Meet the student creators behind Where They Stood.
A historical account of the evolution of Black-Anglo Montreal, created through a youth-led book and animation initiative that documents community memory, celebrates Black achievement, and brings overlooked histories into public view.
About the project
Youth-led storytelling rooted in history, belonging, and community memory.
Where They Stood was developed to engage English-speaking Black youth in researching, writing, editing, publishing, and digitizing a book on the history of Montreal’s Black-Anglo population. Through workshops, interviews, and collaborative creation, the project traces the emergence of key community organizations and the people who helped shape the city.
Beyond publication, the project expands into animation and multimedia interpretation—creating additional entry points for audiences to engage with Black history through literature, sound, and visual storytelling.
Making overlooked histories visible and usable.
The project helps surface stories that are often absent from mainstream historical narratives while strengthening intergenerational understanding and cultural pride.
It creates educational value for schools, researchers, community organizations, and the public by offering accessible, community-centered history.
It also provides a platform for emerging Black writers and artists to build skills, contribute meaningfully, and shape how their communities are represented.
Project goals
Education
Make accessible, engaging resources that help youth, educators, and the wider public connect with Black history in Montreal.
Community visibility
Bring greater attention to Black historical narratives and the contributions of Montreal’s English-speaking Black community.
Unity & understanding
Foster stronger relationships across communities through storytelling, historical reflection, and cultural recognition.
Project Outcomes
20
Workshops led by professionals, educators, and community members
15
Interviews with key figures and leaders
10
Youth-led workshops in schools across the city
10
Digital publications
2
Collaborative book launches and events
1
Published history book and companion creative outputs
Book Project Contributors
.
Sara DeMelo-Zare
Project Coordinator
Ayana Monuma
Youth Animator
Zack Mullone
Intern and Writer – Chapter one
Sherwins Jean
Intern and Writer- Chapter Two
Anne Victoria Jean-Francois
Intern and Writer – Chapter Three
Jessica Williams-Daley
Intern and Writer – Chapter Five
Renee White
Intern and Writer – Chapter Six
Amanda Asomani-Nyarko
Intern and Writer – Chapter Seven
Yoanna Joseph
Intern and Writer – Chapter Eight
Fabiola Ingabire
Intern and Writer – Chapter Nine
Fanta Ly
Intern and Writer – Chapter Ten
Zack Mullone
Intern and Writer – Chapter one
Biography:
Matthew also known as MAZA is a multidisciplinary artist based in montreal. Using his music, photography and writing to connect himself to his environments. MAZA is an artist who plays into his vulnerabilities which can be heard through his music. MAZA holds an Anthropology degree from SFU and is constantly trying to understand the foundations of society, in order to help build up his community.
Contact information:
Instagram: Muzik_Maza
Website: mazatheartist.com
Email: Maza.the.artist@gmail.com
Sherwins Jean
Intern and Writer- Chapter Two
Biography:
Sherwins Jean is a Montreal-born Haitian Canadian woman. As an aspiring historian, she has a keen interest in exploring movements of mass migrations and their long-standing effects on cultural identities, particularly amongst minority communities. With this book, she hopes to teach others about Montreal’s Black English-speaking community’s importance in the city’s rich and multicultural heritage.
When she isn’t going down a historical rabbit hole, she enjoys baking, doing puzzles, and binging TV series.
Contact information:
She can be found on Facebook or be contacted by e-mail at sherwinsajean@gmail.com.
Anne Victoria Jean-Francois
Intern and Writer – Chapter Three
Sherwins Jean is a Montreal-born Haitian Canadian woman. As an aspiring historian, she has a keen interest in exploring movements of mass migrations and their long-standing effects on cultural identities, particularly amongst minority communities. With this book, she hopes to teach others about Montreal’s Black English-speaking community’s importance in the city’s rich and multicultural heritage.
When she isn’t going down a historical rabbit hole, she enjoys baking, doing puzzles, and binging TV series.
Photo:
Contact information to be shared:
She can be found on Facebook or be contacted by e-mail at sherwinsajean@gmail.com.
Jessica Williams-Daley
Intern and Writer – Chapter Five
Contact information:
LinkedIn: Jessica Williams-Daley
Gmail: jwilliamsdaley@gmail.com
Insta: jesswd_xo
Amanda Asomani-Nyarko
Intern and Writer – Chapter Seven
Contact information:
Instagram: @amandela
LinkedIn: Amanda Asomani-Nyarko
Yoanna Joseph
Intern and Writer – Chapter Eight
Biography:
Yoanna Joseph is passionate about storytelling and poetry with an undergraduate in literature. As a second-generation immigrant, she always wanted to know more about the history of black Canadians, particularly because she wasn’t taught about it in school although it is part of Canadian history. This project gave her the opportunity to do so. It gave her the opportunity to learn more about the people that came before her, the dreams they nurtured, and the accomplishments they have made in this great city. It also helped her realize her childhood dream as she always wanted to contribute to the elevation of black stories and participating in this project is a great honour to her and a small step towards that dream. For this project, Yoanna will cover chapter eight, which starts with the October crisis and covers the years 1970 to 1975. She hopes that more Canadians learn about these amazing organizations, people, and events and that hopefully, some of them will be presented in schools.
Fabiola Ingabire
Intern and Writer – Chapter Nine
Contact information:
Linkedin: Donna Fabiola Ingabire: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-fabiola-ingabire-5815b213b/
Instagram: Fabis_bemusings
Twitter: Fabiola Ingabire, @Fabis_bemusings
Fanta Ly
Intern and Writer – Chapter Ten
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