Trevor David, Executive Director, Mr. David is an entrepreneur with a variety of business interest, however he is primarily involved with Caribbean real estate marketing, tourism & resort development Mr. David's parents immigrated to UK from Grenada when he was four years old, at the age of eight his parents immigrated to Canada in the late 1960's. He is a product of the City of Toronto and has resided in Toronto for over 40 years. As a business man/social entrepreneur he has been involved with a variety of community-based organizations over the years bringing his passion for social and economic justice to each cause. Mr. David has invested his strong business acumen and social entrepreneurial passion into this innovative and unique "social purpose" enterprise model that addresses structural socio-economic issues from a macro-economic perspective. Over the years he has consistently found niche opportunities with-in niche opportunities that provides real solutions to social and business challenges. He strongly believes that AfriCana Village & Museum will make the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) a world class cultural heritage tourism destination that celebrates cultural diversity in a tangible and economically sustainable manner, so that ALL communities will benefit. Furthermore, Mr. David's company, David & Associates is the parent company for myTorontoSoul.com a leading afri-centric Destination Marketing Company specializing in providing Afri-centric tourism & travel experiences to visitors, as well as meetings & conventions planning services in the GTA. David & Associates is also the official Canadian Representative for Black Meetings and Tourism Magazine "The Authority on African- American Meetings, Conventions, Incentives, and Leisure Travel". Mr. David's vision of AfriCana Village evolved out of a burning passion and desire to address social and economic ills whilsts showcasing the great history and culture of African-Canadians. His goal is to create an "economic engine" and "wealth generator" for the African-Canadian community leveraging its rich 400 years of history and culture. His goal is to develop an africentric cultural heritage tourism product incorporating a hybrid- social enterprise matrix that delivers an excellent blended- value social impact Return-On-Investment (ROI) for Non-profit AfriCana Village & Museum and steady reasonable ROI for the shareholders & investors of AfriCana Village Development Corporation. His vision is to cultivate and develop sustainable economic and cultural development opportunities for African-Canadians and the wider community through the development of a world class Africentric/Caribbean-themed cultural heritage tourism and entertainment destination. Mr. David envisions a "Field of Dreams" a place call home, a place that honours our ancestors and their 400 years of blood, sweat and tears to Canada. An iconic economic and cultural nod and legacy to those yet unborn. AfriCana Village will simply be a place for ALL who love and value natural beauty, universal genius, the beat of the drum, the heart beat of humanity, the heart of the city, a cultural and economic eco-system that sustains and breathes life into Africentric-Caribbean Arts, Music, Culture, History and Cuisine in Canada, and indeed the World.
Mr.Jean( John) Akono, Director, Treasurer, John is an insurance professional on the production side of the industry, with dual license LLQP (life and investment) and Ribo (General Insurance Broker) with a signicant number of insurance contracts under managment. John is also certified with The Investment Fund Institute of Canada. Currently he is working as a insurance broker. Making a positive contribution by investing his time and resources in his community and the wider community is one of his personal and professional objective, he is willing to serve at any capacity to that end. AfriCana Village is a shared vision and Mr. Akono is dedicated the cause that will leave a legacy of success for the next generation. Mr. Akono views AfriCana Village as a form of economic and cultural insurance for the next generation.
Terrence E. Denny, Director, PR, Online & Social Media Initiatives. Terrence is a Toronto-based businessman. He is also Host/Presenter of Caribbeanheadlinenews.com show called "Alive & Well"
He is well positioned to utilize his exemplary leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills to help develop AfriCana Villlage online and social media initiatives as we move foward.
