Fridays After 5 Event Archive
Fridays After 5 (FA5) is LBIH’s community gathering designed to bring together Black students, founders, professionals, creatives, researchers, and community members across Waterloo Region. Through conversations, workshops, screenings, pitch nights, and networking, FA5 creates space for learning, connection, mentorship, and collaboration.
2026 FA5 Events
13 eventsCulturally Relevant AI
A session exploring how artificial intelligence can be developed and used in ways that reflect diverse cultural perspectives, community needs, and lived experiences.
Speak Up
This FA5 session dove into debate, learning how to express ideas confidently, think critically, and engage in real conversations.
Afrofuturism: I’m A Virgo Screening
Hosted in collaboration with PAIR and the EDI-R Office, this session used film and discussion to explore Afrofuturism, Black imagination, identity, storytelling, and future-building.
ObserIQ Community Defence
A practical session introducing cybersecurity and digital safety concepts, helping community members understand how to protect themselves, their data, and their organizations.
ROSCA Part 1 with Kay Valley
An interactive session exploring how community-driven financial systems like ROSCA savings circles can help build financial stability, support entrepreneurship, and create pathways toward housing access and generational wealth.
ROSCA Part 2 with Kay Valley
A session focused on rotating savings and credit associations, financial literacy, collective economics, and culturally rooted approaches to community wealth-building.
Black and Free Research-Creation
An event exploring Black freedom, creative practice, research, storytelling, and the role of art and scholarship in shaping community narratives.
Run4OfficeWR with Ismail Mohamed
Hosted in partnership with Run4OfficeWR, this FA5 session featured Ismail Mohamed in a conversation about community building.
3-Minute Pitch Night
A supportive pitch event where founders, students, and community members presented their ideas, practiced communication, and received feedback from the community.
Rhodes Scholarships with Poloko Leotlela
A session introducing the Rhodes Scholarship and broader leadership opportunities, with insight into academic pathways, global study, and the application process.
Run4OfficeWR with Mike Morrice
Hosted in partnership with Run4OfficeWR, this session featured Mike Morrice in a conversation about civic leadership, public service, and pathways into political engagement.
Speculative Collective: Beyoncé Black Is King
Hosted by the Pan-African Initiative for Research, this session invited community members into PAIR’s first Speculative Collective: Sankofa Edition, centering reflection, imagination, Black futures, and the spirit of Sankofa.
Run4OfficeWR with Meena Waseem
Hosted in collaboration with Run4OfficeWR, this session featured Meena Waseem, community leader, WRDSB Trustee and Vice-Chair, for an evening of conversation, community, and civic engagement.
2025 FA5 Events
11 eventsBlack Academia
A community conversation focused on Black experiences in academic spaces, including representation, mentorship, research, and pathways for Black students and scholars.
Black Culture & Art
A session celebrating Black creativity, cultural expression, and the role of art in storytelling, identity, and community-building.
Black in STEMM
A discussion highlighting Black representation in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine, with attention to career pathways, mentorship, and barriers in the field.
The RootForge Initiatives
An evening of sisterhood, empowerment, and celebration of Black hair, with games, prizes, food, drinks, and a room full of love and support.
Public Speaking
An interactive session designed to help participants build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and practice presenting ideas clearly.
Career Planning Around AI
A session exploring how artificial intelligence is changing the future of work and how participants can adapt their skills and career planning.
AI in Business Context
A practical conversation on how AI can be used in entrepreneurship, business strategy, productivity, marketing, and innovation.
Difficult Conversations
A session focused on navigating challenging conversations with confidence, empathy, and clarity in professional, personal, and community settings.
Equity & Inclusion
A conversation about building more inclusive spaces, addressing barriers, and creating stronger systems of belonging in organizations and communities.
Igniting Black Excellence: From Civic Barriers to Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs
Hosted by Hans Roach, Waterloo City Councillor, this session shared insights on igniting Black excellence and explored pathways from civic barriers to entrepreneurial breakthroughs.
FA5 x BASE
A collaborative event with BASE that brought together students, founders, professionals, and community members for networking, connection, and community-building.
Want to be part of a future FA5?
Volunteer, host a session, or collaborate with LBIH on a future community experience.