Staff Bios

Alica Hall

Alica Hall has been working at the intersection of art, communications and community development for over a decade. As a leader with deep roots in the community, she has served as the Co-Chair of Pride Toronto, helping the organization expand its strategic and artistic infrastructure. She oversaw the expansion of the festival from 10-days to a month and led the development of the organization’s first strategic plan. Over the years, Alica has formalized her practice as a curator through community based spaces and partnerships. Her curatorial practice is driven by a desire to explore identity and power, excavate lesser-known stories and a commitment to expand visual narratives surrounding the Black experience. In 2018, she took on the role of Executive Director at Nia Centre for the Arts, a Toronto-based charity that supports and showcases arts from across the Black diaspora in Canada. In her time at the Centre, she has curated their first Art Fair, doubled the operating budget and raised $12-million in capital funding. In 2023, Alica opened the doors of the newly renovated Nia Centre for the Arts: a 14,000 sq. ft facility serving as Canada’s first professional, multidisciplinary Black arts centre. Located in historic Little Jamaica, the Centre is a gathering space for Black artists, young creatives and community to showcase, support and promote artistic traditions from Canada’s Black diaspora.

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Namulinda Lester

Namulinda, a Ryerson University Arts and Contemporary Studies graduate majoring in Global Studies, seamlessly transitioned into the nonprofit sector as an affordable housing advocate. With a background managing Co-operative Housing Operations, she now contributes her skills as an Operations Manager at Nia Centre, aligning her passion for the arts with strategic development and supervision of operations strategies. Namulinda also serves as Vice-President on the Board of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, continuing her advocacy for historically underserved communities.

Phone Extension : 700

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Ikram Kabadeh

Ikram, a seasoned Child and Youth worker with over a decade of experience, specializes in designing programs supporting individuals and communities through pivotal life phases. Formerly a caseworker addressing addictions and mental health, she later served as Children’s Program Manager at Boys and Girls Club St. Alban’s, crafting developmentally appropriate initiatives. Ikram is dedicated to creating safe spaces for youth, fostering self-esteem and life skills through the arts. An art enthusiast, she promotes healing and culture through her therapeutic approach, while her adventurous spirit and love for shoes define her outside of work.

Phone Extension : 701

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Sanique Walters

Sanique holds a Master in Environmental Studies Degree and a Bachelor of Honours Degree in Social Science from York University. During her tenure at York University, Sanique served as a Senior Ambassador within the Residence Life Team and Diversity Peer Education Team, where she has gained extensive experience in administration, event management, mentorship and the development of student programs and initiatives. Since joining the Nia Centre team in the last year,  she has been responsible for coordinating the Creative Connect mentorship program, developing youth-targeted programming, workshops and events

Phone Extension : 1

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Tisania Francis Smith

SpokenbyT is a spoken word poet and performing artist from Toronto ON. T uses the art of words and poetry in collaboration with hip hop jazz to explore her emotions and articulate her perspectives on the world around her. Her poetry has reached stages across the GTA including HISTORY, Massey Hall, and Metro Toronto Convention Centre. As of September 2023, T hit a record of 100 shows. She’s grown with non-profit organizations like Unity Charity and is an alumni of The Remix Project and T has continued to collaborate with numerous brands and organizations such as Footlocker Canada, Adidas and Daniels Corp and has performed on over 60 stages in front of more than 100,000 people thus far. 

Phone Extension: 703

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Fallona English

Fallona English, a dedicated professional with over 8 years of experience in child and youth studies, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at York University. Passionate about empowering children and youth, she advocates for the arts and has notable experiences in dance, modeling, and collaborations with Disney. Fallona aims to expand her expertise as a child youth worker, emphasizing the importance of creating a supportive community for black youth in the arts. Her vision centers on nurturing young minds and providing opportunities for them to thrive.

