expresses a piece of history, emotion and strength.

Furthermore, BKBQ has created a community choir. Our choir is made up of kings and queens from within our community. They sing songs of freedom, grace, strength and God.

Continuing with our educational approach through the Music & Arts program we believe that dance is an important form of art because it is something that every culture uses to express emotions/feelings, experiences and beliefs. Through

dance, the students will be given an opportunity to find themselves, learn their history and indulge in their culture.

Dance also expands their imagination, supports creativity and socialization. Lastly, dance supports both physical and cognitive development.

BKBQ

Community Dancers

BKBQ

Community Choir

A clip of our dancers doing an original piece at BKBQ Day.

A clip of our singers singing "Lift Every Voice" and "More Than I Can Bear" By: Kirk Franklin at BKBQ Day.

BKBQ Day - Mass Photoshoot

Recap Video

BKBQ City News

Full recap of BKBQ Day - 2021

BKBQ Day CityNews Toronto - 2021

BKBQ Day - GALA

Highlight Video

Highlight Video

In August 2020 we had our first ever BKBQ Gala and it was a success. This outdoor mansion event was one to remember.

In 2021 we hosted the BKBQ Gala at an indoor venue. We highlited black excellence and gave other entrepreneurs in the city a chance to showcase their businesses. The fashion show topped off the night as it was also an event to remember.

BLACK & MARRIED OFFICIAL COMMERCIAL

BLACK & MARRIED

At Black & Married we have created a space for couples to communicate, connect and collaborate. Couples can find community, build lifelong friendships and gain a source of support. A place where their voice and stories will be heard. We often devalue the importance of a healthy community and the accountability that comes with it, without realizing that it is one of the key secrets to the success of a healthy marriage.

Our desire is to share our story, experiences, and the many hurdles we've faced in our union. We hope that our story will not only help couples to reconnect and help strengthen their love for each other but, we anticipate individuals will find love, learn to love, grow in love and allow themselves to be loved.

QUICK FACTS:

Studies show that over the last few decades marriage has been a declining institution within the black community. In 2020 only 30% of ALL African Americans were married compared to the 48% of ALL Americans.

As a result of the pandemic many couples were faced with a strenuous challenge of spending countless hours in isolation with their partners. This for many was not only difficult but caused tension that could have been avoided with the support of a healthy and thriving community. We see a need within our community and so, this is why we've created Black & Married.

Queens With Dreams

Queens With Dreams is an initiative created by women for women. Together we have designed a space where women from all walks of life can find the courage to dream again. Our objective is to build a community of empowered women who strive to inspire other women.

We want every queen who is a part of QWD to believe in themselves which means having confidence in their own abilities. Furthermore, we want to build a source of support and accountability, trusting that each individual will do what they say they will do, believing that those efforts will result in their desired outcome.

This initiative was birthed out of a visible need that we've experienced within our community. We feel as though women and women of colour more specifically aren’t promoted and or supported enough within the community. Due to this, we wanted to create the change that we wanted to see.

As women, we wear so many different hats which cause us to go through so many seasons and challenges that often don't allow us the time or energy to pursue our dreams the way we see it. As mothers, wives, sisters, workers, primary caregivers etc. we often set our main focus and attention on the wellbeing of others leaving little to no time for ourselves. As a result, we often experience burnout which leaves us feeling unmotivated and incapable of doing anything new. This has got to end. Our aim is to inspire each other by supporting one another.

Additionally, QWD encourages self-confidence, teamwork, dedication, the desire to win, and the courage to push oneself beyond limits. The vision is to create a social movement where women feel free to build, connect with other women and find a sisterhood. Our endeavour is to host events that are exclusive to women such as live podcasts, brunches, socials, mommy & me tea parties etc.

Finally our goal is to build unity, encourage growth and highlight black excellence through the lens of a Queen.

QWD VIDEOS

BKBQ LIVE PODCAST HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

BKBQ Podcast

On the BKBQ (Black King Black Queen) Podcast we explore a variety of topics, questions and pressing thoughts. Our goal is to inspire, encourage, and educate every listener by having meaningful conversations surrounding Black Love (RELATIONSHIPS), Black Excellence (ENTREPRENEURSHIP), and Black Legacy (IMPACT). With every unique discussion, we unpack the good, the bad and the ugly that most individuals will experience while on this journey called LIFE.

At the core, our message is to “Choose PURPOSE over FEAR”. We encourage every listener and every guest speaker to let go of whatever has been holding them back and step into their individual purpose: the thing that gives their life new meaning. Knowing well that this may not always be easy, we encourage each individual to lean into the BKBQ community for support. Additionally, we express the importance of taking this step because there is always someone who can benefit from a lived experience. In the words of Dean Samuels “There is an entire audience waiting on your YES!” Once a quarter, BKBQ podcast hosts a live; in person show with an aim to bring the community together. The night consists of socializing with great people, live entertainment, delicious food and listening to various engaging stories from the voices of the unheard.

BKBQ MOVEMENT

Let's Connect

Phone

(416) 848-7829

e-mail

contact@bkbqmovement.com

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