Saturday 24 August 2024
Founder Brenda Williams leads Newlife Project Inc. 10th Anniversary celebration
by Olivia Barrett
The themes of capacity building, innovation and empowerment were front and centre throughout the evening as the community gathered to celebrate Newlife Project Inc and its founder, Brenda Williams.
The celebration, held on August 24, 2024, included several guest speakers from the community, cultural performances and displays of Newlife Project Inc.’s programs. Around the room, different artworks, clothing and accessories were on display to showcase works from Newlife’s classes, specifically the sewing classes. Students from Newlife’s sewing classes also modelled many of the designs they made during a short fashion show for attendees. They showcased traditional clothing from various regions in different African countries, showing off formal, casual and even royal garments.
Attendees were treated to a performance of the Adowa dance by the Sankofa Cultural Troupe. This dance is a traditional Ghanaian dance that is performed at many different celebrations. Each move and gesture has a meaning, allowing the audience to understand the meaning of the dance.
Many leaders in the community spoke throughout the celebration, highlighting the resilience and dedication of Williams and the impact of Newlife Project Inc. Odofie Williams, President of the Sierra Leonean Community Association in Ottawa, spoke about Brenda Williams as an inspiration and leader within the Sierra Leonean community in the city. “As president of the Sierra Leonean community, I am always stoked to see one of our own excel and succeed within the Ottawa community,” Odofie Williams said, “Brenda, the Sierra Leonean community is extremely proud of you and your accomplishment.”
Williams’ impact in Ottawa goes beyond the Sierra Leonean community. Paul Norris of the Hunt Club Park Community Association spoke about how Williams helped them reconnect with the community after the pandemic. He explained that Williams showed them how to use social media to engage with the community after not being able to host their usual festivals for a couple of years. Councillor Rawlson King also spoke about Newlife Project and Williams’ impact on the city, commending her for doing advocacy and community-building work for a decade.
“Tonight, we gather to honour a decade of remarkable achievement and to celebrate the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within our African and Caribbean communities. The Newlife Project has been a beacon of innovation, empowerment and cultural pride for 10 years and its impact on our city is immeasurable,” King said, adding, “I want to thank you for the last 10 years and we look forward to the next 10.”
Suzan Richards, Sarah Onyango and Nduka Otiono also spoke at the celebration, highlighting memories with Williams and Newlife Project over the years. Richards recalled when Newlife Project started in Ottawa and how important it was to her to support and create space for Williams and challenged attendees at the celebration to “be supporters” in the community, like Williams.
Onyango also recounted an early memory with Williams and praised her communication skills, saying, “She draws you into her vision.” Onyango recalled how Williams’ artwork initially caught her attention when they first met. Once they started talking, Williams’ told her about the work Newlife does and her aspirations for the future.
Otiono, a professor and the director of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University, spoke about Williams’ generosity through a partnership with Newlife. He explained that students who came to Carleton University through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program chose Newlife as a placement for their studies because they believed in the work Williams’ is doing.
In addition to the guest speakers and performances, Williams spoke and gave a presentation about Newlife. She explained how she has been helping people through Newlife for decades and in several countries, including Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire), Sierra Leone, Ghana and the United States, through relief programs, vocational training and health clinics in addition to their other programs. She thanked and celebrated everyone who made their efforts possible over the years through clothing drives and other community initiatives. “It doesn’t take much to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said.
Thank you so much for this coverage. We are grateful. It has been a pleasure serving our community.
Congratulation to Brenda and Newlife for the 10th anniversary and serving the community. It was a great celebration. See you in 10 years for the 20th anniversary.