Phone Extension : 704

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Nigel Hernandez

Nigel Hernandez is a Toronto-based Creative & Event Producer dedicated to curating spaces and experiences that shift the culture. Before joining the team at Nia Center as the Tour & Events Producer, Nigel worked in arts and community programming, collaborating with both local and international creators and industry leaders. Nigel is passionate about providing accessible space to young creatives, and currently leads the event operations at It’s OK* Studios, an independent black- led and operated, multipurpose arts space

Phone Extension : 4

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Margaret Afekafe

Margaret is a creative and community minded thinker, with an academic background in Law. She brings with her the lived experience of an individual inhabiting many marginalised identities, as well as an expansive professional background, encompassing various sectors – nonprofit and for profit alike. She centres her work around equity, justice and joy whether it is in working on decolonising curriculums, advocating for policy changes or fundraising for survivors of gender based violence. Margaret has always been a lover of the arts, having been a writer, a dancer and an actor in her past lives. She is currently a crochet enthusiast and will now focus her entrepreneurial mind on fundraising at the Nia Centre for arts.

Phone Extension : 5

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Irene Gessesse

Irene is a dynamic and results-driven leader with over 15 years of expertise in project and event management, business administration, and strategic operations. Her career began in the retail banking field in Calgary before she transitioned to working with startups upon returning to Toronto. Irene is known for her exceptional ability to drive organizational success through innovative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and outstanding leadership. Her passion for delivering exceptional experiences and achieving business objectives distinguishes her as a visionary leader in her field. Irene’s unparalleled expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable asset to any organization. As Director of Operations and Programs, Irene is poised to lead with distinction, drive transformative change, and achieve remarkable success.

Phone Extension : 706

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Connor Garel

Connor Garel is an award-winning writer, editor, and moderator based in Toronto’s west end. He has written widely on visual arts, fashion, film, and music for a variety of websites and international publications, always with a particular focus on emerging artists and Black cultural production. From 2023 to 2024, he served as the Justice Fund writer-in-residence at The Walrus, where he reported on the repatriation of African art in Canadian museums. Presently, he is a contributing writer to The Walrus, the editor of Justsmile Magazine, and a contributing editor for Dazed, where he writes long-form profiles of artists across disciplines.

Phone Extension : 3

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Rika Mpogazi

Rika is a Toronto-based organizer, curator and DJ. She’s spent most of her career putting together panels, workshops, residencies and countless events that help cultivate communities of creativity. Equipped with an eclectic list of experiences, from guiding state officials through the Parliament of Canada, to building unique partnerships at the Toronto International Film Festival, Rika’s work in advocacy-meets-art led her to co-found a platform that highlights the ingenuity of black women & non-binary DJs in Toronto. The invaluable connections she’s built with artists, organizers and audiences have inspired the spaces she curates and the lessons she hopes to impart on the wider creative community. Armed with a growing business acumen and an endless curiosity, Rika’s goal is clear: to contribute to the continuous artistic & professional development of black and Afro-diasporic artists in her city.

Phone Extension : 2

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William Skinner

William, a Toronto native from the North York community, is a multifaceted artist and dedicated mentor, with a deep commitment to empowering youth through the arts. As a singer-songwriter and producer, William’s music captures his lived experiences, weaving together stories of resilience, identity, and community. William studied Music Composition & Recording Arts in Huntsville, Alabama at Oakwood University, a historically Black college and university (HBCU), where he honed his craft and performed on diverse stages. Returning to Toronto, he chose to give back to his community, becoming a Music Instructor and Engineer focused on mentoring young talent. He has been actively involved in community initiatives, such as UrbanArts’ Culture Shock and the “UrbanArts x Manifesto Cypher”. As the Youth Outreach and Programming Facilitator at Nia Centre for the Arts, William now channels his skills and experience into engaging Black youth, fostering spaces where they can explore their creativity and cultural heritage. His recent performances and show organization at Weston Common underscore his commitment to Toronto’s local music scene, where he continues to inspire youth while working on his upcoming projects.

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Alexis Smith-Richards

Alexis is a graduate of Seneca’s Independent Music Production program and an experienced audio engineer with over six years in the industry. Passionate about using the arts to uplift and empower young people, Alexis is dedicated to helping youth discover their voices and potential through music and hands-on encouragement. Alexis’s goal is to inspire young people to engage fully in their creative journeys, developing skills that will benefit them in all areas of life.

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