Mr. Michael E. Williams, Director, For over 20 years, Michael Williams has conducted numerous live interviews with world renowned music and film artists such as Robert Plant, Whitney Houston, Seal, Celine Dion, Metallica, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, The Chieftains, Ice T, Aaron Neville, Chicago, Spike Lee, Bryan Adams, Smokey Robinson, Harry Connick Jr., Janet Jackson, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Phil Collins, Earth, Wind and Fire, Neil Young, Sade, Marianne Faithful, Ertha Kitt, Gladys Knight, Natalie Cole and Quincy Jones, just to name a few. Williams has been recognized as one of the best interviewers in North America. In addition to his television interviews, Williams continues to be in demand as a presenter at awards galas including the Junos, the Geminis and Youth Achievement Awards and is regularly featured on CTV, CBC and YTV. While at MuchMusic from 1984 to 1993, Williams hosted the World Music Video Awards, the Canadian Music Video Awards and the MuchMusic Video Awards. He was producer, TV host and VJ for the hit shows, Soul in the City, Rap City, Electric Circus, Power Hour and New Music. Before MuchMusic, Williams was heard over the airwaves at leading radio stations in Montreal – CHOM FM and CKGM AM, and in Toronto - CHUM FM. Currently Williams is active behind the scenes in programming, promotions, writing for himself and others including radio and television scripts, program creation, interviews and articles for music publications. Williams owns Black Rose Recording Studios in Toronto and since January of 2003, he has been teaching courses (Canadian & Int’l Music Industry Overview and Recording Artist Management) at the Toronto campus of an international film and music educational institution.The year of Two Thousand Four [2004] also saw the launch of Michael’s self-produced radio show The College of Musical Knowledge on Wave 94.7 (CIWV-FM) Sundays at 10:00 pm – 1:00 am. Michael brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to AfriCana Village that will stand AfriCana Village in good stead as we moved forward.
Mr. Frank Corbin- Director, Mr. Corbin is a successful GTA- based real estate investor and real estate investment mentor. Previous to his real estate career Mr. Corbin worked globally in the mining industry, from North America, Europe to Asia, as he delivered successful business and strategic advice to his mining industry clients developing a global reputation for sourcing and developing world class mining operations. Mr. Corbin strong business experience and real estate acquisition background is an asset to AfriCana Village.
Ms. Shelley Hamilton, Director, Shelley Hamilton’s debut CD “Feeling Good” was released to great acclaim in 2004 at the CBC’s Glenn Gould Theatre. Shelley has alsocreated “Feeling Good”, a one woman cabaret show that recieved rave reviews at The Atlantic and Hamilton Fringe Festivals, and inToronto in Yorkville. Her music video, Cali Alone, was shot in Costa Rica and debuted in 2006 on Bravo Television. Her credits include:CBC’s Rita McNeil & Friends, Anne Murray’s Christmas, The Newsroom, Breakfast Television, and a variety of shows on the Comedy Network, and for several years, has been a featured performer at the DuMaurier/Toronto Jazz Festival. Shelley has sung in Dubai, Japan,Holland, the Caribbean, as well as all over Canada and the U.S. She is part of the a cappella ensemble The Delightful Divas, and is thefeatured vocalist on the 2003 Juno Award-winning album Allegro, by Warner Music artist Robert Michaels. Shelley is also the featured vocalist on One World by Jamie Bonk which won Album of the Year and Best Instrumental Album – Acoustical NAR Lifestyle Music Awards. Shelley was honoured to be part of the 2007 Vagina Monoluges cast in Toronto. Her rich, fluid interpretation of music blends contemporary & original elements of Latin jazz, soul, and pop..In 2008, Ms. Hamilton launched A New Hope, is a one-woman play in celebration of the 225th anniversary of the Black Loyalist and the first free settlement of Blacks in North America. She was honoured to have been commissioned to write this play for the 2008 summer celebrations in Nova Scotia by the Black Loyalist Heritage Society. The feedback has been amazing with standing ovations for each show! Being of Black Loyalists roots, this work has a special place in Shelley's heart, especially since as a student, she performed in the 200th anniversary 25 years ago doing theater work of the same significance. It's a full circle moment for Ms. Hamilton, and she have been asked to do a Toronto performance again of this work before the end of this year. Shelley's deep African- Canadian roots and stellar artistic background and experience is a definite asset to AfriCana Village & Museum. As a Director of AfriCana Village, Shelly's primary responsibility is to coordinate outreach, liaison and advise on matters relating to indigenous African -Canadian history and culture.