EPISODE 5 | Anti-Black Racism in The Creative Space: From Creatives to Ad Agencies
#BDRB EP:5 -Anti-Black Racism & The Creative Space #BREAKINGDOWNRACIALBARRIERS
SPEAKERS
KEVIN JOHNSON | @mediacom
ASHLEY MCKENZIE-BARNES @ashleymckenziebarnes
HINDZ | @hindzsight
CHRISTINE BOACHIE | @bbychrris
IMAD ELSHEIKH @imad.x
KAYA PINO | @kayapino
Moderated by:
IAN ANDRE ESPINET | @ianandreespinet + DAVID “CLICK” COX | @davidclickcox
KEVIN JOHNSON
[He/Him]
CEO Mediacom Canada
Kevin is a senior executive who joined MediaCom as the Chief Client Officer in 2014. Less than a year later he was appointed as CEO of MediaCom Canada and since then has helped Mediacom grow it’s footprint outside of Media Planning & Buying to include Content Creation, Business Analytics, and most recently creating divisions that serve Sports & Entertainment and connecting with diverse communities.
Over the past year, MediaCom has seen continued organic and new business growth with the addition of brands like Uber, Hotels.com, Aldo, Roots, and Adidas.
Since joining MediaCom, Kevin’s strong leadership has made a tremendous impact on the relationship with Mediacom’s partners as well as strengthening the company’s People First culture.
As MediaCom’s CEO, Kevin Johnson has not only inspired those who work with him to strive for great achievement, but also to strive for creating a culture within MediaCom that is gratifying, accepting and innovative
Kevin is a proud community mentor in Rexdale where he grew up and believes giving back is the most important part of his legacy. A proud father of three, Neveah 12, Keenan 11, and Cali 7; Kevin is all about family and loves nothing more than family time with a game of Trouble.
@mediacomcanada
ASHLEY MCKENZIE BARNES
[She/Her]
Ashley has been a Creative Director, Design Lead, Curator and part-time Academic Professor with over 15 years of experience in the advertising, media/publishing, retail, editorial, financial, entertainment and charity, non-profit sectors.
As a Creative Director and Art Director, she has conceptualized and lead award-winning global campaigns for Scotiabank and executed large-scale projects for Indigo’s digital platforms, TEDxToronto, Bell Media, WE Charity and several small to mid-sized creative agencies. Her designs skills were also most recently acquired by Lauryn Hill for her fashion collection celebrating 20 years of the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Most recently she was one of the 2019 curators for Nuit Blanche Toronto, and her curatorial work has included programming, exhibitions, creative collaborations and installations for companies such Samsung, Harbourfront Centre, Manifesto Festival and Soho House.
Throughout the year, she’s public speaker, and has moderated and facilitated workshops and talks across many forums including OCAD, City of Toronto, Humber College, #MoveTheDial, Ontario Arts Council, TDSB, The Power Plant, Ontario Association of Art Galleries, FreshBooks, ArtReach, Nia Centre for the Arts, UofT, Artscape and others.
@ashleymckenziebarnes
HINDZ
[He/Him]
Video Director | Editor - In Hindzsight
HINDZ is the sole creator & voice of his own brand “in hindzsight “ Who produces a daily podcast + video content integrating mindfulness & entertainment across all social media platforms. + Co owner in Play Process , a creative collective in Vancouver BC who has worked with companies such as Nike , Marley Coffee , Facebook Oculus , Levis , Sony BMG & more.
@hindzsight
IMAD ELSHEIKH
[He/Him]
Executive Producer | PIQUE Agency
Imad Elsheikh is an Executive Producer and Creative Consultant based out of Toronto. He founded PIQUE, a digital production platform that collaborates with young creators across the globe. It aims to produce digital content and special events for artists and creators. PIQUE is passionate in nurturing and developing those with little experience and matching them up with industry professionals and productions.
Imad constantly seeks new challenges and projects to continue to develop his craft. PIQUE is an opportunity to use his expertise and to collaborate with other artists while showcasing and celebrating the wealth of talent throughout Canada’s neighborhoods and abroad.
He has worked with various partners and brands including CBC, adidas, Warner Music, Red Bull, Universal, Nobis, Kuumba, and other independent international artists.
@imad.x
CHRISTINE BOACHIE
[She/Her]
Director
Christine's career began as a director/photography with a strong focus on lifestyle imagery. Working with a diverse range of brands across the country, she has become a cultural convener merging her love for art and culture through all of her projects.
@bbychrris
KAYA PINO
[She/Her]
Music Supervisor - The Wilders
Kaya Pino is a music supervisor and producer. Blending a deeply personal understanding of music’s affect on both audience and art form with an ability to create relationships between movement, musicality, rhythm and sound, Kaya takes an anthropological approach to music supervision.
She started her career in advertising, and continues to work in the branding space alongside film and series projects. Kaya’s recent credits include: Acquainted (2019), International Emmy-nominated web series How to Buy a Baby (Season 2), and TD Music: Weaves & Clairmont The Second.
@kayapino
DAVID “CLICK” COX
[He/Him]
Artist Manager | Consultant
CLK Creative Works
David “Click” Cox started his career as a member of the MMVA winning and JUNO nominated group, The Maximum Definitive.
He created a reputation for his promotional and marketing efforts working closely with concert promotions company REMG.
Soon after, he started his career working with BMG Music Canada and then worked at Universal Music Canada as A&R. During his time with Universal, David founded the Stylus Awards to celebrate the Canadian urban music talents and recognition of DJs.
After 8 years with Universal, he created his own entertainment company, CLK Creative Works. Today, CLK is responsible for managing an eclectic roster of highly skilled and experienced artists. Along with management, David teaches music business at Metalworks and The Remix Project.
@davidclickcox
IAN ANDRE ESPINET
[He/Him]
Entrepreneur
Iconic Arts & Entertainment | Black Star Graphic Design | Emancipation Consciouswear
Ian Andre Espinet is a Toronto born, serial entrepreneur and lifelong community advocate. A business professional with over 2 1/2 decades of combined expertise in various areas of business, he is a proficient marketer, graphic designer & creative director, social media specialist, entertainment impresario, public speaker and community servant.
More than the sum of his parts, he is a trusted and respected member of the Canadian entertainment scene.
He is owner, creative director/principle designer at Black Star Graphic Design & Communications, a boutique design & print agency established in 1996. Iconic Arts & Entertainment established in 2001, is one of Canada's most respected "Urban" club & concert promotions companies and has produced 100's of events for 10's of 1000's of patrons.
Amongst his signature brands are Toronto's World Renowned RNB event, The Soul Kitchen (est. 2003), Icon, The One, Carpe Diem, The B-Boy Document and The Legendary Amnesia Old School event (est. 1999), which boasts over 50 old performances and is one of the only EVENTS to sign a major label recording label deal in Canada (Universal Music).
In December 2018, Emancipation Consciouswear, his heritage clothing line established in 1993 was reinstated after a 15 year hiatus.
He frequently volunteers, and speaks to children/youth on entrepreneurship; has served on the board of CHRY/VIBE 105.5fm (4 years); Caras' JUNO hip hop jury; and FACTOR's Juror for Hip Hop & R&B for the last 5 sessions. He is recipient of the Government of Canada's "150 Neighbours" CityBuilder Award (for service in Scarborough) and a City of Toronto Volunteer & Community Service Award.
@ianandreespinet